“For over fifty years, Wally Yonamine has been an important bridge between Japanese and American baseball.”- Hideki Matsui, NY Yankees

New this month from the University of Nebraska Press, is Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball by Robert K. Fitts. After World War II, Wally Yonamine was the first Japanese American to play for NFL franchise as well as a professional baseball team. Playing at a pivotal time during American history when mistrust of the Japanese was high, Yonamine endured insults, riots, and threats from the yakuza (Japanese mafia).Yet he withstood and went on to become one of baseball’s great ledgends.

This week Tuesday Trivia is going to test your knowledge of Japanese baseball and see if we can’t turn you into an Oendan yet!

1.    When was baseball first played in Japan?
2.    When did the first professional league begin?
3.    What Russian player pitched for the Tokyo Giants in 1936?
4.    Tsoyoshi Shinjio did what?
5.    What are the two baseball leagues in Japan?
6.    Wa means what in Japanese?
7.    In 1974 Hank Aaron hit is 715th home run and Sadaharu Oh went on to hit his 756th. What player   played in both games?
8.    The Oendan are what?
9.    How many teams make the playoffs each year?
10.    What Japanese team won the most Japan Series Championships between 1191-2001

Join us tomorrow for the answers! In the meantime check out Wally Yonamine at the UNP website.