2001 in Japanese Baseball

2001 in baseball
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2001 in Japanese baseball

Nippon Professional Baseball

Standings

Bold indicates league champion; Italics indicate Nippon Series winner.

Central League

Team	G	W	L	T	WPCT	GB	RS	RA	AVG	ERA	Manager(s)
Yakult Swallows	140	76	58	6	0.564	0.0	645	531	0.274	3.41	Tsutomu Wakamatsu
Yomiuri Giants	140	75	63	2	0.543	3.0	688	659	0.271	4.45	Shigeo Nagashima
Hiroshima Carp	140	68	65	7	0.511	7.5	619	596	0.269	3.82	Koji Yamamoto
Yokohama BayStars	140	69	67	4	0.507	8.0	560	565	0.267	3.75	Masahiko Mori
Chunichi Dragons	140	62	74	4	0.457	15.0	483	513	0.253	3.48	Senichi Hoshino
Hanshin Tigers	140	57	80	3	0.418	20.5	467	598	0.243	3.75	Katsuya Nomura

Pacific League

Team	G	W	L	T	WPCT	GB	RS	RA	AVG	ERA	Manager(s)
Kintetsu Buffaloes	140	78	60	2	0.564	0.0	770	745	0.280	4.98	Masataka Nashida
Daiei Hawks	140	76	63	1	0.546	2.5	741	684	0.273	4.49	Sadaharu Oh
Seibu Lions	140	73	67	0	0.521	6.0	620	584	0.256	3.88	Osamu Higashio
Orix BlueWave	140	70	66	4	0.514	7.0	651	634	0.263	4.11	Akira Ogi
Chiba Lotte Marines	140	64	74	2	0.464	14.0	593	608	0.258	3.93	Koji Yamamoto
Nippon Ham Fighters	140	53	84	3	0.389	24.5	593	713	0.256	4.79	Yasunori Oshima

Leaders

Bold indicates league record, Italics indicate all-time record

Batting

Statistic		Central League				Pacific League
		Leader	Team	Number		Leader	Team	Number
Batting Average		Hideki Matsui	Yomiuri Giants	.333		Kazuya Fukuura	Chiba Lotte Marines	.346
Runs		Hideki Matsui	Yomiuri Giants	107		Tuffy Rhodes	Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes	137
Hits		Takuro Ishii	Yokohama BayStars	171		Michihiro Ogasawara	Nippon Ham Fighters	195
Doubles		Takuro Ishii	Yokohama BayStars	34		Yoshitomo Tani	Orix BlueWave	52
Triples		Takuya Kimura Akihiro Higashide Atsunori Inaba	Hiroshima Toyo Carp Hiroshima Toyo Carp Yakult Swallows	5		Makoto Kosaka Hiroyuki Shibata	Chiba Lotte Marines Seibu Lions	8
Home Runs		Roberto Petagine	Yakult Swallows	39		Tuffy Rhodes	Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes	55
Runs Batted In		Roberto Petagine	Yomiuri Giants	127		Norihiro Nakamura	Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes	132
Stolen Bases		Norihiro Akahoshi	Hanshin Tigers	39		Tadahito Iguchi	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	44
Walks		Tomoaki Kanemoto	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	128		Frank Bolick	Chiba Lotte Marines	107

Pitching

Statistic		Central League				Pacific League
		Leader	Team	Number		Leader	Team	Number
ERA		Shigeki Noguchi	Chunichi Dragons	2.46		Nate Minchey	Chiba Lotte Marines	3.26
Wins		Shugo Fujii	Yakult Swallows	14		Daisuke Matsuzaka	Seibu Lions	15
Winning Percentage		Yusaku Iriki	Yomiuri Giants	.765		Keisaburo Tanoue	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	.650
Losses		Shane Bowers Masahiro Yamamoto Kei Igawa Greg Hansell	Yokohama BayStars Chunichi Dragons Hanshin Tigers Hanshin Tigers	13		Daisuke Matsuzaka	Seibu Lions	15
Saves		Shingo Takatsu	Yakult Swallows	37		Rodney Pedraza	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	34
Save Points		Shingo Takatsu	Yakult Swallows	37		Rodney Pedraza	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	38
Innings Pitched		Shigeki Noguchi	Chunichi Dragons	193.2		Daisuke Matsuzaka	Seibu Lions	240.1
Appearances		Tsuyoshi Kikuchihara	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	78		Toshihiro Kase	Orix BlueWave	70
Hits Allowed		Hiroki Kuroda	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	175		Junji Hoshino	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	197
Home Runs Allowed		Shugo Fujii Darrell May	Yakult Swallows Yomiuri Giants	24		Ken Kadokura Daisuke Matsuzaka Hisashi Ogura Shinichi Kato Tsutomu Iwamoto	Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes Seibu Lions Orix BlueWave Orix BlueWave Nippon Ham Fighters	27
Strikeouts		Shigeki Noguchi	Chunichi Dragons	187		Daisuke Matsuzaka	Seibu Lions	214
Base-on-Balls		Kei Igawa	Hanshin Tigers	89		Daisuke Matsuzaka	Seibu Lions	117

All-Star Game

The NPB All-Star Game featured three games and was won by the Pacific League two games to one. The first game was played at Fukuoka Dome and was won by the PL, 7 - 1. The second game was played at Yokohama Stadium and was won by the CL, 12 - 6. The third game was played at Sapporo Dome and was won by the PL, 8 - 4.

