Asia Series
Encyclopedia
The Asia Series is an international baseball
tournament in East Asia
that was first held between November 10 and November 13, 2005, in Tokyo
. The tournament was sponsored by Konami
corporation from 2005 to 2007 and was known as the Konami Cup in that period.
It is played among the annual champions of the Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) Japan Series
, the Korea Professional Baseball's (KPB) Korean Series
, the Chinese Professional Baseball League
's (CPBL) Taiwan Series
, and the China Baseball League
's (CBL) championship series. Prior to 2008, China Stars
, an all-star team of China Baseball League participated in the series instead of the champion from China.
The Asia Series was placed on hold due to financing issues following the withdrawal of Konami, reducing 2009's pan-Asian postseason to a single Club Championship game between the Japanese and Korean champions at Nagasaki
, with the Yomiuri Giants
defeating the Kia Tigers
, 9–4. A potential 2010 revival was then cancelled due to a conflict with the 2010 Asian Games
, and replaced with another round of club championship games. The Korean champion SK Wyverns
split a two-game series with CPBL champion Brother Elephants
in Taiwan, before being defeated by the NPB's Chiba Lotte Marines
at the Tokyo Dome
, 3–0.
The subject of re-introducing the event for 2011 was discussed in a November 2010 meeting between the heads of the NPB, KPB, CPBL, and Australian Baseball League
(ABL). The CPBL offered to host the event in November 2011. The Perth Heat
announced on May 18, 2011 that they will be participating in the tournament. The ABL will have a bye week built into the season to accommodate this.
series, playing each other team once. The two teams with the best win-loss percentage face each other in the final, with the team finishing higher considered the "home team", meaning that they have the advantage of batting last. In previous tournaments, if teams were tied a series of tiebreakers were used to decide which teams qualified for the final and in what order, firstly using the head-to-head win-loss records amongst tied teams, and if necessary the ranking based on the lowest team run average
. All games have the designated hitter
rule in effect, though not all participating teams would have it in their regular league.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
tournament in East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
that was first held between November 10 and November 13, 2005, in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. The tournament was sponsored by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
corporation from 2005 to 2007 and was known as the Konami Cup in that period.
It is played among the annual champions of the Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) Japan Series
Japan Series
, or is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a seven-game series between the winning clubs of the league's two circuits, the Central League and the Pacific League....
, the Korea Professional Baseball's (KPB) Korean Series
Korean Series
The Korean Series is the championship series of the Korea Baseball Organization. It has been held since the KBO's first season in and is the final series of in the post-season play-offs. From , the winner of the Korean Series goes on to play in the Asia Series....
, the Chinese Professional Baseball League
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
's (CPBL) Taiwan Series
Taiwan Series
Taiwan Series is the championship series of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. It is usually played in October, after the regular season. It was formerly known as the CPBL Seasonal Championship Series , and was renamed the Taiwan Series after the merger of the Chinese Professional Baseball...
, and the China Baseball League
China Baseball League
The China Baseball League or Chinese Baseball League or CBL is a professional baseball league under the administration of Chinese Baseball Association, founded in 2002.-Teams:...
's (CBL) championship series. Prior to 2008, China Stars
China Stars
The China Stars was a baseball team established in 2005. It was made up of the best players in the China Baseball League. The team was established in purpose of playing with the winners from the professional baseball league in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea in the annual Konami Cup Asia Series...
, an all-star team of China Baseball League participated in the series instead of the champion from China.
The Asia Series was placed on hold due to financing issues following the withdrawal of Konami, reducing 2009's pan-Asian postseason to a single Club Championship game between the Japanese and Korean champions at Nagasaki
Nagasaki Baseball Stadium
is a baseball stadium in the city of Nagasaki, Japan. The stadium was built in 1997 and has an all-seated capacity of 25,000. The Nagasaki Saints play some home games there....
, with the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
defeating the Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0...
, 9–4. A potential 2010 revival was then cancelled due to a conflict with the 2010 Asian Games
2010 Asian Games
The 2010 Asian Games, also known as the XVI Asiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to November 27, 2010. Guangzhou was the second Chinese city to host the Games, after Beijing in 1990...
, and replaced with another round of club championship games. The Korean champion SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:...
split a two-game series with CPBL champion Brother Elephants
Brother Elephants
The Brother Elephants are a professional baseball team in Taiwan. It was originally established as an amateur team in 1984 by the Brother Hotel located in Taipei City, and later joined the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 1989...
in Taiwan, before being defeated by the NPB's Chiba Lotte Marines
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
at the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
, 3–0.
The subject of re-introducing the event for 2011 was discussed in a November 2010 meeting between the heads of the NPB, KPB, CPBL, and Australian Baseball League
Australian Baseball League
The Australian Baseball League was a baseball league, established in 1987 and disbanded in 1999.-Formation:Before the formation of the Australian Baseball League, the Claxton Shield, established in , was Australia's premier baseball tournament...
