Orix Blue Wave

Japan Series Titles: 1 (1996)

Pacific League Pennants: 2 (1995, 1996)

Franchise Players: Ichiro Suzuki, Troy Neel, Yasuo Fujii, Nobuyuki Hoshino, Shigetoshi Hasegawa, Yoshitomo Tani

The Orix BlueWave began play in 1991 and wrapped up in 2004. The team previously had been the Orix Braves and prior to that the Hankyu Braves, a strong Pacific League team for decades. After just over a decade as the BlueWave, the struggling franchise (after three straight last-place finishes) merged with the Kintetsu Buffaloes to form the Orix Buffaloes. The team will probably go down historically most for the work of Ichiro Suzuki, who won seven straight batting titles with the team from 1994 to 2000 and was MVP three times. In 1996, Suzuki helped lead the BlueWave to their only Japan Series victory.

Managers

• 1991-1993: Shozo Doi
• 1994-2001: Akira Ogi
• 2002-2003: Hiromichi Ishige
• 2003: Leon Lee
• 2004: Haruki Ihara

Preceded by Orix Braves

Orix BlueWave 1991 - 2004

Merged with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes to form the Orix Buffaloes