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Baseball: PL Climax Series final stage

SoftBank Hawks players pose after winning the Pacific League Climax Series final stage against the Nippon Ham Fighters at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 20, 2025.

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Baseball: PL Climax Series final stage

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after winning the Pacific League Climax Series final stage against the Nippon Ham Fighters at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 20, 2025.

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Baseball: PL Climax Series final stage

SoftBank Hawks players wave to fans after winning the Pacific League Climax Series final stage against the Nippon Ham Fighters at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 20, 2025.

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Baseball: PL Climax Series final stage

SoftBank Hawks players high-five after winning the Pacific League Climax Series final stage against the Nippon Ham Fighters at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 20, 2025.

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Baseball: PL Climax Series final stage

SoftBank Hawks players high-five after winning the Pacific League Climax Series final stage against the Nippon Ham Fighters at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 20, 2025.

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Baseball: PL Climax Series final stage

SoftBank Hawks players high-five after winning the Pacific League Climax Series final stage against the Nippon Ham Fighters at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 20, 2025.

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Baseball: PL Climax Series final stage

SoftBank Hawks players high-five after winning the Pacific League Climax Series final stage against the Nippon Ham Fighters at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 20, 2025.

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Baseball: CL Climax Series final stage

Hanshin Tigers players celebrate after winning the Central League Climax Series final stage with a 4-0 victory over the DeNA BayStars in Game 3 at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, western Japan, on Oct. 17, 2025.

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Baseball: CL Climax Series final stage

Hanshin Tigers players celebrate after winning the Central League Climax Series final stage with a 4-0 victory over the DeNA BayStars in Game 3 at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, western Japan, on Oct. 17, 2025.

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Baseball: CL Climax Series final stage

Hanshin Tigers players celebrate after winning the Central League Climax Series final stage with a 4-0 victory over the DeNA BayStars in Game 3 at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, western Japan, on Oct. 17, 2025.

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Baseball: CL Climax Series final stage

Hanshin Tigers players celebrate after winning the Central League Climax Series final stage with a 4-0 victory over the DeNA BayStars in Game 3 at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, western Japan, on Oct. 17, 2025.

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Baseball: BayStars book Japan Series spot

DeNA BayStars manager Daisuke Miura holds a press conference after the team booked its Japan Series berth with a 3-2 win over the Yomiuri Giants in Game 6 of the Central League Climax Series final stage at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2024.

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Baseball: BayStars book Japan Series spot

DeNA BayStars players pose for a photo after booking their Japan Series berth with a 3-2 win over the Yomiuri Giants in Game 6 of the Central League Climax Series final stage at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2024.

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Baseball: BayStars book Japan Series spot

DeNA BayStars players celebrate after beating the Yomiuri Giants 3-2 in Game 6 of the Central League Climax Series final stage at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2024, booking their Japan Series berth.

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Baseball: BayStars book Japan Series spot

DeNA BayStars players acknowledge fans after beating the Yomiuri Giants 3-2 in Game 6 of the Central League Climax Series final stage at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2024, booking their Japan Series berth.

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Baseball: BayStars book Japan Series spot

DeNA BayStars players celebrate after beating the Yomiuri Giants 3-2 in Game 6 of the Central League Climax Series final stage at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2024, booking their Japan Series berth.

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Baseball: Hawks book Japan Series spot

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after beating the Nippon Ham Fighters 3-2 in Game 3 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 18, 2024, booking their Japan Series spot.

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Baseball: Hawks book Japan Series spot

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after beating the Nippon Ham Fighters 3-2 in Game 3 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 18, 2024, booking their Japan Series spot.

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Baseball: Hawks book Japan Series spot

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after beating the Nippon Ham Fighters 3-2 in Game 3 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 18, 2024, booking their Japan Series spot.

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Baseball: Climax Series Final Stage

Hanshin Tigers players celebrate after beating the Hiroshima Carp 4-2 for a three-game sweep of their Central League Climax Series Final Stage at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, western Japan, on Oct. 20, 2023.

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Baseball: Climax Series Final Stage

Hanshin Tigers players celebrate after beating the Hiroshima Carp 4-2 for a three-game sweep of their Central League Climax Series Final Stage at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, western Japan, on Oct. 20, 2023.

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Baseball: Yakult Swallows pitcher Tony Barnette

TOKYO, Japan, Aug. 14 Kyodo - Yakult Swallows pitcher Tony Barnette lets out a roar after striking out the final Yomiuri Giants batter in the ninth inning during Game 3 of a Central League Climax Series baseball playoff game at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 16, 2015.

