# Japanese baseball uniforms **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2010, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243 "2010-08-05T08:50:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/1 "2010-08-05T08:50:45Z")
I was watching this most [excellent outfield catch](http://deadspin.com/5604310/spider+man-outfielder-commits-gloved-robbery), and it got me wondering why Japanese baseball uniforms have the team name in English. Anyone have any ideas? –SMM ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/2 "2010-08-05T09:25:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/3 "2010-08-05T15:44:33Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/4 "2010-08-05T15:53:47Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/5 "2010-08-05T15:56:41Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > All Japanese can read English … :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. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/6 "2010-08-05T16:53:19Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/7 "2010-08-05T17:09:55Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > English on clothing has long been “cool.” Yes, but English being used on Japanese baseball uniforms goes back at least a hundred years. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/8 "2010-08-05T17:58:14Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Is it legal for an outfielder to make a catch while actually standing on the top of the outfield wall like that? 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. ---
**Author:** ![W0X0F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@W0X0F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/W0X0F)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/9 "2010-08-05T18:17:24Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > > [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > > > Is it legal for an outfielder to make a catch while actually standing on the top of the outfield wall like that? > > 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? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/10 "2010-08-05T18:28:29Z")
> [@W0X0F](#): > > > [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > > > 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. > [@MLB Rules](#): > > 6.05 A batter is out when— > > (a) His fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a fielder; > > Rule 6.05(a) Comment: A fielder may reach into, but not step into, a dugout to make a catch, and if he holds the ball, the catch shall be allowed. A fielder, in order to make a catch on a foul ball nearing a dugout or other out-of-play area (such as the stands), must have one or both feet on or over the playing surface (including the lip of the dugout) and neither foot on the ground inside the dugout or in any other out-of-play area. Ball is in play, unless the fielder, after making a legal catch, falls into a dugout or other out-of-play area, in which case the ball is dead. Status of runners shall be as described in Rule 7.04(c) Comment. ---
**Author:** ![W0X0F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@W0X0F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/W0X0F)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/11 "2010-08-05T18:48:40Z")
Thanks! That answers my question perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/12 "2010-08-05T22:01:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/13 "2010-08-06T01:05:30Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > > [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > > > Is it legal for an outfielder to make a catch while actually standing on the top of the outfield wall like that? > > 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 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. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/14 "2010-08-06T01:34:50Z")
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”. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/15 "2010-08-06T03:04:45Z")
Thanks for everyone’s interesting responses. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-baseball-uniforms/549243/16 "2010-08-06T04:15:33Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > 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 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.