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Collboni Presents the Gold Medal for Sporting Merit to Pau Gasol - Barcelona

Family photo during the presentation of the Gold Medal for sporting merit to former basketball player Pau Gasol, on May 27, 2025, in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain). Pau Gasol is considered the best basketball player in the history of Spain, with a career spanning 18 seasons in the NBA where he won two rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and was a six-time All-Star. With the Spanish national team, he won 11 international medals, including the 2006 world gold medal and three European golds, in addition to being MVP in several tournaments. He also shined at FC Barcelona, where he won three ACB Leagues and two Copa del Rey, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Photo by Lorena Sopena/Europa Press/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Collboni Presents the Gold Medal for Sporting Merit to Pau Gasol - Barcelona

Former basketball player Pau Gasol, receives the Gold Medal for sporting merit, on May 27, 2025, in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain). Pau Gasol is considered the best basketball player in the history of Spain, with a career spanning 18 seasons in the NBA where he won two rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and was a six-time All-Star. With the Spanish national team, he won 11 international medals, including the 2006 world gold medal and three European golds, in addition to being MVP in several tournaments. He also shined at FC Barcelona, where he won three ACB Leagues and two Copa del Rey, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Photo by Lorena Sopena/Europa Press/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Collboni Presents the Gold Medal for Sporting Merit to Pau Gasol - Barcelona

The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni (left), during the presentation of the Gold Medal for sporting merit to former basketball player Pau Gasol, on May 27, 2025, in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain). Pau Gasol is considered the best basketball player in the history of Spain, with a career spanning 18 seasons in the NBA where he won two rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and was a six-time All-Star. With the Spanish national team, he won 11 international medals, including the 2006 world gold medal and three European golds, in addition to being MVP in several tournaments. He also shined at FC Barcelona, where he won three ACB Leagues and two Copa del Rey, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Photo by Lorena Sopena/Europa Press/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Collboni Presents the Gold Medal for Sporting Merit to Pau Gasol - Barcelona

The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni (left), during the presentation of the Gold Medal for sporting merit to former basketball player Pau Gasol, on May 27, 2025, in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain). Pau Gasol is considered the best basketball player in the history of Spain, with a career spanning 18 seasons in the NBA where he won two rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and was a six-time All-Star. With the Spanish national team, he won 11 international medals, including the 2006 world gold medal and three European golds, in addition to being MVP in several tournaments. He also shined at FC Barcelona, where he won three ACB Leagues and two Copa del Rey, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Photo by Lorena Sopena/Europa Press/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Collboni Presents the Gold Medal for Sporting Merit to Pau Gasol - Barcelona

Former basketball player Pau Gasol (right), receives the Gold Medal for sporting merit, on May 27, 2025, in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain). Pau Gasol is considered the best basketball player in the history of Spain, with a career spanning 18 seasons in the NBA where he won two rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and was a six-time All-Star. With the Spanish national team, he won 11 international medals, including the 2006 world gold medal and three European golds, in addition to being MVP in several tournaments. He also shined at FC Barcelona, where he won three ACB Leagues and two Copa del Rey, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Photo by Lorena Sopena/Europa Press/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Collboni Presents the Gold Medal for Sporting Merit to Pau Gasol - Barcelona

Former basketball player Pau Gasol (right), receives the Gold Medal for sporting merit, on May 27, 2025, in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain). Pau Gasol is considered the best basketball player in the history of Spain, with a career spanning 18 seasons in the NBA where he won two rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and was a six-time All-Star. With the Spanish national team, he won 11 international medals, including the 2006 world gold medal and three European golds, in addition to being MVP in several tournaments. He also shined at FC Barcelona, where he won three ACB Leagues and two Copa del Rey, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Photo by Lorena Sopena/Europa Press/ABACAPRESS.COM

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FIBA chief calls for JBA's reform by June

TOKYO, Japan - Patrick Baumann, secretary general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 18, 2014, expressing his hope that the Japan Basketball Association will complete its reform by June to pave the way for unifying the country's basketball community split into two leagues.

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FIBA official meets Japan sports minister on JBA reform

TOKYO, Japan - Patrick Baumann (L), secretary general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), meets with sports minister Hakubun Shimomura at the latter's office in Tokyo on Dec. 17, 2014, to discuss proposed reform of Japan's basketball community. The two agreed to have sports ministry officials join a task force as observers to help lift a FIBA ban on the Japan Basketball Association's international competitions imposed for the JBA's failure to unify the domestic basketball world split into two leagues.

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Japan Basketball Association leaders to resign over sanctions

TOKYO, Japan - Mitsuru Maruo, the Japan Basketball Association's acting chairman, holds a press conference in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward on Dec. 3, 2014, after the JBA's directors decided earlier in the day to resign following the International Basketball Federation's decision to ban Japan from international competition for the JBA's failure to merge its two competing leagues.

