Several weeks ago, J. had a haircut appointment in Yokohama on Saturday afternoon (which I begged off from... I know, shocker...), but I met her late that afternoon up there in hopes that we could catch the BayStars vs. Chunichi Dragons baseball game.
I'd heard from many people that attending a Japanese baseball game was a "must" for any sports fan visiting here. Let me tell you, its not a "must" just for visitors. The game, alone, would be worth getting on a flight and traveling across the Pacific!
I used to be a pretty big baseball fan. However, in the last 5-10 years - don't know if it was the fact that the Cubs would crush my spirit every year, the work stoppages or just the outright greed and stupidity of both players and management that turned me off - but somewhere, I lost all interest. And let's face it, sitting through a game can be downright boring. However, if American baseball games were HALF as much fun and entertaining as a Japanese baseball game, I'd probably buy season tickets.
The fans are incredible. Yokohama's team, the BayStars, is about as deep in last place as one can get. They have the worst record in the league. Yet, on this Saturday night, with only 1 week left in the season and absolutely nothing to play for, their supporters were out in force, cheering and chanting and singing as if lives depended on it. Just an unbelievable atmosphere. Its all very organized by 5-6 guys in white gloves and kimonos who stand on risers in front and lead the cheers. Despite having the worst seats in the stadium (but in the middle of the home cheering section), we found ourselves getting completely wrapped up in the game and the cheers. We even did our best "hillbilly Japanese" to sing along with them (it involved a lot of mumbling about "something... something... Yokohama!... something... something...BayStars!!").
Yokohama hit the game-winning HR in the bottom of the 8th inning to pull out a come-from-behind win. Needless to say, pandemonium reigned from that point on...
Japanese baseball fun fact: The fans cheer LOUDLY and non-stop while their team is batting. But as soon as the third out is made, they sit down and don't. say. a. word. (or head to the beer stand...) Then, when the opposing team makes their third out, they rise with a full-throated roar and don't stop until Out #3 again.
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