Not even a Dodgers fan, but I loved watching Takashi Saito pitch. Career 183 ERA+, was one of the best and most exciting relievers of his generation.

@rocknrallsoul94rockero4

9 ай бұрын

He walked up to Bad to the Bone

I remember what a big deal it was when Hideo Nomo was elected to start the All Star Game in 1995. Probably the first time there was so much Japanese TV media present in Texas 😅

@HummBabyBaseball

9 ай бұрын

Nomo was a legend for sure haha

Nomo was awesome

Two things I want to see...I want an exhibition game of Yomiuri Giants vs SF Giants at Oracle and Tokyo. Second, Asian players look great in SF orange and black 😎

Ichiro and Darvish are great. Ohtani is mind boggling

@raymondhopwood9393

9 ай бұрын

With a guy like Ohtani, who needs a designated hitter?

Great KZread channel!

I grew up watching Ichiro. He was magnificent. One of the best baseball players there will ever be. The best pure hitter in history.

Loved the video Eric. Keep making baseball videos please. Even though baseball is over for the season. Go Giants ⚾💯😎

Awesomeness love this channel! Keep up the good work.... Btw I'm a Sox fan! I almost forgot about 2013 World Series Champs with Uraha. I'm glad I got to watch this reminded me of a lot of Japanese born players the Sox have had over the years.

@HummBabyBaseball

9 ай бұрын

Appreciate it!

Almost every player in Japan wants to play in the MLB, but there's barriers set in order to maintain the level of the Japanese leagues. As a baseball fan, I wonder what Ichiro or Ohtani could have accomplished and what not if they started from the start.

@big8dog887

9 ай бұрын

Ichiro's unique batting style would have been coached out of him, and Ohtani would have been forced to pick either pitching or hitting. or worse yet, would have had that decision made for him.

I totally agree with this list. it's interesting that you did not have a honorable mention section. I was thinking Daisuke Matsuzaka could of made it but his numbers are not worthy of even an honorable mention outside of the two quality years that he had with the Red Sox.

@HummBabyBaseball

9 ай бұрын

I definitely considered him.. but yeah he fell short. He had huge potential.

You didn't miss him, because he was never in MLB, but every one of these guys grew up with Sadaharu Oh as their country's benchmark player. Oh, who has more verified professional home runs than anyone else (Josh Gibson might have had more, but his records weren't well kept), should be inducted into Cooperstown with Ichiro as a contributor, since, like the Negro Leaguers, he was clearly good enough, and the fact that he wasn't in MLB wasn't his fault.

@TheBatugan77

9 ай бұрын

Ichiro did enough to be in Cooperstown. Without even including his career in Japan.

@henrywallacesghost5883

9 ай бұрын

I consider Ichiro to be the all time hit king. He proved enough that if he was able to play his first handful of seasons here he would have passed Rose.

I still love So Taguchi. He is one player that got a ring with a Cardinal.

Thank you for making this video!

Nomo also played for the tigers in 2000

I was a big fan of Nori Aoki. Great contact hitter and smart as hell.

Great work!! Real pro!

Nice list.

@HummBabyBaseball

9 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Koji was amazing for the Orioles. 11/1 K/BB rate!

I remember that Oh and Hank Aaron had a home run hitting contest, and Aaron smoked him.

Great video . I have a problem with older players , into their late 20's or older, coming in and being in consideration for rookie awards . This has been an issue in hockey as well . If you have starred in a foreign league and you're 25 plus, you should be ineligible .

@big8dog887

9 ай бұрын

I don't disagree, but the bad news is that you just disqualified Jackie Robinson, he was 28 when he won the first one.

8 year, 25 million dollar contract? That sounds vintage.

Good list. It will be interesting if Ohtani can keep up being the two way player?

@MyLife-og2kr

8 ай бұрын

He will. He's 30. He's in his prime. Just got to know his limits. I'll say another 3 4 years. He's already done it for 3.

Ichiro most definitely should be unanimous

Let’s go let’s go .

I can see why he wouldn't quite make the list, but I'd argue that Hideki Okajima has a slight case. He played six seasons, and won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2007. In fact, Okajima was largely seen as a bargaining chip for Daisuke Matsuzaka, debuting in the same year, but he was the one who made the All-Star team as a middle reliever out of the bullpen, not Matsuzaka. Okajima actually had five saves that year, and was sixth in the voting for Rookie of the Year. He never did as well after that, but he was still a sentimental favorite for me.

Ichro was just a diligent player when his prime time😅

Top ten Latino players. How about top Canadian born players

10\700 omfg

@HummBabyBaseball

8 ай бұрын

What?

@MeatyOchre

8 ай бұрын

@@HummBabyBaseball shohei lol. I was watching your video when the news dropped

@HummBabyBaseball

8 ай бұрын

​@@MeatyOchreohhh yep.. crazy contract!

That Copland clip was next level.

Too bad Ssadaharu Oh never had the chance to play the MLB all because of a clause signed between NPB and MLB after MURAKAMI