Baseball: 1,745 people
Yoshinori Ueda (上田 佳範, Ueda Yoshinori; born November 18, 1973 in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan) is a former professional…
Yoshinori Ueda (上田 佳範, Ueda Yoshinori; born November 18, 1973 in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan) is a former professional Japanese baseball player.
Michihiro Ogasawara (小笠原 道大, born October 25, 1973, in Mihama-ku, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former…
Michihiro Ogasawara (小笠原 道大, born October 25, 1973, in Mihama-ku, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. His career spanned 18 years with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Yomiuri Giants, and the Chunichi Dragons where he won two Japan Series, two MVP awards in both the Pacific and Central leagues; only one of two people to do so and the first to do it in consecutive seasons. He was an NPB All-Star 11 times. He was also a part of the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic winning Japan sides.
Takayuki Shimizu (清水 隆行, Shimizu Takayuki; born October 23, 1973, in Tokyo, Japan) is a former professional baseball…
Takayuki Shimizu (清水 隆行, Shimizu Takayuki; born October 23, 1973, in Tokyo, Japan) is a former professional baseball outfielder for Nippon Professional Baseball. He was the Number 3 draft pick by the Yomiuri Giants in 1996 and played for them until 2008. After retiring as a player, he was a Giants coach.
Ichiro Suzuki ( EE-chirr-oh; Japanese: 鈴木 一朗, romanized: Suzuki Ichirō, IPA: [sɯzɯki itɕiɾoː]; born October 22, 1973)…
Ichiro Suzuki ( EE-chirr-oh; Japanese: 鈴木 一朗, romanized: Suzuki Ichirō, IPA: [sɯzɯki itɕiɾoː]; born October 22, 1973), also known mononymously as Ichiro (イチロー, Ichirō), is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder who played for 28 seasons. He played the first nine years of his career with the Orix BlueWave of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and the next 12 years with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). Suzuki then played two and a half seasons with the New York Yankees and three with the Miami Marlins before returning to the Mariners for his final two seasons. He won two World Baseball Classic titles with the Japan national team. One of the greatest contact hitters, leadoff hitters, and defensive outfielders in baseball history, he is also considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In his combined playing time in the NPB and MLB, Suzuki received 17 consecutive selections as an All-Star and Gold Glove winner, won nine league batting titles, and was named his league's most valuable player (MVP) four times. In NPB, he won seven consecutive batting titles and three consecutive Pacific League MVP Awards. In 2001, Suzuki became the first Japanese-born position player to be posted and signed to an MLB club. He led the American League (AL) in batting average and stolen bases en route to being named AL Rookie of the Year and AL MVP. Suzuki was the first MLB player to enter the Meikyukai (The Golden Players Club). He was a ten-time MLB All-Star and won the 2007 All-Star Game MVP Award for a three-hit performance that included the event's first-ever inside-the-park home run. Suzuki won a Gold Glove Award in each of his first 10 years in the majors and had an AL-record seven hitting streaks of 20 or more games, with a high of 27. He was also noted for the longevity of his career, continuing to produce at a high level with an on-base percentage above .300 in 2016, while approaching 43 years of age. Suzuki also set a number of batting records, including MLB's single-season record for hits with 262. He had 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons, the longest streak by any player in MLB history. In 2016, Suzuki notched the 3,000th hit of his MLB career, becoming the 30th player ever to do so. In total, he finished with 4,367 hits in his professional career across Japan and the United States, the most of any player in history at the top level of baseball. Since retiring as a player in 2019, he became the Mariners' special assistant to the chairman. In 2025, Suzuki was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He became the first Japanese player and first Asian-born player to be elected into the Hall of Fame, receiving 99.7% of the vote, tied with Derek Jeter for the second-highest percentage ever. That same year, Suzuki was also elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. That August, the Mariners retired Suzuki's number 51.
Yasuo Nagaike (永池 恭男, Nagaike Yasuo; born October 5, 1973 in Kasuga, Fukuoka, Japan) is a former professional Japanese…
Yasuo Nagaike (永池 恭男, Nagaike Yasuo; born October 5, 1973 in Kasuga, Fukuoka, Japan) is a former professional Japanese baseball player.
