Joe Donald Stanka; Nankai Hawks Fans' Hero

I have been an enthusiastic fan of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks since I was a kid. The team had been franchized in Osaka and owned by a railway company 'Nankai' until they were sold to a big supermarket 'Daiei' and moved to Fukuoka City of Kyushu in 1988. Then Daiei sold the team to the current owner 'SoftBank' in 2004. Whoever owns the team, I love the Hawks. I sometimes bought Baseball Magazine, both weekly and monthly ones, and kept some memorial ones. I chose some gravures from the magazines here.

In 1964 the Hawks won the pennant race of the Pacific League and the ace pitcher Joe Stanka won as many as 26 games aginst 7 losses. The Hawks played with the Hanshin Tigers, the champion of another league-Central League- and won the champion series by 4-3. Stanka pitched four games as a starting pitcher and won three games, 1st,6th and 7th games all by shutouts. The final game was held on October 10, 1964. It was the day when the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics was held.

He was awarded MVP and given an automobile as an additional prize.

His teammate Tadashi Sugiura showered beer over him.

Stanka and his teammates

Sugiura, Nomura, Stanka, Hirose and Koike(From left to right)

I am sorry to hear the news that this great pitcher-Joe Donald Stanka- passed away on October 15, 2018.
RIP.

The above is an obituary of Joe Stanka.

Additional photos.
Other gravures from Baseball Magazine 

 

After the 6the game Stanka left the stadium with his wife.

Teammates tossed Stanka into the air as a ritual.

Cherry Blossoms are in Full Bloom

These are the photoes taken at Chidori-ga-fuchi moat beside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Chinese New Year in Yokohama

The second largest China Town in the world is here in Yokohama. Dragon and Lion dance performances were held there. Performers were highschool students invited from Kobe.

Super Blue Blood Moon

20:55

21:08

21:19

21:36

21:41

21:51

21:54

22:31

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23:11

23:16

My friend Mr. T. Hatanaka took these photos of 'Super Blue Blood Moon on Jan 31. I wiil be glad if you enjoy them.

 

Mt Fuji

Mt. Fuji Is the highst mountain in Japan, so it can be seen even from my house in Yokohama. It is 3776.24 meter high.
Today, sky is clear and I could take a beautiful shot of its shape.  

Hakone Ekiden

It is my New Year's routine to go and see university students' relay marathon, so called Hakone Ekiden held on January 2nd and third.
Tokai University's anchor is at the third place but ended at the fifth place.

Waseda and Nittai-dai  are neck and neck and neck and finished at the third and fourth places respectively.

 

Toyo University is the runner-up team after Aoyama University.

 

This is the anchor of Aoyama University which won the race four times consecutively.

 

Chrysanthemum Exhibition in Yokohama

These are pictures taken at Sankei-en Garden in Yokohama. Chrysanthemum exhibition was being held.

 

 

 

 

Bonsais are also being displayed. I hope you enjoy these photos/