By Gaetano Kazuo Maida.  (May 5, 2026)

In these heady days of the astonishing exploits of the Japanese baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers (he’s a unique double-threat: an overpowering pitcher and a home run hitter who steals bases), it may be hard to fathom the early days of Japanese players here—indeed, of Japanese baseball itself. Continue reading →