Daisuke Masuda (益田 大介, born September 27, 1973) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Koji Mitsui (三井 浩二, Mitsui Kōji; born September 15, 1973) is a Japanese retired professional baseball pitcher. He…
Koji Mitsui (三井 浩二, Mitsui Kōji; born September 15, 1973) is a Japanese retired professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Seibu / Saitama Seibu Lions from 2001 through 2009.
Kazuhisa Ishii (石井 一久 Ishii Kazuhisa) (born September 9, 1973) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher and…
Kazuhisa Ishii (石井 一久 Ishii Kazuhisa) (born September 9, 1973) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher and manager and general manager. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yakult Swallows and Saitama Seibu Lions and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
Nobuaki Arai (荒井 修光, Arai Nobuaki; born August 11, 1973 in Abiko, Chiba) is a Japanese former professional baseball…
Nobuaki Arai (荒井 修光, Arai Nobuaki; born August 11, 1973 in Abiko, Chiba) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher. He played for Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japan Pacific League in parts of five seasons from 1996 to 2002.
Ken Kadokura (門倉 健, Kadokura Ken; born March 9, 1973) is a retired Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played in…
Ken Kadokura (門倉 健, Kadokura Ken; born March 9, 1973) is a retired Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (Chunichi Dragons, Yomiuri Giants) and the KBO League. He threw a four-seam fastball, a slider, and a fork ball.
Norihiro Nakamura (中村 紀洋, Nakamura Norihiko; born July 24, 1973) is a Japanese former professional baseball third…
Norihiro Nakamura (中村 紀洋, Nakamura Norihiko; born July 24, 1973) is a Japanese former professional baseball third baseman. Nakamura spent almost all of his professional career in Japan with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes. Nakamura had a .266 career batting average, 404 home runs and 1348 RBI, and was an eight-time All-Star and four-time Golden Glove winner. Nakamura is one of only 16 players to have hit 400 or more home runs in NPB. He also played briefly for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball in 2005.
Akio Mizuta (水田 章雄, Mizuta Akio; born July 11, 1973) is a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank…
Akio Mizuta (水田 章雄, Mizuta Akio; born July 11, 1973) is a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan's Pacific League.
Makoto Kosaka (小坂 誠, Kosaka Makoto; born July 2, 1973), nicknamed "Kosa", is a former Nippon Professional Baseball…
Makoto Kosaka (小坂 誠, Kosaka Makoto; born July 2, 1973), nicknamed "Kosa", is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder and the current coach of the Chiba Lotte Marines. Makoto Kosaka is well known for his fast running skills (50m in 5.6 seconds and 100m in 11.2 seconds.) Shinya Miyamoto cited Kosaka as the greatest defensive shortstop in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) history.
Makoto Shiozaki (塩崎 真, Shiozaki Makoto; born June 29, 1973) is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He was…
Makoto Shiozaki (塩崎 真, Shiozaki Makoto; born June 29, 1973) is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He was the number 3 draft pick for the Orix BlueWave in 1997.
Yasuhiko Yabuta (薮田 安彦, Yabuta Yasuhiko; born June 19, 1973) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. Yabuta made his…
Yasuhiko Yabuta (薮田 安彦, Yabuta Yasuhiko; born June 19, 1973) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. Yabuta made his professional debut with the Marines in 1996, and spent 12 years with the organization. He competed in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and struck out Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and Derrek Lee. He served as a setup man for the Marines in 2007 recording a 4–6 record with a 2.73 ERA in 58 games. After the season, he declared his free agency and came to America to pursue a Major League Baseball career. On November 22, 2007, the Kansas City Star reported that the Kansas City Royals agreed with Yabuta on a two-year contract with a club option for 2010. Yabuta officially signed with the Royals on November 28, 2007. He signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Kansas City Royals. The deal included a $4 million club option for a third year. Yabuta was sent down to Triple-A Omaha Royals on June 25, 2008. He was designated for assignment on August 2 and was eventually sent outright to the minors. He was brought back to the Royals when the rosters expanded on September 1. His teammates on the Royals have given him the nickname "Shake." On November 24, 2009, he signed a one-year deal with his old team Chiba Lotte, and he has remained with the team since.
