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(3)Softbank's purchase of Hawks gets final nod

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Corp. President Masayoshi Son (L in middle) and the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh (R in middle) pose for photos with young baseball fans at a Fukuoka hotel on Dec. 24. Softbank officially became the baseball club's owner the same day after obtaining approval for its purchase of the Daiei Hawks from debt-ridden retail giant Daiei Inc.

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(2)Softbank's purchase of Hawks gets final nod

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Corp. President Masayoshi Son (R) and Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh hold up the logo of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks at a Fukuoka hotel on Dec. 24 as Softbank officially became the baseball club's owner the same day.

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(1)Softbank's purchase of Hawks gets final nod

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Corp. President Masayoshi Son (R) and Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh shake hands at Fukuoka Dome on Dec. 24 as Softbank officially became the baseball club's owner the same day. The Internet service provider obtained approval for its purchase of the Daiei Hawks from debt-ridden retail giant Daiei Inc.

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Ex-Hawks catcher Kagawa dies at 52

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken in February 2002 shows Nobuyuki Kagawa, a former catcher for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks professional baseball team. Known by the nickname "Dokaben," Kagawa died of a heart attack aged 52 on Sept. 26, 2014.

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Hawks win Japan Series title

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks manager Koji Akiyama is tossed in the air after the Hawks beat the Chunichi Dragons 3-0 in Game 7 of the Japan Series at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 20, 2011. It was the Hawks' first series title since the then Daiei Hawks won it in 2003.

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Hawks win Japan Series title

FUKUOKA, Japan - Players of the Softbank Hawks celebrate on Nov. 21, 2011, after winning the Japan Series against the Chunichi Dragons at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan. It was their first series title since the then Daiei Hawks won it in 2003.

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Softbank's Son asks Oh to stay with Daiei long term

TOKYO, Japan - Softbank Corp. President Masayoshi Son (R) speaks with reporters following his meeting with Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh (L) at a Tokyo hotel on Nov. 26. Son said he has asked Oh to remain at the helm of the Fukuoka-based team as long as possible and also consider taking up the post of general manager.

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(1)Softbank plans to buy Daiei game rights from Colony Capital

FUKUOKA, Japan - Toshio Masui, the representative for U.S. investment bank Colony Capital LLC's Japanese operations, tells reporters in Fukuoka on Nov. 10 that Internet service provider Softbank Corp. has offered to buy the rights to the Daiei Hawks pro baseball team games from the U.S. firm.

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(4)MLB All-Stars - Game 4

FUKUOKA, Japan - Los Angeles Dodgers' Alex Cora hits an RBI double off Daiei Hawks' Nagisa Arakaki (L) in the sixth inning of Game 4 of an eight-game U.S.-Japan exhibition series at Fukuoka Dome on Nov. 9. The MLB team beat the Japanese All-Stars 7-2 for their fourth straight victory. (MLB)

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(2)MLB All-Stars - Game 4

FUKUOKA, Japan - Texas Rangers' Hank Blalock slams a solo homer off Daiei Hawks' Nagisa Arakaki (L) in the second inning of Game 4 of an eight-game U.S.-Japan exhibition series at Fukuoka Dome on Nov. 9. The MLB team beat the Japanese All-Stars 7-2 for their fourth straight victory. (MLB)

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(1)Japan-U.S. postseason all-star exhibition baseball games

TOKYO, Japan - Sadaharu Oh (L), manager of the Japanese baseball club Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, and Bruce Bochy, manager of the San Diego Padres, shake hands at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 4 prior to the first game of the Japan-U.S. postseason all-star exhibition series.

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(1)Softbank to bid for Fukuoka Daiei Hawks baseball club

FUKUOKA, Japan - Masayoshi Son, president of Internet services provider Softbank Corp., speaks at a press conference at a hotel in Fukuoka on Oct. 18 about the company's plan to make an offer to buy the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks professional baseball club.

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(2)Softbank to bid for Fukuoka Daiei Hawks baseball club

FUKUOKA, Japan - Masayoshi Son (L), president of Internet services provider Softbank Corp., and Fukuoka Governor Wataru Aso bow to each other at the Fukuoka prefectural government in Fukuoka on Oct. 18. Son sought Aso's support for his company's plan to buy the Pacific League baseball club Fukuoka Daiei Hawks.

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Seibu holds off Daiei to win PL pennant

FUKUOKA, Japan - Seibu Lions players toss team manager Tsutomu Ito in celebrating the team's 4-3 victory over the Daiei Hawks in the decider of the Pacific League playoffs at Fukuoka Dome on Oct. 11. The Lions will have a showdown with the Central League champion Chunichi Dragons in the best-of-seven Japan Series starting Saturday at Nagoya Dome.

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(1)Seibu holds off Daiei to win PL pennant

FUKUOKA, Japan - Seibu Lions players pose for a commemorative picture at Fukuoka Dome on Oct. 11 after the team clinches a 4-3 victory over the Daiei Hawks in the decider of the Pacific League playoffs for their first league title in two years and 15th in club history. The Lions will have a showdown with the Central League champion Chunichi Dragons in the best-of-seven Japan Series starting Saturday at Nagoya Dome.