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Carp vs DeNA in CL Climax Series Final Stage Game 4

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Oct. 15 Kyodo - Hiroshima Carp's Brad Eldred hits a three-run homer over the right fence during the first inning of the Central League Climax Series Final Stage Game 4 against the DeNA BayStars at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima on Oct. 15, 2016.

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Baseball: NPB to adopt no-pitch intentional walk rule in 2018

SAPPORO, Japan, Dec. 19 Kyodo - Shohei Otani (L) of the Nippon Ham Fighters draws an intentional walk in Game 2 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage against the SoftBank Hawks at Sapporo Dome on Oct. 13, 2016. Nippon Professional Baseball will adopt the no-pitch intentional walk rule in 2018, according to a source familiar with the matter.

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Softbank manager Akiyama pats retiring Inaba on back

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks manager Koji Akiyama (R) commends retiring Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Atsunori Inaba after the latter's last game on Oct. 20, 2014. Softbank won 4-1 over Nippon Ham in the Pacific League Climax Series final stage at Yafuou! Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan.

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Softbank players take lap of honor after winning PL final

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks players take a lap of honor at Yafuoku! Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 20, 2014, after beating the Nippon Ham Fighters 4-1 in Game 6 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage to win a spot in the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers of the Central League.

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Softbank players fete win in PL Climax Series final

FUKUOKA, Japan - Nobuhiro Matsuda (2nd from L) and other players of the Softbank Hawks professional baseball club celebrate after beating the Nippon Ham Fighters 4-1 in Game 6 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage at Yafuoku! Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 20, 2014, winning a spot in the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers of the Central League.

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Tigers advance to Japan Series

TOKYO, Japan - Hanshin Tigers players celebrate on Oct. 18, 2014, after winning four games in a row in the Central-League Climax Series' final stage at Tokyo Dome.

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Gomez's 2-run seals Tigers win over Giants into Japan Series

TOKYO, Japan - Mauro Gomez hits a bases-loaded, two-run single to left in the seventh, contributing to the Hanshin Tigers' 8-4 win over the Yomiuri Giants in the Central League's Climax Series' final stage at Tokyo Dome on Oct. 18, 2014.

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Nakata gets hero's welcome from teammates in PL 1st stage

OSAKA, Japan - Teammates give a hero's welcome to Sho Nakata after his tiebreaking home run in the 10th inning to lift the Nippon Ham Fighters past the Orix Buffalos in the best-of-three first stage of the Pacific League Climax Series in Osaka, western Japan, on Oct. 14, 2014, booking a spot in the best-of-seven final stage.

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Nakata gives Fighters winning run with homer in PL 1st stage

OSAKA, Japan - Sho Nakata blasts a tiebreaking home run in the 10th inning to give the Nippon Ham Fighters its second win over the Orix Buffalos in the best-of-three first stage of the Pacific League Climax Series in Osaka, western Japan, on Oct. 14, 2014, booking a spot in the best-of-seven final stage.

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Rakuten clinches 1st Japan Series berth

SENDAI, Japan - Rakuten Eagles players toss manager Senichi Hoshino into the air after beating the Lotte Marines 8-5 in Game 4 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Oct. 21, 2013. The Eagles advanced to their first Japan Series to face the Yomiuri Giants.

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Rakuten clinches 1st Japan Series berth

SENDAI, Japan - Rakuten Eagles players toss manager Senichi Hoshino into the air after beating the Lotte Marines 8-5 in Game 4 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Oct. 21, 2013. The Eagles advanced to their first Japan Series to face the Yomiuri Giants.

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Giants advance to Japan Series

TOKYO, Japan - Yomiuri Giants players toss manager Tatsunori Hara into the air after beating the Chunichi Dragons in the Central League Climax Series' final stage at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Oct. 22, 2012. The Giants advanced to the Japan Series for the 33rd time.

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Giants advance to Japan Series

TOKYO, Japan - Yomiuri Giants players toss manager Tatsunori Hara into the air after beating the Chunichi Dragons in the Central League Climax Series' final stage at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Oct. 22, 2012. The Giants advanced to the Japan Series for the 33rd time.

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Dragons advance to 2nd straight Japan Series

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons outgoing manager Hiromitsu Ochiai responds to fans at Nagoya Dome in Aichi Prefecture on Nov. 6, 2011, after a 2-1 victory against the Yakult Swallows in the Central League's Climax Series, booking a spot in the Japan Series for the second consecutive year.

