I was watching this most excellent outfield catch, and it got me wondering why Japanese baseball uniforms have the team name in English. Anyone have any ideas?
–SMM
Because the team names are English words. More generally, because the uniforms were created in imitation of American teams. The only time Japanese has ever been used on the uniforms was during WW2.
All Japanese can read English, and English on clothing has long been “cool.”
You will also note that for teams who list the player’s name on the back of the jersey, they also do so in English.
It makes me think it’s a nod to America’s baseball tradition. Similarly, many of the trappings of martial arts study in the U.S. commonly feature East Asian writing (e.g. a headband or a gi adorned with Chinese or Japanese characters).
:dubious:
Do you mean “All Japanese can parse the Roman alphabet” or “All Japanese can readily plow through the English-language text of Hamlet”?
The former, yes. The latter … seems doubtful to me.
I confess, I paused for a moment to wonder, “does that uniform say ‘Crap’?”
Is it legal for an outfielder to make a catch while actually standing on the top of the outfield wall like that?
Yes, but English being used on Japanese baseball uniforms goes back at least a hundred years.
Yes, as long as he lands in the field of play after making the catch. If he were to fall the other way, into the bleachers, it would be a homerun.
This certainly sounds like the way it should be, but I’ve seen MLB plays where the fielder goes over the railing for a foul ball and ends up in the stands among the fans. But if he catches the ball, the batter is out. Any idea why it’s different in that case?
He has to catch the ball with at least one foot on or over the field before falling into the seats. Otherwise he could leap the railing and run up 20 rows to make the catch.
Here is the relevant rule. I could not find a corresponding rule that interprets the case for a ball in fair territory.
Thanks! That answers my question perfectly.
Yeah, the railing around the field is in-play. In the outfield at least, it is usually marked by a yellow painted line or padding atop the wall. Interestingly, in the last week or ten days, I have seen two ball hit by the Rockies land squarely on the yellow padding and bounce back onto the field for a live ball.
This is not entirely correct. The call would appropriately have to refer to the ground rules, but in most parks the top of the outfield fence is in play.
Back to the OP’s original question: Yes, all Japanese teams do have their team names in English. Many of them use the same style of lettering as MLB teams: The Yomiuri Giants is similar to the old New York Giants. The Chunichi Dragons is similar to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even the Hiroshima Carp’s cap with its well-known “C” is the same as the Cincinnati Reds “C”.
Thanks for everyone’s interesting responses.
This is not correct. As long as the catch itself is legal as per the rule quoted by CookingWIthGas, where the fielder lands after the catch does not invalidate it. If the catch is invalid landing in the field of play does not validate it.