(ABL). The CPBL offered to host the event in November 2011. The Perth Heat
Perth Heat
The baseball team Perth Heat is a team in the current Australian Baseball League and a foundation member of the now-defunct Australian Baseball League...
announced on May 18, 2011 that they will be participating in the tournament. The ABL will have a bye week built into the season to accommodate this.
Format
Each of the four teams participates in a round-robinRound-robin
The term round-robin was originally used to describe a document signed by multiple parties in a circle to make it more difficult to determine the order in which it was signed, thus preventing a ringleader from being identified...
series, playing each other team once. The two teams with the best win-loss percentage face each other in the final, with the team finishing higher considered the "home team", meaning that they have the advantage of batting last. In previous tournaments, if teams were tied a series of tiebreakers were used to decide which teams qualified for the final and in what order, firstly using the head-to-head win-loss records amongst tied teams, and if necessary the ranking based on the lowest team run average
Run average
In baseball statistics, run average refers to measures of the rate at which runs are allowed or scored. For pitchers, the run average is the number of runs—earned or unearned—allowed per nine innings...
. All games have the designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
rule in effect, though not all participating teams would have it in their regular league.
Finals results
| Season | Host Nation |
Champions | Score | Runners-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 Asia Series The first Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2005 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan along with a team of all stars from China's domestic league took part in the competition. All games were held in the Tokyo Dome in... |
 Japan |
 Chiba Lotte Marines Chiba Lotte Marines The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:... |
5–3 |  Samsung Lions Samsung Lions Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium... |
Benny Agbayani Benny Agbayani Benny Peter Agbayani, Jr. is retired professional baseball player. Born in Hawaii to Filipino and Samoan parents, he attended Saint Louis School and Hawaii Pacific University. He also attended the Oregon Institute of Technology... (Chiba Lotte Marines) |
| 2006 2006 Asia Series The second annual Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2006 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan along with an all-star team from China took part in the competition. All games were held in the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The... |
Japan |
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,... |
1–0 |  La New Bears La New Bears The Lamigo Monkeys , formerly First Financial Holdings Agan and then the La New Bears , are a professional baseball team in the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan... |
Yu Darvish Yu Darvish Yu Darvish is a Japanese starting pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.Darvish pitched in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as the 2009 World Baseball Classic as a member of the Japanese national team... (Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters) |
| 2007 2007 Asia Series The third annual Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2007 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan along with an all-star team from China took part in the competition. The tournament was sponsored by the Nippon Professional... |
Japan |
Chunichi Dragons Chunichi Dragons The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and 2007 Asia Series.-History:... |
6–5 | SK Wyverns SK Wyverns SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:... |
Hirokazu Ibata Hirokazu Ibata Hirokazu Ibata is a Japanese professional baseball player in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He plays second base for the Chunichi Dragons but is able to play at other positions. He has won 4 Gold gloves for shortstop, 2004-2007.-External links:... (Chunichi Dragons) |
| 2008 2008 Asia Series The 2008 Asia Series was contested on November 13–16 by the champions of Nippon Professional Baseball's Japan Series, the Korea Professional Baseball's Korean Series, Chinese Professional Baseball League's Taiwan Series, and the championship of the China Baseball League of the People's Republic of... |
Japan |
Saitama Seibu Lions |
1–0 | Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions |
Tomoaki Satoh Tomoaki Satoh Tomoaki Satoh 佐藤 友亮 is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is currently with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. In 2008, he was selected Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Asia Series.... (Saitama Seibu Lions) |
| 2011 2011 Asia Series The 2011 Asia Series was the fifth time the Asia Series has been held, and the first after a two-year break. The tournament was held in Taiwan, the first time it has been held outside of Japan... |
 Republic of China |
Samsung Lions Samsung Lions Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium... |
5–3 | Fukuoka Softbank Hawks Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were... |
Jang Won-Sam Jang Won-Sam Jang Won-Sam is a South Korean left-handed starting pitcher who plays for the Seoul Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization.-Amateur career:... (Samsung Lions) |
| 2012 |  South Korea |
– |
By country
| Country | Champions | Runners-up | Participated | Years Won | Years Finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan (NPB) |
4 | 1 | 5 | 2005 2005 Asia Series The first Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2005 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan along with a team of all stars from China's domestic league took part in the competition. All games were held in the Tokyo Dome in... , 2006 2006 Asia Series The second annual Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2006 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan along with an all-star team from China took part in the competition. All games were held in the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The... , 2007 2007 Asia Series The third annual Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2007 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan along with an all-star team from China took part in the competition. The tournament was sponsored by the Nippon Professional... , 2008 2008 Asia Series The 2008 Asia Series was contested on November 13–16 by the champions of Nippon Professional Baseball's Japan Series, the Korea Professional Baseball's Korean Series, Chinese Professional Baseball League's Taiwan Series, and the championship of the China Baseball League of the People's Republic of... |
2011 2011 Asia Series The 2011 Asia Series was the fifth time the Asia Series has been held, and the first after a two-year break. The tournament was held in Taiwan, the first time it has been held outside of Japan... |
| South Korea (KPB) |