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NPB head Kato announces resignation

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Ryozo Kato (back L) is pictured at the owners' meeting on Sept. 19, 2013. Kato announced his resignation at the meeting. He had come under fire in June, when it was revealed that NPB had secretly altered the baseball used by its two leagues.

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NPB head Kato announces resignation

TOKYO, Japan - A meeting of the professional baseball owners is held in Tokyo on Sept. 19, 2013. Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Ryozo Kato (back, center L) announced his resignation at the meeting. He had come under fire in June, when it was revealed that NPB had secretly altered the baseball used by its two leagues.

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NPB head Kato announces resignation

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Ryozo Kato enters a room at a hotel in Tokyo to attend the owners' meeting on Sept. 19, 2013. Kato announced his resignation at the meeting. He had come under fire in June, when it was revealed that NPB had secretly altered the baseball used by its two leagues.

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Darvish gets 15th win

ARLINGTON, United States - Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish pitches against the Seattle Mariners at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 14, 2012. Darvish allowed one run on two hits, and struck out nine -- including his 200th strikeout in his first season in the major leagues -- over seven innings, to notch his 15th win of the season as the Rangers won 9-3.

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Iwakuma gets 1st major league win

SEATTLE, United States - Seattle Mariners reliever Hisashi Iwakuma pitches against the San Francisco Giants in an interleague match-up at Safeco Field in Seattle on June 16, 2012. Iwakuma pitched two hitless innings to mark his career first win in the major leagues as the Mariners won 7-4.

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Iwakuma gets 1st major league win

SEATTLE, United States - Seattle Mariners reliever Hisashi Iwakuma pitches against the San Francisco Giants in an interleague match-up at Safeco Field in Seattle on June 16, 2012. Iwakuma pitched two hitless innings to mark his career first win in the major leagues as the Mariners won 7-4.

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Iwakuma gets 1st major league win

SEATTLE, United States - Seattle Mariners reliever Hisashi Iwakuma pitches against the San Francisco Giants in an interleague match-up at Safeco Field in Seattle on June 16, 2012. Iwakuma pitched two hitless innings to mark his career first win in the major leagues as the Mariners won 7-4.

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Darvish gets 4th win

TORONTO, Canada - Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 30, 2012. Darvish worked seven innings, allowing one run and four hits with two walks while striking out nine, to pick up his fourth win in the major leagues in the Rangers' 4-1 victory.

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Darvish gets 4th win

TORONTO, Canada - Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 30, 2012. Darvish worked seven innings, allowing one run and four hits with two walks while striking out nine, to pick up his fourth win in the major leagues in the Rangers' 4-1 victory.

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Darvish gets 4th win

TORONTO, Canada - Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 30, 2012. Darvish worked seven innings, allowing one run and four hits with two walks while striking out nine, to pick up his fourth win in the major leagues in the Rangers' 4-1 victory.

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Lions' Nakajima tagged out in Game 1 of All-Star series

SAPPORO, Japan - Seibu Lions' Hiroyuki Nakajima is tagged out at home, failing to score from third on a sacrifice fly by Nippon Ham Fighters' Tomohiro Nioka in the sixth inning of Game 1 of the two-game All-Star series between the Central and Pacific leagues at Sapporo Dome on July 24. The Central League won 10-8.

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Boston pitcher Tazawa hurls 2 good innings

FORT MYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Junichi Tazawa of Japan in his first year in the major leagues hurls two shutout innings in an exhibition game against the New York Yankees in Fort Myers, Florida, on March 13.

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Baseball: Matsuzaka, Okajima end rookie year with World Series win

DENVER, United States - Daisuke Matsuzaka (R) and Hideki Okajima are all smiles in posing for photographers at the Coors Field on Oct. 28 as the two Japanese pitchers ended their rookie season in the major leagues with their team the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series with a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies.

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Matsuzaka gets win as Boston nears World Series title

DENVER, United States - Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka hits a two-run single to left off Colorado Rokkies starter Josh Fogg in the third inning Game 3 at Coors Field on Oct. 27. Matsuzaka pitched 5-1/3 effective innings and delivered his first career hit in the major leagues to help his club beat the Rockies 10-5 and move within a win of claiming the World Series title. He is the first Japanese pitcher to win a World Series game. (MLB)

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Matsuzaka makes last spring start, ready for MLB debut

PHILADELPHIA, United States - Boston Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is starting his rookie season in the major leagues, looks confused in a shaky outing on March 31, allowing three runs on two hits and four walks in four innings against the Philadelphia Phillies in his last spring start.

