Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks |
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| 福岡ソフトバンクホークス | |||||
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| Information | |||||
| League | Nippon Professional Baseball
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| Location | Chūō-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan | ||||
| Ballpark | Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka | ||||
| Year founded | February 22, 1938 | ||||
| Nickname(s) | Taka (鷹, hawk) | ||||
| PL pennants | 20 (1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1973, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2024) | ||||
| Japan Series championships | 11 (1959, 1964, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) | ||||
| JBL championships | 2 (1946, 1948) | ||||
| Former name(s) |
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| Former ballparks |
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| Colors | Revolution Yellow, Black, White, Grey |
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| Mascot | Harry Hawk and the Hawk Family | ||||
| Playoff berths | 19 (1973, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024) | ||||
| Ownership | Masayoshi Son, Yoshimitsu Goto | ||||
| Management | SoftBank Group, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Corp. | ||||
| Manager | Hiroki Kokubo | ||||
| President | Sadaharu Oh | ||||
| Website | softbankhawks.co.jp | ||||
| Uniforms | |||||
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The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (福岡ソフトバンクホークス) are a professional baseball team from Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. They play in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as part of the Pacific League. The team started on February 22, 1938, as the Nankai Club in Osaka. Over the years, they changed names several times, becoming the Nankai Hawks in 1947. In 1988, the team got a new owner and moved to Fukuoka in 1989. They were then known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks until 2005. That year, SoftBank Group bought the team, and they became the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Since 1993, the Hawks have played at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, a stadium that can hold over 40,000 fans.
The Hawks are known as one of the most successful teams in the Pacific League. They are also considered one of the richest baseball teams in Japan, thanks to SoftBank Group. They have the second-highest number of wins in all of Japanese sports, only behind the Yomiuri Giants. The Hawks have played in the Japan Series 21 times. They also won two championships in the old Japanese Baseball League in 1946 and 1948 when they were based in Osaka. The Hawks have won the Japan Series 11 times, including an amazing seven championships between 2011 and 2020. They have also won the Pacific League 20 times, most recently in 2024. These numbers make them second in the Pacific League and third overall in NPB for championships.
The Hawks went through a tough period without winning a major title for 35 years, from 1964 to 1999. They didn't even reach the Japan Series for 26 years, from 1973 to 1999, even after moving to Fukuoka. This long wait finally ended in 1999. With new manager Sadaharu Oh, the team started to get stronger. Under Oh's leadership, the Hawks focused on developing their own young players and using advanced statistics. This helped them build a strong team with stars like Yuki Yanagita and pitchers Kodai Senga and Tsuyoshi Wada. They won many Japan Series titles, including in 2003, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. This made them the first team since the 1965–1973 Yomiuri Giants to win more than three championships in a row.
As of 2024, the Hawks' overall record is 5,707 wins, 5,049 losses, and 405 ties, with a winning percentage of .531. The team's current manager is Hiroki Kokubo.
Contents
Team History
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks team started on February 22, 1938. It was founded by Nankai Electric Railway president Jinkichi Terada and was first called Nankai Club. The team was based in Osaka. They joined the Japanese Baseball League (JPBL) in late 1938. During World War II, the team's name changed to Kinki Nippon in 1944. After the war, in 1946, they became the Kinki Great Ring and won the JBL championship.
In 1947, Nankai Electric Railway separated from Kinki Nippon Railway. They changed the team's name to Nankai Hawks. This name stuck until 1988. The name "Hawks" came from Nankai's company logo, which featured a winged wheel.
When the JPBL became Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in 1950, the Hawks joined the Pacific League. Under player-manager Kazuto Tsuruoka, they became one of the best teams in the league's early years. They won two Japan Series championships in 1959 and 1964, along with 10 Pacific League titles.
In 1964, a young pitcher named Masanori Murakami from the Hawks went to play for the San Francisco Giants in the Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States. He became the first Japanese player to play in MLB. This led to rules about Japanese players joining MLB teams. Murakami returned to the Hawks in 1966 and played for them until 1974.
Between 1978 and 1988, the team struggled and didn't finish higher than 4th place. This caused their fan base to shrink. In 1988, the team was sold to the Daiei Corporation and became the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks.
Moving to Fukuoka
The Hawks moved to Fukuoka for a few reasons. Fukuoka hadn't had a baseball team for ten years. Also, Daiei wanted to grow its brand in the Kyushu region. This move meant the Hawks were no longer competing with other teams in the Osaka area. However, the team still struggled until 1997. For their first four seasons in Fukuoka, they played at Heiwadai Stadium.