1 | 2 | 5 | 2011 2011 Asia Series The 2011 Asia Series was the fifth time the Asia Series has been held, and the first after a two-year break. The tournament was held in Taiwan, the first time it has been held outside of Japan... |
2005 2005 Asia Series The first Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2005 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan along with a team of all stars from China's domestic league took part in the competition. All games were held in the Tokyo Dome in... , 2007 2007 Asia Series The third annual Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2007 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan along with an all-star team from China took part in the competition. The tournament was sponsored by the Nippon Professional... |
| Republic of China (CPBL Chinese Professional Baseball League The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003... ) |
0 | 2 | 5 | 2006 2006 Asia Series The second annual Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2006 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan along with an all-star team from China took part in the competition. All games were held in the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The... , 2008 2008 Asia Series The 2008 Asia Series was contested on November 13–16 by the champions of Nippon Professional Baseball's Japan Series, the Korea Professional Baseball's Korean Series, Chinese Professional Baseball League's Taiwan Series, and the championship of the China Baseball League of the People's Republic of... |
|
 Mainland China (CBLChina Baseball League The China Baseball League or Chinese Baseball League or CBL is a professional baseball league under the administration of Chinese Baseball Association, founded in 2002.-Teams:... ) |
0 | 0 | 4 | ||
 Australia (ABLAustralian Baseball League The Australian Baseball League was a baseball league, established in 1987 and disbanded in 1999.-Formation:Before the formation of the Australian Baseball League, the Claxton Shield, established in , was Australia's premier baseball tournament... ) |
0 | 0 | 1 |
By club
| Club | Champions | Runners-up | Participated | Years Won |
Years Finalist |
Games Won |
Games Lost |
Games Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Lions Samsung Lions Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium... † |
1 | 1 | 3 | 2011 2011 Asia Series The 2011 Asia Series was the fifth time the Asia Series has been held, and the first after a two-year break. The tournament was held in Taiwan, the first time it has been held outside of Japan... |
2005 2005 Asia Series The first Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2005 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan along with a team of all stars from China's domestic league took part in the competition. All games were held in the Tokyo Dome in... |
6 | 5 | |
| Chiba Lotte Marines Chiba Lotte Marines The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2005 2005 Asia Series The first Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2005 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan along with a team of all stars from China's domestic league took part in the competition. All games were held in the Tokyo Dome in... |
4 | 0 | ||
| Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2006 2006 Asia Series The second annual Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2006 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan along with an all-star team from China took part in the competition. All games were held in the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The... |
4 | 0 | ||
| Chunichi Dragons Chunichi Dragons The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and 2007 Asia Series.-History:... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2007 2007 Asia Series The third annual Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2007 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan along with an all-star team from China took part in the competition. The tournament was sponsored by the Nippon Professional... |
3 | 1 | ||
| Saitama Seibu Lions |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2008 2008 Asia Series The 2008 Asia Series was contested on November 13–16 by the champions of Nippon Professional Baseball's Japan Series, the Korea Professional Baseball's Korean Series, Chinese Professional Baseball League's Taiwan Series, and the championship of the China Baseball League of the People's Republic of... |
3 | 1 | ||
| SK Wyverns SK Wyverns SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:... |
0 | 1 | 2 | 2007 2007 Asia Series The third annual Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2007 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan along with an all-star team from China took part in the competition. The tournament was sponsored by the Nippon Professional... |
5 | 2 | ||
| Lamigo Monkeys |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2006 2006 Asia Series The second annual Konami Cup Asia Series was held in November 2006 with four teams participating. The champions from the domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan along with an all-star team from China took part in the competition. All games were held in the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The... |
2 | 2 | ||
| Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions† |
0 | 1 | 3 | 2008 2008 Asia Series The 2008 Asia Series was contested on November 13–16 by the champions of Nippon Professional Baseball's Japan Series, the Korea Professional Baseball's Korean Series, Chinese Professional Baseball League's Taiwan Series, and the championship of the China Baseball League of the People's Republic of... |
4 | 6 | ||
| Sinon Bulls Sinon Bulls Despite a nice start, this club had been performing poorly throughout its short history, mainly due to the controversial leading styles of Jungo Corporation's then chairman Chen I-ping... |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
 China StarsChina Stars The China Stars was a baseball team established in 2005. It was made up of the best players in the China Baseball League. The team was established in purpose of playing with the winners from the professional baseball league in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea in the annual Konami Cup Asia Series... |
0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | |||
| Perth Heat Perth Heat The baseball team Perth Heat is a team in the current Australian Baseball League and a foundation member of the now-defunct Australian Baseball League... † |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |||
| Tianjin Lions Tianjin Lions The Tianjin Lions or Tianjing Fierce Lions are a team in the China Baseball League that began play in 2002. Their home field is Tian Ti Dodger Stadium in Tianjin.... |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |||
| Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were... † |
0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
- †: Denotes teams currently participating in the 2011 Asia Series.
See also
- Asian Baseball ChampionshipAsian Baseball ChampionshipThe Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer...
- Asia Baseball awards
- Caribbean Series
- World SeriesWorld SeriesThe World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...