Orix Buffaloes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orix Buffaloes |
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| オリックス・バファローズ | |||||
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| Information | |||||
| League | Nippon Professional Baseball
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| Location | HQ in Nishi-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan | ||||
| Ballpark | Kyocera Dome Osaka Hotto Motto Field Kobe |
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| Year founded | January 23, 1936 | ||||
| PL pennants | 15 (1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1995, 1996, 2021, 2022, 2023) | ||||
| Japan Series championships | 5 (1975, 1976, 1977, 1996, 2022) | ||||
| Former name(s) |
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| Former ballparks |
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| Colors | Navy Blue, Gold, White |
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| Mascot | Buffalo Bull and Buffalo Bell | ||||
| Playoff berths | 10 (1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2008, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023) | ||||
| Ownership | Yoshihiko Miyauchi | ||||
| Management | Orix | ||||
| Manager | Mamoru Kishida | ||||
| Uniforms | |||||
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The Orix Buffaloes (オリックス・バファローズ) are a professional baseball team from Japan. They play in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league, which is the highest level of baseball in Japan. The team was formed in 2005 when two teams, the Orix BlueWave and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, joined together.
The Buffaloes play their home games in two different stadiums. They use Kyocera Dome Osaka and also Kobe Sports Park Baseball Stadium. This happens especially when the Hanshin Tigers need to use Kyocera Dome. The Tigers' main stadium is often used for big high school baseball tournaments.
As of 2022, the Orix Buffaloes had a winning record. They won more games than they lost in their history.
Contents
Team History
Early Days: Hankyu Braves
The team that became the Orix Buffaloes started way back in 1936. It was owned by a railway company called Hankyu Railway. The team was first known as the Osaka Hankyu Baseball Club. Later, they became famous as the Hankyu Braves. They were one of the very first professional baseball teams in Japan. In fact, they are the oldest team still playing in the Pacific League today.
In the 1950s, the Braves brought in talented players from other countries. Some of these players were African-American baseball stars from the Negro league baseball in the United States. They were among the first American players to join Japanese professional baseball after World War II.
A Winning Team
From the mid-1960s, the Hankyu Braves became one of the best teams in Japanese baseball. Between 1967 and 1972, they won the Pacific League championship five times! However, they kept losing the Japan Series, which is like the championship game, to the Yomiuri Giants. Their manager, Yukio Nishimoto, was known for these tough losses.
But things changed in 1975. Led by manager Toshiharu Ueda, the Hankyu Braves won the Japan Series three years in a row, from 1975 to 1977. They even beat the Yomiuri Giants in 1976 and 1977. Many great players were on the team then, including pitcher Hisashi Yamada and outfielder Yutaka Fukumoto. Fukumoto was known for stealing many bases.
In the 1980s, the team was still strong. They won the Pacific League championship in 1984.
A Big Change: Orix Takes Over
On October 19, 1988, the Hankyu Railway company sold the team. A company called Orient Lease (now Orix Group) bought it. This was a big surprise because Japanese baseball teams rarely changed owners back then. The team was renamed the Orix Braves for a couple of years. They continued to play in Nishinomiya.
Moving to Kobe: Orix BlueWave
In 1991, the team moved to Kobe and became the Orix BlueWave. The team changed its colors to navy blue and gold. Fans were a bit surprised by the new name, as they had voted for "Braves" or "Thunder." But the team chose "BlueWave." Even though the new stadium in Kobe was good, some fans missed the old "Braves" name.
The Orix BlueWave had a superstar player named Ichiro Suzuki. With Ichiro leading the way, the team won the Pacific League championship in 1995 and 1996. In 1996, they also won the Japan Series! Ichiro later became a huge star in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States.
The New Team: Orix Buffaloes
In 2004, there was a big change in Japanese baseball. The Orix BlueWave merged with another team, the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes. This created the new Orix Buffaloes team, which started playing in 2005.
After the merger, the team had some tough years. But in 2021, they finished first in the Pacific League! They made it to the Japan Series for the first time since 1996. They played against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows but lost in six games.
In 2022, the Buffaloes had an amazing season. They finished first in the Pacific League again! They then won the Pacific League Climax Series. This set up a rematch against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the Japan Series. This time, the Buffaloes won, defeating the Swallows 4 games to 2! It was their first Japan Series championship since 1996.
After their big win in 2022, one of their star players, Masataka Yoshida, moved to play in MLB. In 2023, the Buffaloes continued their success, winning their third straight Pacific League championship. They made it to the Japan Series again but were defeated by the Hanshin Tigers. Another star player, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, also moved to MLB after the 2023 season. Without these key players, the Buffaloes finished fifth in 2024. Their manager, Satoshi Nakajima, stepped down and Mamoru Kishida became the new manager.
Baseball Hall of Famers
Many great players and managers who played for the Hankyu Braves or Orix teams have been honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Yutaka Fukumoto (played 1969–1988)
- Takao Kajimoto (played 1954–1973)
- Hisashi Yamada (played 1969–1988)
- Tetsuya Yoneda (played 1956–1975)
- Ichiro Suzuki (played 1992-2000)
MLB Players
Many players from the Orix Buffaloes and its earlier teams have also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States.
- Masataka Yoshida (started in MLB in 2023)
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (started in MLB in 2024)
- Ichiro Suzuki (played for Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees)
- Hideo Nomo
- Shigetoshi Hasegawa
- So Taguchi
- Adam Jones
- Park Chan Ho
Managers
The Orix Buffaloes and their earlier teams have had many managers throughout their history. Here are some of the most notable ones:
- Yukio Nishimoto (managed for 11 years, won 5 Pacific League championships)
- Toshiharu Ueda (managed for 5 years, won 4 Pacific League championships and 3 Japan Series)
- Akira Ōgi (managed for 8 years, won 2 Pacific League championships and 1 Japan Series)
- Satoshi Nakajima (managed for 4 years, won 3 Pacific League championships and 1 Japan Series)
Team Song
The Orix Buffaloes have a popular theme song called "Sky" by the Japanese band Mega Stopper. Fans often sing it during games. The team's cheerleading squad, BsGirls, also sings a version of the song.
Mascots
The team has had different mascots over the years:
- 1981-1990: Bravey, Yuta, and Braves Boy.
- 1991-2010: Neppie and Ripsea.
- Since 2011: Buffalo Bull and Buffalo Bell. They are a brother and sister duo, who are a mix of an oryx and a buffalo.
See also
In Spanish: Orix Buffaloes para niños