In 1993, the Hawks moved into the new Fukuoka Dome, which is now called Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka. This stadium was the first in NPB to have a retractable roof. However, because of its design and Fukuoka's rainy weather, the roof is usually only opened on special sunny days. Since moving to the Fukuoka Dome, the Hawks have had the highest attendance in the Pacific League almost every year.
The Hawks started to get better by focusing on finding and developing young players. They also signed some important free agents. A big change happened in 1995 when Sadaharu Oh, a famous home run hitter, became the team's manager. He later became the team's chairman and is still involved with the Hawks today. Under Oh, the team brought in talented players like Kenji Johjima, Kazumi Saitoh, Nobuhiko Matsunaka, Tadahito Iguchi, Munenori Kawasaki, and Hiroki Kokubo. They also signed experienced players like Koji Akiyama and Kimiyasu Kudoh.
These changes helped the Hawks become more competitive. In 1999, they finally broke their long championship drought. They reached the Japan Series for the first time since 1973 and beat the Chunichi Dragons to win their first championship since 1964.
The next year, in 2000, the Hawks made it to the Japan Series again but lost to the Yomiuri Giants. Despite financial challenges for their owner, Daiei, the team remained strong. They won their second Japan Series in five years in 2003, defeating the Hanshin Tigers in a close seven-game series.
Home Run Record Discussion
In 2001, American player Tuffy Rhodes, who played for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, hit 55 home runs. This tied the single-season home run record held by Hawks' manager Sadaharu Oh. When the Buffaloes played the Hawks later that season, Rhodes was intentionally walked in every at-bat. This meant pitchers purposely threw balls outside the strike zone so he couldn't hit. This action was seen as unsportsmanlike by the league commissioner.
In 2002, another player, Alex Cabrera, also reached 55 home runs with games left. Manager Oh told his pitchers to throw strikes to Cabrera, but many still threw balls away from the plate. Oh later said that if someone was going to break the record, they should do it by more than one home run.
Eventually, in 2013, Wladimir Balentien from the Tokyo Yakult Swallows broke the NPB single-season home run record, finishing with 60 home runs. In 2022, Munetaka Murakami broke Oh's record for the most home runs in a single season by a Japanese-born player, hitting 56.
SoftBank Era: A Dynasty Begins
In 2005, SoftBank Group bought the Hawks. SoftBank had wanted to own a baseball team since 2002. This made the Hawks one of the richest teams in the world. The team continued its winning ways with many talented players from the Daiei era. In 2005, they finished first in the regular season but lost in the playoffs. In 2006, manager Sadaharu Oh missed most of the season due to illness.
The 2007 and 2008 seasons were tough for the Hawks, with injuries and inconsistent play. In 2008, they finished in last place. After this, Oh moved to a front office role, and former player Koji Akiyama became the new manager.
In 2009, the team made it to the playoffs again. They had strong performances from pitcher D. J. Houlton, outfielder Yuya Hasegawa, and Rookie of the Year Tadashi Settsu. However, they were still knocked out in the first round.
The Team of the 2010s
The Hawks finally won the Pacific League regular season title again in 2010. They had a strong pitching staff, including Tsuyoshi Wada and Toshiya Sugiuchi, and a great bullpen. Their offense was fast, leading the league in stolen bases. However, they lost in the playoffs and didn't reach the Japan Series.
In 2011, SoftBank had a dominant season and won the Pacific League again. They added outfielder Seiichi Uchikawa, who led the league in batting. After winning the Pacific League playoffs, the Hawks faced the Chunichi Dragons in the Japan Series. The Hawks won in seven games, securing their first Japan Series title since 2003.
The 2012 season was challenging because many key players left, including pitchers Tsuyoshi Wada and Toshiya Sugiuchi, and shortstop Munenori Kawasaki. The team tried to replace them with new players, but many struggled with injuries. Despite these challenges, the Hawks made it to the playoffs but lost in the final stage. A bright spot was rookie pitcher Shota Takeda, who had a fantastic season.
In 2014, the Hawks won the 2014 Japan Series by beating the Hanshin Tigers. After this, manager Koji Akiyama retired, and Kimiyasu Kudo took over. Under Kudo, SoftBank won again in 2015, defeating the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Outfielder Yuki Yanagita had an amazing season, winning the Pacific League MVP. This was the first time a team had won back-to-back Japan Series titles since 1992.
After losing in 2016, the Hawks came back strong in 2017, winning the 2017 Japan Series. They had a fantastic season with 94 wins. They won the 2018 Japan Series as well, making it two titles in a row. The next year, they made history by winning three straight Japan Series titles, sweeping the Yomiuri Giants. Pitcher Kodai Senga became a star during this time, even throwing the team's first no-hitter since 1943.
The 2020s
In 2020, the Hawks won the 2020 Japan Series again, sweeping the Yomiuri Giants for the second year in a row. This made them the first team since 1973 to win more than three consecutive Japan Series titles. In Game 3, pitcher Matt Moore pitched seven no-hit innings, almost leading to a combined no-hitter.
The 2021 season was tough for the Hawks due to many injuries. They finished 4th in the Pacific League and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Manager Kimiyasu Kudoh stepped down after the season.
In 2022, Hiroshi Fujimoto became the new manager. The Hawks started the season very strong, winning eight games in a row. However, they had an up-and-down summer and ended up losing the league title to the Orix Buffaloes on the very last day of the season. They then lost to the Buffaloes in the playoffs.
In 2023, the Hawks added new star players like Kensuke Kondoh, Roberto Osuna, and Kohei Arihara. Despite these additions, they struggled with pitching and finished third in the Pacific League, losing their playoff spot on the final day for the second year in a row. They then lost in the first round of the playoffs. After this, Fujimoto stepped down, and Hiroki Kokubo became the new manager.
The Hawks were very active before the 2024 season, making big trades and signing important players. These moves paid off, and the Hawks dominated in 2024, winning their 20th Pacific League title on September 23. They finished with an impressive 91 wins. However, they lost to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in the 2024 Japan Series, ending their record 14-game Japan Series winning streak. This was their first Japan Series loss in the SoftBank era.
Managers
The Hawks have had many managers throughout their history. Some of the most important ones include:
- Kazuto Tsuruoka (1946–1968): He led the team for 20 seasons, winning 8 Pacific League championships and 2 Japan Series titles. He is the winningest manager in team history.
- Katsuya Nomura (1970–1977): A legendary player and manager who led the team to a Pacific League title in 1973.
- Sadaharu Oh (1995–2008): A baseball legend who managed the team to 3 Pacific League titles and 2 Japan Series championships, ending the team's long drought. He later became the team's chairman.
- Koji Akiyama (2009–2014): A former Hawks star who managed the team to 3 Pacific League titles and 2 Japan Series championships.
- Kimiyasu Kudoh (2015–2021): He led the Hawks to an incredible 5 Japan Series championships in 7 seasons, including four in a row from 2017 to 2020, making it a true dynasty.
- Hiroki Kokubo (2024–present): A former Hawks captain, he became the manager in 2024 and led the team to a Pacific League pennant in his first year.
Mascots
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have the most mascots in NPB, with twelve active mascots! Nine of them are part of the Hawk Family. Here are some of the main family members:
- Harry Hawk – He's a 23-year-old yellow hawk and the main mascot. He wears the number 100. Harry is the younger brother of Homer Hawk, who was the main mascot when the team was owned by Daiei.
- Honey Hawk – An 18-year-old pink female hawk. Honey is Harry's girlfriend and the inspiration for the Honeys, the Hawks' cheerleading squad.
- Herculy Hawk – A 23-year-old brown hawk wearing number 200. Herculy is Harry's teammate and friendly rival.
- Honky Hawk – A 57-year-old brown hawk, who is Harry's uncle and the mayor of Hawks Town.
- Helen Hawk – A 55-year-old female hawk, who is Honky's wife.
- Hack Hawk – Harry's 7-year-old nephew and the oldest of three hawk brothers.
- Rick Hawk – Harry's 5-year-old nephew and the middle hawk brother. He wears glasses.
- Hock Hawk – Harry's 3-year-old nephew and the youngest hawk brother.
- Homer Hawk – The original Hawks mascot from 1989 to 2004, and Harry's older brother.
The Hawks also have other mascots, like Fu-san, who looks like the jet balloons fans release during the "Lucky 7th" inning. In 2023, for the team's 85th anniversary, they introduced Barikata-kun, a unique mascot inspired by Fukuoka's famous tonkotsu ramen.
MLB Players
Some players who have played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States.
Retired/Former MLB Players:
- Masanori Murakami (1964–1965)
- Tadahito Iguchi (2005–2008)
- Kenji Johjima (2006–2009)
- Munenori Kawasaki (2012–2016)
- Tsuyoshi Wada (2014–2015)
- Kohei Arihara (2021–2022)
Active MLB Players:
- Kodai Senga (2023–present)
The Hawks are the only team in NPB that has never "posted" a player to MLB using the official posting system that started in 1998.
Images for kids
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Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks uniforms
See also
In Spanish: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks para niños
