As the "holy ground" of Japanese baseball, Koshien rallied the nation through national disasters and wars. Now it's taking on the next 100 years of challenges.
The dual pursuit of the Triple Crown brings back memories of Randy Bass and Hiromitsu Ochiai, who dominated NPB batting in the mid-1980s.
The American had four RBIs while Japan Series MVP Koji Chikamoto went 4-for-5 in the Tigers' 7-1 win over the defending champion Orix Buffaloes.
For the first time since 1964, two teams from Kansai will square off in the Japan Series. Fifty-nine years ago, the Hawks triumphed over the Tigers.
The Swallows slugger overcame obstacles and broke Japanese-born players' single-season home run record with considerable pressure heaped upon him.
