Season overview 2019

The 2019 season was the 70th since Japanese pro baseball expanded and split into two leagues after the conclusion of the 1949 season. The season ended with the SoftBank Hawks winning their third-straight Japan Series, the seventh in a row for the Pacific League’s representative.

Japan Series

  1. Oct. 19: Hawks 7, Giants 2
  2. Oct. 20: Hawks 6, Giants 3
  3. Oct. 22: Hawks 6, Giants 2
  4. Oct. 23: Hawks 4, Giants 3

Pacific League

TeamGWLTPct.GB
Lions14380621.563
Hawks14376625.5512.0
Eagles14371684.5117.5
Marines14369704.4969.5
Fighters14365735.47113.0
Buffaloes14361757.44916.0

Climax Series

First stage

At Yokohama Stadium

  1. Oct. 5: Tigers 8, BayStars 7
  2. Oct. 6: BayStars 6, Tigers 4
  3. Oct. 7: Tigers 2, BayStars 1

Tigers advance to final stage 2-1

Final Stage

At Tokyo Dome

  1. Oct. 9: Giants 5, Tigers 2
  2. Oct. 10: Giants 6, Tigers 0
  3. Oct. 11: Tigers 7, Giants 6
  4. Oct 13: Giants 4, Tigers 1

Giants advance to Japan Series 4-1. Giants receive one win by virtue of winning league championship.

Award winners

  • MVP: Tomoya Mori, C, Lions
  • Rookie of the year: Rei Takahashi, P, Hawks

Best Nine

  • Pitcher: Kodai Senga, Hawks
  • Catcher: Tomoya Mori, Lions
  • First Base: Hotaka Yamakawa, Lions
  • Second Base: Hideto Asamura, Eagles
  • Third Base: Takeya Nakamura, Lions
  • Shortstop: Sosuke Genda, Lions
  • Outfielders: Shogo Akiyama, Lions; Masataka Yoshida, Buffaloes; Takashi Ogino, Marines
  • Designated Hitter: Alfredo Despaigne, Hawks

Golden Gloves

  • Pitcher: Kodai Senga, Hawks
  • Catcher: Takuya Kai, Hawks
  • First Base: Seiichi Uchikawa, Hawks
  • Second Base: Hideto Asamura, Eagles
  • Third Base: Nobuhiro Matsuda
  • Shortstop: Sosuke Genda, Lions
  • Outfielders: Shogo Akiyama, Lions; Takashi Ogino, Marines; Haruki Nishikawa, Fighters

Central League

TeamGWLTPct.GB
Giants14377642.546
BayStars14371693.5075.5
Tigers14369686.5046.0
Carp14370703.5006.5
Dragons14368732.4829.0
Swallows14359822.41818.0

Climax Series

First stage

At Yafuoku Dome

  1. Oct. 5: Eagles 5, Hawks 3
  2. Oct. 6: Hawks 6, Eagles 4
  3. Oct. 7: Hawks 2, Eagles 1

Hawks advance to final stage 2-1

Final Stage

At MetLife Dome

  1. Oct. 9: Hawks 8, Lions 4
  2. Oct. 10: Hawks 8, Lions 6
  3. Oct. 11: Hawks 7, Lions 0
  4. Oct 13: Hawks 9, Lions 3

Hawks advance to Japan Series 4-1. Lionsreceive one win by virtue of winning league championship.

Award winners

  • MVP: Hayato Sakamoto SS Giants
  • Rookie of the year: Munetaka Murakami 1B Swallows

Best Nine

  • Pitcher: Shun Yamaguchi, Giants
  • Catcher: Tsubasa Aizawa, Carp
  • First Base: Dayan Viciedo, Dragons
  • Second Base: Tetsuto Yamada, Swallows
  • Third Base: Shuhei Takahashi, Dragons
  • Shortstop: Hayato Sakamoto, Giants
  • Outfielders: Seiya Suzuki, Carp; Yoshihiro Maru, Giants; Neftali Soto, BayStars

Golden Gloves

  • Pitcher: Yuki Nishi, Tigers
  • Catcher: Ryutaro Umeno, Tigers
  • First Base: Jose Lopez, BayStars
  • Second Base: Ryosuke Kikuchi, Carp
  • Third Base: Shuhei Takahashi, Dragons
  • Shortstop: Hayato Sakamoto, Giants
  • Outfielders: Yoshihiro Maru, Giants; Seiya Suzuki, Carp; Yohei Oshima, Dragons

Other Awards

  • Sawamura Award: None
  • Shoriki Award: Kimiyasu Kudo, Manager, Hawks

writing & research on Japanese baseball

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