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Matsuzaka makes last spring start, ready for MLB debut

PHILADELPHIA, United States - Boston Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is starting his rookie season in the major leagues, looks unhappy after giving up a two-run homer to Pat Burrell in the third inning in a shaky outing against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 31 in his last spring start. He allowed three runs on two hits and four walks in four innings, but picked up the win thanks to run support from the Red Sox offense in their 7-5 victory.

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Iguchi hits 1st homer in majors, goes 4-for-4

CHICAGO, United States - Chicago White Sox rookie Tadahito Iguchi hits his first homer and had his first four-hit game in the major leagues on May 3 as he went 4-for-4 and drove in two runs in a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

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Slugger Nakamura leaves for U.S. in bid for MLB move

OSAKA, Japan - Orix Buffaloes infielder Norihiro Nakamura, who has expressed his hopes to play in the major leagues next season, leaves Kansai International Airport for the United States on Dec. 4 to demonstrate his capabilities in front of major league scouts. ''I want them to watch my defensive skills and it will be good if I can show them how good I am in fielding,'' said Nakamura, who is scheduled to stay in the United States for about two weeks.

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(5)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

OSAKA, Japan - Japan's professional baseball players association head Atsushi Furuta is surrounded by reporters Sept. 8 at Koshien Stadium after the owners of the 12 professional ball clubs approved the merger between the Orix BlueWave and Kintetsu Buffaloes and decided to keep the two-league system.

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(4)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

OSAKA, Japan - Orix BlueWave fans carry banners opposing the merger of the BluWave and Kintetsu Buffaloes at Yahoo BB Stadium in Kobe on Sept. 8. The owners of Japan's 12 professional baseball clubs approved the merger and decided to keep the two-league system the same day.

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(2)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

OSAKA, Japan - Kintetsu Buffaloes players association president Koichi Isobe answers reporters' questions Sept. 8 at Osaka Dome after the owners of Japan's 12 professional ballclubs approved the merger between the Orix BlueWave and Buffaloes and decided to keep the two-league system at an extraordinary meeting.

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(3)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

TOKYO, Japan - Kintetsu Buffaloes owner Wa Tashiro, Yomiuri Giants owner Takuo Takihana, Japanese pro baseball commissioner Yasuchika Negoro, Orix BluWave owner Yoshihiko Miyauchi (from left to right) attend a press conference in a Tokyo hotel Sept. 8 after the owners of Japan's 12 professional ballclubs approved the Orix-Kintestu merger and decided to keep the two-league system.

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(1)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

TOKYO, Japan - The owners of the 12 professional ball clubs hold an extraordinary meeting in Tokyo on Sept. 8. They approved the merger between the Orix BlueWave and Kintetsu Buffaloes and decided to keep the two-league system.

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(2)Players strike looms as merger nears reality

TOKYO, Japan - Hajime Toyokura, chairman of the professional baseball Central League, speaks to reporters at a hotel in Tokyo on Sept. 6 after a meeting of representatives of the 12 baseball clubs in Japan's two professional leagues. A merger plan by the Orix BlueWave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes, both in the Pacific League, was approved at the meeting.

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Japanese baseball fans rally in Tokyo against 1-league system

TOKYO, Japan - Baseball fans carry placards in protest against a plan to combine the current two leagues of Japanese baseball into one during a demonstration on the streets of central Tokyo on Sept. 5.

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Shinjo to be tested as leadoff man for Giants

SCOTTSDALE, United States - Tsuyoshi Shinjo, a New San Francisco Giants acquisition who mostly batted sixth or seventh in the New York Mets lineup last season in his rookie year in the major leagues, was assigned the unaccustomed role of a leadoff man Feb. 26 -- two days before the Giants' preseason opener against the Chicago Cubs. (MLB)

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Ichiro homers against Rangers

ARLINGTON, United States - Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki hits a two-run homer in the 10th inning in the game between his Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, on April 6. Suzuki, who hit his first homer in the major leagues, went 4-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBIs as the Mariners won 9-7 in 10 innings.