Katsunori Okamoto (岡本 克道, Okamoto Katsunori; born June 9, 1973) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball…
Katsunori Okamoto (岡本 克道, Okamoto Katsunori; born June 9, 1973) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Hidetaka Kawagoe (川越 英隆, born April 8, 1973), nicknamed "Goe", is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, and…
Hidetaka Kawagoe (川越 英隆, born April 8, 1973), nicknamed "Goe", is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, and current the fourth squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Orix BlueWave / Orix Buffaloes, and the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Takaya Hayashi (林 孝哉, Hayashi Takaya; born June 1, 1973 in Wakayama, Wakayama) is a Japanese retired professional…
Takaya Hayashi (林 孝哉, Hayashi Takaya; born June 1, 1973 in Wakayama, Wakayama) is a Japanese retired professional baseball infielder.
Yutaka Nakamura (中村 豊, Nakamura Yutaka; born April 23, 1973 in Sakai, Osaka) is a retired Japanese professional…
Yutaka Nakamura (中村 豊, Nakamura Yutaka; born April 23, 1973 in Sakai, Osaka) is a retired Japanese professional outfielder.
Masaaki Daito (大塔 正明, Daitō Masaaki; born 5 April 1973) is a former baseball player from Japan. He played in the…
Masaaki Daito (大塔 正明, Daitō Masaaki; born 5 April 1973) is a former baseball player from Japan. He played in the Central League for the Chunichi Dragons.
Yasuyuki Yamauchi (山内 泰幸, Yamauchi Yasuyuki; born March 16, 1973, in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a…
Yasuyuki Yamauchi (山内 泰幸, Yamauchi Yasuyuki; born March 16, 1973, in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player.
Yoshitomo Tani (谷 佳知, born February 9, 1973) is a former Japanese professional baseball player from Higashiōsaka…
Yoshitomo Tani (谷 佳知, born February 9, 1973) is a former Japanese professional baseball player from Higashiōsaka, Osaka, Japan. He played as an outfielder for the Orix Buffaloes and Yomiuri Giants. He holds the Pacific League record for hits in a single season by a right-handed batter with 189 hits in 2003 for Orix. He also holds the Japanese NPB record for doubles in a single season with 52 in 2001. Tani emerged as a recurrent Best Nine award winner in the late 90s and early 2000s for Orix, and played a large role in carrying the Blue Wave/Buffaloes following Ichiro Suzuki's departure to play with the Seattle Mariners in MLB
Arihito Muramatsu (村松 有人, born December 12, 1972) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder, and current…
Arihito Muramatsu (村松 有人, born December 12, 1972) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder, and current first squad hitting coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, Fukuoka SoftBank and Orix Buffaloes.
Eiji Shotsu (正津 英志, Shotsu Eiji; born November 13, 1972) is a Japanese professional Nippon Professional Baseball…
Eiji Shotsu (正津 英志, Shotsu Eiji; born November 13, 1972) is a Japanese professional Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.
Soichi Fujita (藤田 宗一, Fujita Soichi; born October 17, 1972 in Yawata, Kyoto, Japan) is a retired Japanese left-handed…
Soichi Fujita (藤田 宗一, Fujita Soichi; born October 17, 1972 in Yawata, Kyoto, Japan) is a retired Japanese left-handed relief pitcher who played most of his career in Nippon Professional Baseball. Fujita was part of the Japanese national baseball team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He pitched every game of his career in relief and holds the Japanese record for most pitching appearances.
Hiroyuki Takagi (高木 浩之, born October 14, 1972) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Fumiya Nishiguchi (西口 文也, Nishiguchi Fumiya), (born September 26, 1972) is a Japanese former professional baseball…
Fumiya Nishiguchi (西口 文也, Nishiguchi Fumiya), (born September 26, 1972) is a Japanese former professional baseball right-handed pitcher and current manager for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played 21 seasons in NPB, all for the Lions.
Masataka Endoh (遠藤 政隆, Endō Masataka) is a former professional baseball player in Japan. He played for the Chunichi…
Masataka Endoh (遠藤 政隆, Endō Masataka) is a former professional baseball player in Japan. He played for the Chunichi Dragons in the Japan Central League He was born in Tokyo, Japan.