Postseason

In the Nippon Series, the Yakult Swallows (CL) defeated the Kintetsu Buffaloes (PL), 4 games to 1. The winning manager was Tsutomu Wakamatsu and the series MVP was Atsuya Furuta.

Award Winners

The winner of the 2001 Sawamura Award was Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Seibu Lions. He had a 15 - 15 win-loss record, 214 strikeouts, and a 3.60 ERA in 240.1 innings.

Award	League	Player	Team	Position	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	W - L	SV	IP	HA	HRA	BB	SO	ERA
Most Valuable Player	CL	Roberto Petagine	Yakult Swallows	1B	463	93	149	39	127	4	.322	.466	.633	Did not pitch
	PL	Tuffy Rhodes	Kintetsu Buffaloes	OF	550	137	180	55	131	9	.327	.421	.662	Did not pitch
Rookie of the Year	CL	Norihiro Akahoshi	Hanshin Tigers	OF	438	70	128	1	23	39	.292	.372	.338	Did not pitch
	PL	Masanobu Okubo	Orix BlueWave	P	0	0	0	0	0	0	.---	.---	.---	7 - 5	14	94.0	68	8	32	93	2.68

Best Nine

The following players were part of the 2001 Best Nine teams.

Central League			Position		Pacific League
Player	Team				Player	Team
Shugo Fujii	Yakult Swallows		P		Daisuke Matsuzaka	Seibu Lions
Atsuya Furuta	Yakult Swallows		C		Kenji Johjima	Daiei Hawks
Roberto Petagine	Yakult Swallows		1B		Michihiro Ogasawara	Nippon Ham Fighters
Eddy Diaz	Hiroshima Carp		2B		Tadahito Iguchi	Daiei Hawks
Akira Eto	Yomiuri Giants		3B		Norihiro Nakamura	Kintetsu Buffaloes
Takuro Ishii	Yokohama BayStars		SS		Kazuo Matsui	Seibu Lions
Atsunori Inaba	Yakult Swallows		OF		Koichi Isobe	Kintetsu Buffaloes
Tomoaki Kanemoto	Hiroshima Carp				Tuffy Rhodes	Kintetsu Buffaloes
Hideki Matsui	Yomiuri Giants				Yoshitomo Tani	Orix BlueWave
			DH		Frank Bolick	Chiba Lotte Marines

Gold Gloves

The following players were the recipients of the Gold Glove Award in 2001.

Central League			Position		Pacific League
Player	Team				Player	Team
Shigeki Noguchi	Chunichi Dragons		P		Daisuke Matsuzaka	Seibu Lions
Atsuya Furuta	Yakult Swallows		C		Kenji Johjima	Daiei Hawks
Roberto Petagine	Yakult Swallows		1B		Michihiro Ogasawara	Nippon Ham Fighters
Toshihisa Nishi	Yomiuri Giants		2B		Tadahito Iguchi	Daiei Hawks
Akinori Iwamura	Yakult Swallows		3B		Norihiro Nakamura	Kintetsu Buffaloes
Shinya Miyamoto	Yakult Swallows		SS		Makoto Kosaka	Chiba Lotte Marines
Norihiro Akahoshi	Hanshin Tigers		OF		Hiroshi Shibahara	Daiei Hawks
Hideki Matsui	Yomiuri Giants				So Taguchi	Orix BlueWave
Yoshinobu Takahashi	Yomiuri Giants				Yoshitomo Tani	Orix BlueWave

High School Baseball

The 83rd National High School Baseball Championship featured a total of 4150 schools competing for 49 spots in the finals at Koshien. In the championship game The Third High School of Nihon University (West Tokyo) defeated Ohmi High School (Shiga) by a score of 5 - 2.

The 73rd National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament featured 34 schools competing in the tournament at Koshien. In the championship game Joso Gakuin High School (Ibaraki) defeated Sendai Ikuei High School (Miyagi) by a score of 7 - 6.

University Baseball

All-Japan University Baseball Championship Series

The 2001 All-Japan University Baseball Championship Series featured 28 schools competing in the tournament at Meiji-Jingu Stadium. In the championship game Shikoku Gakuin University defeated Nihon University by a score of 2 - 0.