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Dragons advance to 2nd straight Japan Series

NAGOYA, Japan - Players of the Chunichi Dragons celebrate their 2-1 victory over the Yakult Swallows at Nagoya Dome in Aichi Prefecture on Nov. 6, 2011, in the Central League's Climax Series. The Dragons clinched a spot in the Japan Series for the second consecutive year.

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Softbank advances to Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Masayoshi Son (2nd from R, front row), chairman and chief executive officer of Softbank Corp. and owner of the baseball club Softbank Hawks, Sadaharu Oh (3rd from L, front row), chairman of the Pacific League club, and manager Koji Akiyama (4th from L, front row) pose with the Hawks players at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 5, 2011. The Hawks advanced to the Japan Series by beating the Seibu Lions in the Climax Series.

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Hanshin Tigers' new manager Wada

OSAKA, Japan - The Hanshin Tigers' new manager Yutaka Wada gives a press conference in Osaka on Oct. 28, 2011. The former batting coach replaced Akinobu Mayumi after the Tigers finished fourth in the regular season and failed to reach the Climax Series playoffs.

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Hanshin Tigers' new manager Wada

OSAKA, Japan - The Hanshin Tigers' new manager Yutaka Wada speaks at a press conference in Osaka on Oct. 28, 2011. The former batting coach replaced Akinobu Mayumi after the Tigers finished fourth in the regular season and failed to reach the Climax Series playoffs.

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Hanshin Tigers to part ways with Mayumi

OSAKA, Japan - Hanshin Tigers manager Akinobu Mayumi (front) heads to exchange rosters before a game with the Hiroshima Carp at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture on Oct. 16, 2011. Hanshin's front office announced the same day it will part ways with Mayumi after the Tigers failed to reach the Climax Series playoffs.

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Dragons oust Giants to reach Japan Series

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons veteran lefty Masahiro Yamamoto pitches against the Yomiuri Giants during Game 4 of the Central League Climax Series final stage at Nagoya Dome on Oct. 23, 2010. The 45-year-old allowed no runs in five-plus innings as the team won 4-3, earning their first trip to the Japan Series in three years.

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Dragons leap to Japan Series

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons second baseman Hirokazu Ibata leaps to catch a ball hit by Yomiuri Giants infielder Michihiro Ogasawara in the first inning of Game 4 of the Central League Climax Series final stage at Nagoya Dome on Oct. 23, 2010. Chunichi won 4-3 to earn their first trip to the Japan Series in three years.

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Dragons vs. Giants in Game 3 of Climax Series

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons second baseman Naomichi Donoue (L) tags out the Yomiuri Giants' Kenji Yano around second base in Game 3 of the Central League Climax Series at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya on Oct. 22, 2010.

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Giants' Abe blasts solo homer vs. Dragons

NAGOYA, Japan - The Yomiuri Giants' Shinnosuke Abe blasts the game-deciding solo homer in the ninth inning in Game 3 of the Central League Climax Series at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya on Oct. 22, 2010. The Giants won 3-2.

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Dragons vs. Giants in Game 3 of Climax Series

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons pitcher Daisuke Yamai pitches against the Yomiuri Giants in Game 3 of the Central League Climax Series at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya on Oct. 22, 2010. The Giants won 3-2.

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Lotte Marines clinch Japan Series berth

FUKUOKA, Japan - Lotte Marines players toss manager Norifumi Nishimura in the air to celebrate the Pacific League club's clinching a berth in the Japan Series at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 19, 2010. The Marines beat the Softbank Hawks in the six-game postseason Climax Series.

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Lotte Marines clinch Japan Series berth

FUKUOKA, Japan - Lotte Marines players toss manager Norifumi Nishimura in the air to celebrate the Pacific League club's clinching a berth in the Japan Series at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 19, 2010. The Marines beat the Softbank Hawks in the six-game postseason Climax Series.

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Lotte Marines clinch Japan Series berth

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks second baseman Yuichi Honda (L) fails to catch a fouled pop-up in the first inning of a postseason Climax Series game against the Lotte Marines at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 19, 2010. A spectator caught the ball.

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Giants beat Tigers

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Tetsuya Yamaguchi of the Yomiuri Giants pitches against the Hanshin Tigers during Game 2 of the Central League Climax Series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Oct. 17, 2010. The Giants won 7-6, advancing to the CLCS final stage where they will face the CL champion Chunichi Dragons in Nagoya.