Yasuyuki Saigo (西郷 泰之, Saigō Yasuyuki) (born August 30, 1972) is a Japanese former baseball outfielder who won a silver…
Yasuyuki Saigo (西郷 泰之, Saigō Yasuyuki) (born August 30, 1972) is a Japanese former baseball outfielder who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Yusaku Iriki (入来 祐作, Iriki Yūsaku; born August 8, 1972 in Miyakonojō, Miyazaki, Japan) is a Japanese former baseball…
Yusaku Iriki (入来 祐作, Iriki Yūsaku; born August 8, 1972 in Miyakonojō, Miyazaki, Japan) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. His elder brother Satoshi was also a former professional baseball player.
Kazuyuki Atsuzawa (厚澤 和幸, Atsuzawa Kazuyuki; born August 11, 1972) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…
Kazuyuki Atsuzawa (厚澤 和幸, Atsuzawa Kazuyuki; born August 11, 1972) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is the current pitching coach for the Orix Buffaloes.
Atsunori Inaba (稲葉 篤紀, born August 3, 1972) is a Japanese professional baseball manager, coach and former player. He…
Atsunori Inaba (稲葉 篤紀, born August 3, 1972) is a Japanese professional baseball manager, coach and former player. He was the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Japan Series. He is currently the general manager for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League. As a player, he won the Japan Series MVP in 2006 and the Fighting Spirit Award in 2012. He is one of just eight players to win both Japan Series awards alongside Hiromichi Ishige, Hiroshi Oshita, Hisashi Yamada, Isao Shibata, Joe Stanka, Kazuhisa Inao, and Takashi Nishimoto. After the retirement, he became Japan national baseball team at the 2013 exhibition game against Chinese Taipei, 2014 MLB Japan All-Star Series, 2015 exhibition game against All Euro, 2015 WBSC Premier12, 2016 exhibition game against Chinese Taipei, 2016 exhibition game against Mexico and Netherlands, 2017 exhibition game against CPBL All-Stars, and 2017 World Baseball Classic. On July 31, 2017, he became Japan national baseball team manager. He managed at the 2017 Asia Professional Baseball Championship, 2018 exhibition game against Australia, 2018 U-23 Baseball World Cup and 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series.
Yoshinori Okihara (沖原 佳典, born July 27, 1972, in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball…
Yoshinori Okihara (沖原 佳典, born July 27, 1972, in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Shogo Arai (荒井 昭吾, Arai Shōgo; born July 21, 1972, Nerima Ward, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese former professional…
Shogo Arai (荒井 昭吾, Arai Shōgo; born July 21, 1972, Nerima Ward, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder. He played for the Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Pacific League from 1994 to 1998.
Takashi Manei (万永 貴司, Manei Takashi; born July 7, 1972 in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…
Takashi Manei (万永 貴司, Manei Takashi; born July 7, 1972 in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Shigeki Abe (阿部 茂樹, Abe Shigeki; born July 5, 1972 in Ogata, Akita) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball player.…
Shigeki Abe (阿部 茂樹, Abe Shigeki; born July 5, 1972 in Ogata, Akita) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Yakult Swallows in 1999.
Shiori Koseki (小関 しおり, Koseki Shiori) (born June 30, 1972) is a Japanese softball player who played in the 2000 Summer…
Shiori Koseki (小関 しおり, Koseki Shiori) (born June 30, 1972) is a Japanese softball player who played in the 2000 Summer Olympics mostly as a Left field, but on one occasion played as a Pinch Runner in the game against New Zealand. She won the silver medal for Japan.
Kazuhiro Wada (和田 一浩, Wada Kazuhiro; born June 19, 1972) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played…
Kazuhiro Wada (和田 一浩, Wada Kazuhiro; born June 19, 1972) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played mostly as an outfielder for the Chunichi Dragons and the Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional Baseball league in a career spanning 18 years. Following retirement in 2015, he has become a color commentator for Dragons broadcasts for the NHK.
Hirotoshi Kitagawa (北川 博敏, Kitagawa Hirotoshi; born May 27, 1972) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.…
Hirotoshi Kitagawa (北川 博敏, Kitagawa Hirotoshi; born May 27, 1972) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder. In 2001, his pinch hit walk-off grand slam erased a 3-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning and secured the pennant for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes.