Meiji Jingu Baseball Convention

In the Meiji Jingu Baseball Convention Komazawa University defeated Josai University.

Tokyo Big6 Baseball League

Season	First	Second	Third	Fourth	Fifth	Sixth
Spring	Hosei	Waseda	Rikkio	Meiji	Keio	Tokyo
Fall	Keio	Hosei	Waseda	Meiji	Rikkio	Tokyo

Tohto University Base Ball League

Season	League	First	Second	Third	Fourth	Fifth	Sixth
Spring	1	Nihon	Aoyama Gakuin	Komazawa	Asia	Chuo	Toyo
	2	Senshu	Kokushikan	Rissho	Kokugakuin	Tokyo Agriculture	Juntendo
	3	Takushoku	Taisho	Gakushuin	Hitotsubashi	Sophia	Seikei
	4	Shibaura Tech	Musashi Tech	Tokyo Tech
Fall	1	Komazawa	Asia	Chuo	Nihon	Aoyama Gakuin	Toyo
	2	Senshu	Rissho	Kokugakuin	Kokushikan	Takushoku	Tokyo Agriculture
	3	Juntendo	Taisho	Seikei	Gakushuin	Hitotsubashi	Shibaura Tech
	4	Seikei	Musashi Tech	Tokyo Tech

Kansai 6 University Baseball League

Season	First	Second	Third	Fourth	Fifth	Sixth
Spring	Ritsumeikan	Kwansei Gakuin	Kinki	Doshisha	Kansai	Kyoto
Fall	Kinki	Doshisha	Kansai	Kwansei Gakuin	Ritsumeikan	Kyoto

International Baseball

At the thirty-fourth Baseball World Cup in Taiwan, the Japanese national baseball team placed fourth. In the fourth AAA Asia Baseball Championship in Taiwan, the Japanese national baseball team won a silver medal.

Japanese Players in Other Countries

Italics indicate a Major League appearance

• Shinji Ando: Taipei Gida, Taiwan Major League
• Hiroshi Fujimoto: St. George Pioneerzz, Western Baseball League (Ind)
• Shigetoshi Hasegawa: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, California (ANA-A-Adv); Anaheim Angels
• Kei Hashimoto: Vermont Expos, New York-Penn (MON-SS)
• Craig House: Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Pacific Coast (COL-AAA)
• Masaru Imazeki: Bridgeport Bluefish, Atlantic (2001-Ind)
• Hideki Irabu: Jupiter Hammerheads, Florida State (MTL-A-Adv); Ottawa Lynx, International (MTL-AAA); Montreal Expos
• Takehiro Ishii: Taipei Gida, Taiwan Major League
• Keith McDonald: Memphis Redbirds, Pacific Coast (STL-AAA); St. Louis Cardinals
• Elji Miyamoto: Clinton Lumber Kings, Midwest (MTL-A); Vermont Expos, New York-Penn (MTL-SS)
• Koshi Muto: Taichung Agan, Taiwan Major League
• Micheal Nakamura: New Britain Rock Cats, Eastern (MIN-AA)
• Yuji Nerei, St. Paul Saints, Northern League; Evansville Otters, Frontier League
• Hideo Nomo: Boston Red Sox
• Tomokazu Ohka: Pawtucket Red Sox, International (BOS-AAA)
• Stephen Randolph: El Paso Diablos, Texas (ARI-AA); Tucson Sidewinders, Pacific Coast (ARI-AAA)
• Dave Roberts: Akron Aeros, Eastern (CLE-AA); Buffalo Bisons, International (CLE-AAA); Cleveland Indians
• Hajime Saito: Brother Elephants, Chinese Professional Baseball League
• Shigeki Sano: Elmira Pioneers, Northern League East
• Kazuhiro Sasaki: Seattle Mariners
• Takahiro Sasaki: Greenville Bluesmen, Texas-Louisiana League
• Tsuyoshi Shinjo: New York Mets
• Mac Suzuki: Colorado Rockies; Kansas City Royals; Milwaukee Brewers
• Ichiro Suzuki: Seattle Mariners
• Kazuhiro Takeoka: Greenville Drive, Southern (ATL-AA)
• Koichi Taniguchi: Atlantic City Surf, Atlantic League
• Hisanobu Watanabe: Chianan Braves, Taiwan Major League
• Tetsu Yofu: Brother Elephants, Chinese Professional Baseball League
• Nobuaki Yoshida: Fort Wayne Wizards, Midwest (SDP-A); Eugene Emeralds, Northwest (SDP-SS)
• Masato Yoshii: Montreal Expos
• Kazuyoshi Yoshimoto: unknown Independent League

Hall of Fame

The following people were elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame:

• Ryohei Hasegawa, by Special Committee
• Masaaki Koyama, by Sportswriters Committee
• Rikuo Nemoto, by Sportswriters Committee
• Tsutomu Takeda, by Special Committee