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From 1959 to 1974, the two best players in the history of Japanese baseball, Sadaharu Oh and Shigeo Nagashima, hit in the third and fourth spots for the Yomiuri Tokyo Giants. The feared combination was known as the ON Canon. In 2000, Oh's Hawks led by MVP Nobuhiko Matsunaka (.312, 33 HR, 106 RBI) and Hiroki Kokubo (.288, 31 HR, 105 RBI) captured the Pacific League pennant. In the Central League, Nagashima's Giants cruised to the title with Hideki Matsui (.316, 42HR, 108 RBI) picking up the MVP honors. In an incredibly hyped up "ON" Japan Series, the Hawks went out to a quick 2-0 led but couldn't hold it as the Giants stormed back and won the final four games. Other Central League stars included batting champ Tatsuhiko Kinjo of the BayStars (.346 AVE); BayStars' Bobby Rose (.332, 21 HR, 97 RBI); Swallows' Roberto Petigine (.316, 36 HR, 96 RBI); and the Carp's Tomoaki Kanemoto (.315, 30 HR, 90 RBI). Pacific League standouts included: Ichiro (.387, 12 HR, 73 RBI); the Fighters' Sherman Obando (.332, 30 HR, 102 RBI) and Michihiro Ogasawara (.329, 31 HR, 103 RBI); Tony Fernandez of the Lions (.327, 11 HR, 74 RBI), and the Norihiro Nakamura of the Buffaloes (.277, 39 HR, 110 RBI). The 2000 Japanese season for APBA was created by Bill Stevens and is available for downloading below. |
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