Yasuhiro Enoki (born May 22, 1972) is a former baseball player from Japan. He played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in the…
Yasuhiro Enoki (born May 22, 1972) is a former baseball player from Japan. He played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in the Pacific League.
Takeo Kawamura (川村 丈夫, Kawamura Takeo; born April 30, 1972) is a professional baseball player from Yamato, Kanagawa…
Takeo Kawamura (川村 丈夫, Kawamura Takeo; born April 30, 1972) is a professional baseball player from Yamato, Kanagawa, Japan. He is a retired pitcher for the Yokohama BayStars. Kawamura won 17 games in 1999 as a starter, and became a reliever in 2004. He marked a 2.31 ERA in 2005, and returned to the starting rotation in 2007. He won a silver medal playing for the Japanese national team in the 1996 Summer Olympics before entering the Japanese professional leagues.
Eiji Maruo (丸尾 英司, born April 26, 1976) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon…
Eiji Maruo (丸尾 英司, born April 26, 1976) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played with the Orix BlueWave in 1995 and from 1997 to 1998, and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2000.
Yumiko Fujii (藤井 由宮子, Fujii Yumiko) (born April 24, 1972) is a Japanese softball player who played as a pitcher. She…
Yumiko Fujii (藤井 由宮子, Fujii Yumiko) (born April 24, 1972) is a Japanese softball player who played as a pitcher. She won the silver medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Nobuyuki Ebisu (戎 信行, Ebisu Nobuyuki) is a former baseball player in Japan. He primarily played for the Orix BlueWave…
Nobuyuki Ebisu (戎 信行, Ebisu Nobuyuki) is a former baseball player in Japan. He primarily played for the Orix BlueWave in the Pacific League He attended Spring Training with the Seattle Mariners.
Takanori Suzuki (鈴木 尚典, born April 10, 1972) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Tsuyoshi Shinjo (新庄 剛志, Shinjō Tsuyoshi; January 28, 1972), also known during the 2022 Nippon Professional Baseball…
Tsuyoshi Shinjo (新庄 剛志, Shinjō Tsuyoshi; January 28, 1972), also known during the 2022 Nippon Professional Baseball season as BIGBOSS (ビッグボス, Biggubosu), is a former Japanese professional baseball outfielder and the current manager for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Shinjo began his playing career with the Hanshin Tigers, and moved to the United States to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets. He is the second Japanese-born position player to play an MLB game, as well as the first in the National League. In 2002, he joined the San Francisco Giants and was the first Japanese-born player to appear in the World Series. He had a second stint with the Mets in 2003, and returned to Japan to play for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, with whom he won the Japan Series in his final season.
Hirobumi Watarai (度会 博文, Watarai Hirobumi; born January 26, 1972) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder.…
Hirobumi Watarai (度会 博文, Watarai Hirobumi; born January 26, 1972) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows from 1994 to 2008.
Akinori Otsuka (Japanese: 大塚 晶則, Hepburn: Ōtsuka Akinori; born January 13, 1972) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher…
Akinori Otsuka (Japanese: 大塚 晶則, Hepburn: Ōtsuka Akinori; born January 13, 1972) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher who coaches for the Chunichi Dragons in Nippon Professional Baseball. He was the setup man for the San Diego Padres and the Texas Rangers. He was also the closer for Japan's 2006 World Baseball Classic–winning team. Otsuka threw a low-90's 4-seam fastball (tops out at about 94 mph) that is very straight, along with a hard, late-breaking slider. He employed an unorthodox pitching delivery wherein he lifted his lead leg up very slowly, tapped his glove, then fired to home plate, making his pitches look faster coming out of his hand and thus harder to pick up.
Daisuke Motoki (元木 大介, Motoki Daisuke; born December 30, 1971) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball player.
Itsuki Asai (浅井 樹, Asai Itsuki; born December 14, 1971) is a former baseball player from Japan. Asai played in the…
Itsuki Asai (浅井 樹, Asai Itsuki; born December 14, 1971) is a former baseball player from Japan. Asai played in the Nippon baseball league. He initially played in the Pioneer League, before moving to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the Central League. At times, he played as a pinch hitter.