The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are a professional baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The Hawks play in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball. They began play in 1938 as the Nankai Club for the Japanese Baseball League that played in Osaka. They subsequently rebranded as the Kinki Nippon Club and Kinki Great Ring before playing the next 41 years as the Nankai Hawks, starting in 1947. They won the JBL pennant twice in 1946 and 1948. They rebranded again to become the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 1989 with the purchase by department store chain Daiei, who moved the team to Fukuoka. In 2004, they became the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks after the sale to SoftBank Group on January 28, 2005.
Since the formation of NPB in 1950, in their 76 seasons, the franchise has won 12 Japan Series championships, third most in NPB history while finishing first in the Pacific League 26 times with 22 appearances in the Series. Since the introduction of the playoff system in the Pacific League in 2004, the Hawks have made the Climax Series 19 times.
| W | Number of regular season wins |
|---|---|
| L | Number of regular season losses |
| T | Number of regular season ties |
| GB | Games behind from league's first-place team [a] |
| ROY | Rookie of the Year |
| MVP | Most Valuable Player |
| ESA | Eiji Sawamura Award |
| MSA | Matsutaro Shoriki Award |
| Japan Series Champions (1950–present) † | Japanese Baseball League / Pacific League Pennant (1938/1950–present) | Pacific League Regular Season Champions (1950–present) ^ | Climax Series Berth (2004–present) ¤ |
| Season | League | Regular season | Postseason | Awards | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win% | GB | ||||
| Nankai Baseball Club | |||||||||
| 1938 fall | JBL | 8th | 11 | 26 | 3 | .297 | 18 | ||
| 1939 | JBL | 5th | 40 | 50 | 6 | .444 | 25 | ||
| 1940 | JBL | 8th | 28 | 71 | 6 | .283 | 45.5 | ||
| 1941 | JBL | 4th | 43 | 41 | 0 | .512 | 19 | ||
| 1942 | JBL | 6th | 49 | 56 | 0 | .467 | 26.5 | ||
| 1943 | JBL | 8th | 26 | 56 | 2 | .317 | 28.5 | ||
| 1944 | JBL | 6th | 11 | 23 | 1 | .324 | 16.5 | ||
| Great Ring | |||||||||
| 1946 | JBL | 1st | 65 | 38 | 2 | .631 | — | JBL Champions | Kazuto Tsuruoka (MVP) |
| Nankai Hawks | |||||||||
| 1947 | JBL | 3rd | 59 | 55 | 5 | .518 | 19 | ||
| 1948 | JBL | 1st | 87 | 49 | 4 | .640 | — | JBL Champions | Kazuto Tsuruoka (MVP) |
| 1949 | JBL | 4th | 67 | 67 | 1 | .500 | 18.5 | ||
| 1950 | Pacific | 2nd | 66 | 49 | 5 | .574 | 15 | ||
| 1951 | Pacific | 1st | 72 | 24 | 8 | .750 | — | Lost Japan Series (Giants) 4–1 | Kazuto Yamamoto (PL MVP) Kazuo Kageyama (PL ROY) |
| 1952 | Pacific | 1st | 76 | 44 | 1 | .633 | — | Lost Japan Series (Giants) 4–2 | Susumu Yuki (PL MVP) |
| 1953 | Pacific | 1st | 71 | 48 | 1 | .597 | — | Lost Japan Series (Giants) 4–2–1 | Isami Okamoto (PL MVP) |
| 1954 | Pacific | 2nd | 91 | 49 | 0 | .650 | 0.5 | Motoji Takuwa (PL ROY) | |
| 1955 | Pacific | 1st | 99 | 41 | 3 | .707 | — | Lost in Japan Series (Giants) 4–3 | Tokuji Iida (PL MVP) |
| 1956 | Pacific | 2nd | 96 | 52 | 6 | .643 | 0.5 | ||
| 1957 | Pacific | 2nd | 78 | 53 | 1 | .595 | 7 | Tamotsu Kimura (PL ROY) | |
| 1958 | Pacific | 2nd | 77 | 48 | 5 | .612 | 1 | Tadashi Sugiura (PL ROY) | |
| 1959 | Pacific | 1st | 88 | 42 | 4 | .677 | — | Won Japan Series (Giants) 4–0 | Tadashi Sugiura (PL MVP) |
| 1960 | Pacific | 2nd | 78 | 52 | 6 | .600 | 4 | ||
| 1961 | Pacific | 1st | 85 | 49 | 6 | .629 | — | Lost Japan Series (Giants) 4–2 | Katsuya Nomura (PL MVP) |
