Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
From BR Bullpen
Japan Series Titles: 0
Pacific League Pennants: 0
Franchise Players: Too early to tell
Current Manager: Katsuya Nomura
Stadium: Fullcast Stadium Miyagi
Rakuten, Japan's largest online shopping center, was denied by the Japanese baseball establishment in their attempt to buy a financially struggling team in 2004. When the Orix Blue Wave and Kintetsu Buffaloes merged to form the Orix Buffaloes, the Pacific League was down to 5 teams; Rakuten put in a bid for a new franchise and was approved.
The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles began play in 2005 and won their opener 3-1, but lost their second game 26-0, tying the worst shutout in Nippon Pro Baseball history as the team got one-hit. They were the slowest team ever to 10 wins, starting 9-37 before taking three straight interleague games from the defending Central League champions, the Chunichi Dragons.
Finishing last in their initial season, the Golden Eagles will finish last in the Pacific League in runs and runs allowed. Veteran sluggers Takeshi Yamasaki and Koichi Isobe have led the team, as gaijin imports Luis Lopez, Andy Tracy, Damon Minor, Gary Rath and Kevin Hodges all disappointed and top prospect Yasuhiro Ichiba did not live up to early expectations. As with most expansion teams, hope remains several years down the line.
[edit] Managers
- 2005: Yasushi Tao
- 2006-present: Katsuya Nomura
| New Team formed from merger of the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Orix BlueWave | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 2005 - present | Current team name |
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