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Daiei's Matsunaka wins triple crown as PL season ends

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks infielder Nobuhiko Matsunaka speaks to reporters at Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka on Sept. 27 after becoming the seventh triple crown winner in Japanese baseball as he finishes the Pacific League season at the top of the three major batting categories.

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Players back to ballparks after weekend strike

SAPPORO, Japan - Baseball fans form long lines to enter Sapporo Dome for a game between the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks and Nippon Ham Fighters on Sept. 20 following the end of the two-day strike by players over the realignment of baseball clubs.

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(5)Baseball fans gather at autograph sessions

FUKUOKA, Japan - Nobuhiko Matsunaka, head of the Daiei Hawks players association, speaks during an autograph session at Fukuoka Dome on Sept. 19, the second day of the first-ever strike by Japanese pro ball players.

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Sugiuchi out of action for 3 months

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks lefty Toshiya Sugiuchi (C), who broke both his hands when he vented his frustration by slugging a dugout bench, leaves a Fukuoka hospital undergoing an operation to set the broken bones on June 2. He will require at least three months of recovery, the Pacific League club said. ''I think he'll be lucky if he's able to pitch again this season,'' said Daiei manager Sadaharu Oh.

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Daiei to keep Hawks under its wing

KOBE, Japan - Daiei Inc. President Kunio Takagi speaks at a news conference at a Kobe hotel May 27 after the company's shareholders meeting. He told the meeting the struggling retailer will continue to own the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks professional baseball team.

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(2)Pacific league baseball tourney opens

FUKUOKA, Japan - Defending Pacific League baseball champion Daiei Hawks fans cheer as the team battles the Orix BlueWave in a season opening game at Fukuoka Dome on March 27. The Hawks beat the BlueWave 4-3.

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(1)Pacific League baseball tourney opens

FUKUOKA, Japan - Members of the defending Pacific League baseball champion Daiei Hawks celebrate a 4-3 victory over the Orix BlueWave in a Pacific League season opening game at Fukuoka Dome on March 27.

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(2)Japanese preseason baseball games

OSAKA, Japan - Hiroki Kokubo, who has been traded to the Yomiuri Giants from the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, tosses up his bat after belting a pinch-homer over the center-field wall in the fifth inning of a preseason game against the Kintetsu Buffaloes at Osaka Dome on March 13.

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(5)Japan's pro baseball teams kick off spring training

GUAM - Slugger Hiroki Kokubo, who has moved to the Yomiuri Giants from the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, smiles as he is interviewed by a media crew in Guam on Feb. 1, the first day of his team's 2004 preseason training.

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Daiei's Wada nets highest salary ever in 2nd season

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks southpaw Tsuyoshi Wada, the winner of the 2003 Rookie of the Year title, beams at a news conference on Dec. 19 after re-signed with the Pacific League club for a pro baseball record 80 million yen in annual salary in the second season.

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(2)Tigers join parade to celebrate winning CL pennant

OSAKA, Japan - Senichi Hoshino (L), former manager of the Central League baseball club Hanshin Tigers, waves to fans from a victory float during a parade along Midosuji street in Osaka to celebrate the club winning the league pennant. Hoshino stepped down as manager due to health concerns after the Tigers were beaten by the Pacific League champion Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in the Japan Series.

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(1)Hawks parade to celebrate Japan Series victory

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks owner Tadashi Nakauchi (fore), accompanied by manager Sadaharu Oh (R) and infielder Nobuhiko Matsunaka (L), waves at fans during an open-car parade in Fukuoaka on Nov. 1 to celebrate the club's Japan Series victory.

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Daiei release Kokubo to Yomiuri

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks infielder Hiroki Kokubo (L) speaks about his transfer to the Yomiuri Giants during a press conference at Fukuoka Dome on Nov. 3, with Daiei owner Tadashi Nakauchi sitting next to him.

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(2)Hawks parade to celebrate Japan Series victory

FUKUOKA, Japan - An estimated 360,000 people take to the streets in Fukuoka on Nov. 2 as Daiei Hawks players parade to cerebrate their first Japan Series victory in four years. (Pool photo)

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Daiei's Iguchi sets sights on major leagues

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks infielder Tadahito Iguchi comes out of the club office in Fukuoka Dome after talks with the club's acting owner Takeshi Kotsuka on Oct. 30. Iguchi said he would like to try entering the major leagues via the so-called posting system for the 2004 season.

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(1)Daiei's Jojima, Hanshin's Igawa named 2003 MVPs

FUKUOKA, Japan - Kenji Jojima of the Japan Series champions Daiei Hawks is all smiles at a news conference at Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 29 after he and Kei Igawa of the Central League pennant-winning Hanshin Tigers were named Most Valuable Players of the 2003 season together.

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(2)Daiei clinches Japan Series c'ship

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks players celebrate their victory in the Japan Series with the championship flag at Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 27.

