The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. They compete in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as a member of the Pacific League. Founded on February 22, 1938 as the Nankai Club, being the first Kansai team to play in Osaka proper, the team went through a few name changes before settling on Nankai Hawks in 1947, eventually changing ownership in 1988 and moving to Fukuoka in 1989. The team subsequently became known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks until 2005, when they were purchased by SoftBank Group, becoming the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Since 1993, the Hawks have played at the Fukuoka PayPay Dome, which has gone under several name changes and seats 40,000 people.
Arihito Muramatsu is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder, and current the first squad outfield defense and base coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Hiroki Kokubo is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder, and current manager for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Masao Fujii was a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was born in Nishi-ku, Fukuoka and raised in Karatsu, Saga.
Tetsuya Matoyama is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher, and current the first squad battery coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Kimiyasu Kudo is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher and the former manager of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball. Known for his longevity as a player, he holds the NPB records for longest career with 29 seasons played, most consecutive seasons with at least one win with 23 and is the oldest pitcher to strike out 10 batters in a game, doing so at the age of 41 years and 11 months. In his career, he recorded 224 wins, a 3.45 ERA and 2,852 strikeouts. However, despite all his accolades, he is infamously known for having never won the Eiji Sawamura Award, given to Japan's top pitcher.
Kenichi Nakata is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, and current the fourth squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Hiroshi Takamura is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher, and current the second squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Kodai Senga is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) debut in 2012 for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and played for them until 2022. He is a three-time NPB All-Star and a one-time MLB All-Star.
Kenichi Wakatabe is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher, and current third squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Hiroshi Ogawa is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball shortstop, and current the forth squad manage for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Akira Niho is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played in NPB for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Keisaburo Tanoue is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher, and current the second squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Shuta Ishikawa is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
The 2019 Japan Series was the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) 2019 season. The 70th edition of the Japan Series, it was played from 19-23 October. The series was a best-of-seven playoff between the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the Pacific League's (PL) Climax Series champion and defending Japan Series champions, and the Yomiuri Giants, the Central League's (CL) Climax Series champion. The Hawks defeated the Giants in a four game sweep to win their third consecutive Japan Series championship, their fifth title in six years; they are also the first team to win three straight Japan Series titles since the Seibu Lions did it from 1990 to 1992.
Hideaki Matsuyama is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder, and current first squad infield and base coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
The 2004 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks season is the 67th season of the franchise in Nippon Professional Baseball, their 11th season in Fukuoka Dome, and their 15th and final season under Daiei, because SoftBank Group would take over the Hawks' ownership the following season and rebrand them as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. This also is the team's 9th season under manager Sadaharu Oh.
The 2022 Nippon Professional Baseball season was the 73rd season of professional baseball in Japan since Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) was reorganized in 1950. There are 12 NPB teams, split evenly between the Central League and Pacific League.
Manabu Saito is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, and current first squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Takashi Sasagawa is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder, catcher, and current forth squad infield and base coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
