To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the introduction of baseball to Japan this year, the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization and the All Japan Baseball Association have designated the 150 sacred places and famous places related to baseball throughout Japan. Eleven locations were selected from the Tohoku region, including the site of the old-system Second High School ground (now Katahira Park, Aoba Ward, Sendai City), the birthplace of greetings before baseball games.
11 locations selected from Tohoku
In November 1911 (Meiji 44), the “1st Tohoku Six Prefecture Junior High School Baseball Tournament” was held at the old-system second high school ground, and both teams greeted each other across the home plate, saying, “Let’s appeal to the healthiness of student baseball.” did Second high school students brought this method to the national tournament and spread it, and it is said that it became established as a unique style of amateur baseball in Japan.
In addition, the site of the Yagiyama Stadium (Taihaku Ward, Sendai City) where Babe Ruth hit two home runs in the 1934 (Showa 9) baseball game, and Yu Kikuchi of Iwate Hanamaki Higashi Takade, who both played in the U.S. Major League Baseball. Hoshi (Blue Jays) and Shohei Otani (Angels), Iwate Prefectural Baseball Stadium (Morioka City) where good pitchers such as Aki Sasaki (Lotte) of Iwate Ofunato Takade played an active part were selected.
A stamp rally will also be held around the “150 selections” of sacred places and famous places, and commemorative goods will be presented to those who have completed 50, 100, and all places. Participation methods are posted on the “150th anniversary of the introduction of baseball” special site.
