MLB Japan All-Star Series 日米野球 | |
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Frequency | Irregularly |
Location(s) | Japan |
Country | United States Canada Japan |
Inaugurated | 1986 |
Most recent | 2018 |
Participants | MLB All-Stars NPB All-Stars (1986–2006) Samurai Japan (2014– ) |
Organised by | Major League Baseball Nippon Professional Baseball Japan national baseball team |
The MLB Japan All-Star Series is an irregular end-of-the-season tour of Japan made by an All-Star team from Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1986, contested in a best-of format against the All-Stars from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) or recently as of 2014 their national team Samurai Japan (SJP).
The series has featured many great players, such as Nori Aoki, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Hideki Matsui, Ichiro Suzuki, Shinnosuke Abe, David Ortiz, Sammy Sosa, Justin Morneau, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Jose Altuve, Robinson Canó and Manny Ramírez.
In the beginning of all games the American, Canadian and Japanese national anthems are all played. Games can end in a tie if it persists through 12 innings, just as in NPB rules.