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(4)Daiei clinches Japan Series c'ship

FUKUOKA, Japan - Hanshin Tigers fans weep after their team lost the Japan Series championship to the Daiei Hawks at Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 27.

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(1)Daiei clinches Japan Series c'ship

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh is tossed into the air after the Hawks won the Japan Series by beating the Hanshin Tigers 6-2 in last Game 7 at Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 27.

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(3)Daiei clinches Japan Series c'ship

FUKUOKA, Japan - Hanshin Tigers manager Senichi Hoshino (77) leaves Fukuoka Dome after losing the Japan Series to the Daiei Hawks in Fukuoka on Oct. 27.

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Hawks' Iguchi hits 2-run homer in Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks' Tadahito Iguchi celebrates his two-run homer in the first inning against the Hanshin Tigers in the Game 6 of Japan Series at Fukuoka Dome on Oct. 26.

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Japan Series opens in Fukuoka

FUKUOKA, Japan - Senichi Hoshino (L), manger of the Central League's Hanshin Tigers, and Sadaharu Oh, manger of Pacific League's Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, shake hands at Fukuoka Dome Oct. 18 before the opener of the best-of-seven Japan Series.

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(1)Daiei's magic No. drops to 3 in PL

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh (89) celebrates with coaching staff Sept. 23 after the team beat the Seibu Lions 2-1 at Fukuoka Dome and reduced its magic number to clinching its first Pacific League pennant in three years to three.

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(2)Daiei's magic No. drops to 3 in PL

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks fans rejoice after the team beat the Seibu Lions 2-1 at Fukuoka Dome and reduced its magic number to clinching its first Pacific League pennant in three years to three.

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Takahashi hits two home runs

OSAKA, Japan - Yomiuri Giants outfielder Yoshinobu Takahashi watches the ball after hitting a two-run homer off Fukuoka Daiei Hawks hurler Kazumi Saito in the bottom of the seventh inning of the All-Star Game One at Osaka Dome on July 15. Takahashi hit his game-tying second homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the game ended in a 4-4 draw.

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Daiei denies it plans to sell Hawks baseball team

FUKUOKA, Japan - Tadashi Nakauchi, owner of Pacific League baseball club Daiei Hawks, is surrounded by reporters at Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka City on May 23 following a newspaper report that Daiei Inc., the struggling supermarket chain operator, is considering selling the club. Nakauchi denied the report, saying he and the Daiei management have reconfirmed their policy of keeping the team.

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Terahara goes distance

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks starter Hayato Terahara went the distance to lead his team to a 4-2 victory over the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes at Fukuoka Dome on April 18.

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Daiei starts year-end sale to rebuild management

NARASHINO, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh (2nd from R) and actress Hiroko Moriguchi (R) join Daiei Inc. President Kunio Takagi (2nd from L) in a ceremony to launch the struggling supermarket chain operator's crucial year-end sale at its Tsudanuma store, east of Tokyo, on Nov. 21. Daiei, which will receive financial support from its three major creditor banks and the government-backed Development Bank of Japan, aims to boost sales during the year's biggest sales event.

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Daiei's Wakatabe becomes free agent

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks right-hander Kenichi Wakatabe leaves his club office in Fukuoka on Oct. 31 after deciding to exercise his right to become a free agent and leave the Pacific League club next season. Wakatabe, who acquired free agent status this season, expressed his hope to play for a team in the Tokyo area.

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Daiei Hawks owner Nakauchi to resign as director at 4 units

FUKUOKA, Japan - Tadashi Nakauchi, the owner of the professional baseball club Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, speaks at a press conference at Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 10 about his intention to retain his current post. But Nakauchi said he will step down as director at four other subsidiaries of ailing retailer Daiei Inc. by the end of October. Nakauchi is a son of Isao Nakauchi, the founder and former chairman of Daiei.

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Oh to stay with Daiei for another season

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh announces at a press conference at Fukuoka Dome on Oct. 7 that he will continue to lead the Pacific League team next season along with a new coaching staff.

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Daiei outfielder Akiyama to hang up spikes

FUKUOKA, Japan - Daiei Hawks outfielder Koji Akiyama (R) shakes hands with Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh at Fukuoka Dome on Aug. 26 after he announced his retirement at a press conference there.

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Hawks manager Oh celebrates 62nd birthday

OSAKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh smiles with a birthday cake presented to him by reporters May 20 at Osaka Dome in Osaka. He turned 62 on the day.

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Hawks, BlueWave play official game in Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Sadaharu Oh (R), manager of Japan's Pacific League baseball club Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, and Hiromichi Ishige (2nd from R), manager of Orix BlueWave, receive bouquets at a ballpark in Taipei on May 14 before a game. The Hawks and the BlueWave are the first Japanese baseball clubs to play an official game in Taiwan.

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Daiei manager Oh visits Taiwan President Chen

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh shakes hands with Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian at the presidential office in Taipei on May 13. The Daiei manager visited Chen and presented the team's jacket to the Taiwan president. Two Japanese Pacific League baseball clubs -- the Daiei Hawks and the Orix BlueWave -- will play games in Taipei on May 14 and 15.