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Japanese baseball fans rally in Tokyo against 1-league system

TOKYO, Japan - Baseball fans carry placards in protest against a plan to combine the current two leagues of Japanese baseball into one during a demonstration on the streets of central Tokyo on Sept. 5. (Kyodo)

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(2)Players strike looms as merger nears reality

TOKYO, Japan - Hajime Toyokura, chairman of the professional baseball Central League, speaks to reporters at a hotel in Tokyo on Sept. 6 after a meeting of representatives of the 12 baseball clubs in Japan's two professional leagues. A merger plan by the Orix BlueWave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes, both in the Pacific League, was approved at the meeting. (Kyodo)

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Slugger Nakamura leaves for U.S. in bid for MLB move

OSAKA, Japan - Orix Buffaloes infielder Norihiro Nakamura, who has expressed his hopes to play in the major leagues next season, leaves Kansai International Airport for the United States on Dec. 4 to demonstrate his capabilities in front of major league scouts. ''I want them to watch my defensive skills and it will be good if I can show them how good I am in fielding,'' said Nakamura, who is scheduled to stay in the United States for about two weeks. (Kyodo)

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Matsuzaka gets win as Boston nears World Series title

DENVER, United States - Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka hits a two-run single to left off Colorado Rokkies starter Josh Fogg in the third inning Game 3 at Coors Field on Oct. 27. Matsuzaka pitched 5-1/3 effective innings and delivered his first career hit in the major leagues to help his club beat the Rockies 10-5 and move within a win of claiming the World Series title. He is the first Japanese pitcher to win a World Series game. (MLB) (Kyodo)

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Japanese pitcher Nomo decides to retire

TOKYO, Japan - In this file photo, Kansas City Royals right-hander Hideo Nomo of Japan pitches against Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki of Japan at Safeco Field in Seattle on April 15. Nomo, often credited for starting a wave of Japanese players in the majors, decided on July 17 to call it quits after an illustrious career that included two no-hitters in the major leagues. (Kyodo)

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Boston pitcher Tazawa hurls 2 good innings

FORT MYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Junichi Tazawa of Japan in his first year in the major leagues hurls two shutout innings in an exhibition game against the New York Yankees in Fort Myers, Florida, on March 13. (Kyodo)

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Baseball: Kuroda roughed up by Giants in Hiroshima

Former New York Yankees pitcher Hiroki Kuroda reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Shuichi Murata in the sixth inning of the Hiroshima Carp's 6-0 loss to the Yomiuri Giants at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima on July 13, 2016. Kuroda gave up six runs in 6-2/3 innings and remained one win shy of reaching 200 wins in his combined career in the Japanese and major leagues. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ichiro's pro hit total surpasses Pete Rose's

Fans hold a sign in the stands at Petco Park in San Diego, California, on June 15, 2016. Ichiro Suzuki of the Miami Marlins had two hits against the Padres to raise the hit total of his combined career in the major and Japanese leagues to 4,257. Pete Rose's 4,256 hits is Major League Baseball's record as MLB does not recognize combined stats. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Hawks captain Matsuda abandons major league bid

SoftBank Hawks third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda holds a press conference in Fukuoka on Dec. 24, 2015. Matsuda said he will return to the two-time defending Japan Series champions, instead of moving to the major leagues as a free agent. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Hiroshima Carp appear ready to consider posting Maeda

Kenta Maeda, the ace of Japan's Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp., speaks at a news conference in Hiroshima on Nov. 24, 2015, after being chosen as one of the recipients of the Best Nine Award. Earlier in the day, Maeda, a two-time winner of the Sawamura Award as Japan's most impressive pitcher, asked the Carp to allow him to move to the Major Leagues through the posting system. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Hiroshima Carp appear ready to consider posting Maeda

Kenta Maeda, the ace of Japan's Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp., poses during a news conference in Hiroshima on Nov. 24, 2015, after being chosen as one of the recipients of the Best Nine Award. Earlier in the day, Maeda, a two-time winner of the Sawamura Award as Japan's most impressive pitcher, asked the Carp to allow him to move to the Major Leagues through the posting system. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan Series MVP Lee takes aim at U.S. major leagues

Lee Dae Ho, first baseman of Japan's Pacific League baseball club SoftBank Hawks and MVP of the recently completed Japan Series, poses during a press conference in Seoul on Nov. 3, 2015. Lee, a two-time Triple Crown winner in the Korean Baseball Organization who has played the past four seasons in Japan, said he wants to play in the U.S. major leagues next season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan Series MVP Lee takes aim at U.S. major leagues

Lee Dae Ho, first baseman of Japan's Pacific League baseball club SoftBank Hawks and MVP of the recently completed Japan Series, speaks at a news conference in Seoul on Nov. 3, 2015. Lee, a two-time Triple Crown winner in the Korean Baseball Organization who has played the past four seasons in Japan, said he wants to play in the U.S. major leagues next season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan basketball community leaders strike pose with single league in sight

Saburo Kawabuchi (C), chairman of the Japan Basketball Association, poses after a press conference in Tokyo on July 27, 2015, together with Toshimitsu Kawachi (L), commissioner of the bj-League, and Mikiya Horii, vice chairman of the National Basketball League. The two leagues have agreed to merge in 2016 under Kawabuchi's initiative after the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) barred the domestic basketball community from participation in international competitions last November for being split. The sanction was lifted in June. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo