Apr 26, 2021
Last week began with a crowd of 17,712 at Tokyo Dome for a showdown between the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants, the top two teams in the Central League.
There were 15,345 fans present at the Big Egg on Sunday, when the Kyojin faced the Hiroshima Carp.
The tally for this week, however, will be zero, as Japanese baseball moves partially behind closed doors due to the start of Japan’s third state of emergency covering Tokyo, Hyogo, Kyoto and Osaka prefectures on Sunday Starting Tuesday, games hosted at Tokyo Dome, Jingu Stadium, Koshien Stadium and Osaka Dome will be played in front of empty seats until the measure ends, which is scheduled to happen May 11. Five games were postponed in hopes they can be played in front of fans at later dates.
Dec 22, 2020
Former Yomiuri Giants great Warren Cromartie won’t be returning to the team as an adviser for the 2021 season, he announced on Tuesday.
“It was a great opportunity to get back in a Giants uniform,” Cromartie told The Japan Times. “I wish them the best of luck for 2021 and beyond.”
Cromartie, who played with the Montreal Expos from 1974-1983 before becoming a three-time All-Star and the 1989 Central League MVP with the Giants in Japan, also released a statement to express his gratitude to the club.
“I wish to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Yomiuri Giants organization and especially Hara-kantoku for the opportunity and privilege of once again donning a Giants uniform,” Cromartie said in the statement, referencing Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara. “From my first time, over 26 years ago in 1984 as a player under my mentor and sensei Sadaharu Oh-kantoku and Hara-kantoku for the chance this past year to live out a second life wit