| 1962 | Pacific | 2nd | 73 | 57 | 3 | .562 | 5 | ||
| 1963 | Pacific | 2nd | 85 | 61 | 4 | .582 | 1 | Katsuya Nomura (PL MVP) | |
| 1964 | Pacific | 1st | 84 | 63 | 3 | .571 | — | Won Japan Series (Tigers) 4–3 | Joe Stanka (PL MVP) |
| 1965 | Pacific | 1st | 88 | 49 | 3 | .642 | — | Lost Japan Series (Giants) 4–1 | Katsuya Nomura (PL MVP) |
| 1966 | Pacific | 1st | 79 | 51 | 3 | .608 | — | Lost Japan Series (Giants) 4–2 | Katsuya Nomura (PL MVP) |
| 1967 | Pacific | 4th | 64 | 66 | 3 | .492 | 11 | ||
| 1968 | Pacific | 2nd | 79 | 51 | 6 | .608 | 1 | ||
| 1969 | Pacific | 6th | 50 | 76 | 4 | .397 | 26 | ||
| 1970 | Pacific | 2nd | 69 | 57 | 4 | .548 | 10.5 | Michio Sato (PL ROY) | |
| 1971 | Pacific | 4th | 61 | 65 | 4 | .484 | 22.5 | ||
| 1972 | Pacific | 3rd | 65 | 61 | 4 | .516 | 14 | ||
| 1973 | Pacific | 1st | 68 | 58 | 4 | .540 | 1st/3rd | Lost Japan Series (Giants) 4–1 | Katsuya Nomura (PL MVP) |
| 1974 | Pacific | 3rd | 59 | 55 | 16 | .518 | 4th/2nd | ||
| 1975 | Pacific | 5th | 57 | 65 | 8 | .467 | 5th/3rd | ||
| 1976 | Pacific | 2nd | 71 | 56 | 3 | .559 | 2nd/2nd | Manabu Fujita (PL ROY) | |
| 1977 | Pacific | 2nd | 63 | 55 | 12 | .534 | 2nd/3rd | ||
| 1978 | Pacific | 6th | 42 | 77 | 11 | .353 | 6th/6th | Yukihiro Murakami (PL ROY) | |
| 1979 | Pacific | 5th | 46 | 73 | 11 | .387 | 5th/6th | ||
| 1980 | Pacific | 6th | 48 | 77 | 5 | .384 | 5th/6th | ||
| 1981 | Pacific | 5th | 53 | 65 | 12 | .449 | 5th/6th | ||
| 1982 | Pacific | 6th | 53 | 71 | 6 | .427 | 5th/6th | ||
| 1983 | Pacific | 5th | 52 | 69 | 9 | .430 | 31.5 | ||
| 1984 | Pacific | 5th | 53 | 65 | 12 | .449 | 21 | ||
| 1985 | Pacific | 6th | 44 | 76 | 10 | .367 | 33 | ||
| 1986 | Pacific | 6th | 49 | 73 | 8 | .402 | 21.5 | ||
| 1987 | Pacific | 4th | 57 | 63 | 10 | .475 | 16 | ||
| 1988 | Pacific | 5th | 58 | 71 | 1 | .450 | 17.5 | Hiromitsu Kadota (PL MVP) | |
| Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |||||||||
| 1989 | Pacific | 4th | 59 | 64 | 7 | .480 | 11 | ||
| 1990 | Pacific | 6th | 41 | 85 | 4 | .325 | 40 | ||
| 1991 | Pacific | 5th | 53 | 73 | 4 | .421 | 29 | ||
| 1992 | Pacific | 4th | 57 | 72 | 1 | .442 | 24 | ||
| 1993 | Pacific | 6th | 45 | 80 | 5 | .360 | 28 | ||
| 1994 | Pacific | 4th | 69 | 60 | 1 | .535 | 7.5 | Hidekazu Watanabe (PL ROY) | |
| 1995 | Pacific | 5th | 54 | 72 | 4 | .429 | 26.5 | ||
| 1996 | Pacific | 6th | 54 | 74 | 2 | .422 | 22 | ||
| 1997 | Pacific | 4th | 63 | 71 | 1 | .470 | 14 | ||
| 1998 | Pacific | 3rd | 67 | 67 | 1 | .500 | 4.5 | ||
| 1999 | Pacific | 1st | 78 | 54 | 3 | .591 | — | Won Japan Series (Dragons) 4–1 | Kimiyasu Kudoh (PL MVP) |
| 2000 | Pacific | 1st | 73 | 60 | 2 | .549 | — | Lost Japan Series (Giants) 4–2 | Nobuhiko Matsunaka (PL MVP) |
| 2001 | Pacific | 2nd | 76 | 63 | 1 | .547 | 2.5 | ||
| 2002 | Pacific | 2nd | 73 | 65 | 2 | .529 | 16.5 | ||
| 2003 | Pacific | 1st | 82 | 55 | 3 | .599 | — | Won Japan Series (Tigers) 4–3 | Kenji Johjima (PL MVP) Tsuyoshi Wada (PL ROY) Kazumi Saito (Sawamura) |
| 2004 | Pacific | 1st | 77 | 52 | 5 | .597 | — | Lost PL Playoffs Second Stage (Lions) 3–2 | Nobuhiko Matsunaka (PL MVP) Koji Mise (PL ROY) |
| Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |||||||||
| 2005 | Pacific | 1st | 89 | 45 | 2 | .664 | — | Lost PL Playoffs Second Stage (Marines) 3–2 | Toshiya Sugiuchi (PL MVP, Sawamura) |
| 2006 | Pacific | 3rd | 75 | 56 | 5 | .573 | 4.5 | Won PL Playoffs First Stage (Lions) 2–1 Lost PL Playoffs Second Stage (Fighters) 2–0 | Kazumi Saito (Sawamura) |
| 2007 | Pacific | 3rd | 73 | 66 | 5 | .525 | 6 | Lost Climax Series First Stage (Marines) 2–1 | |
| 2008 | Pacific | 6th | 64 | 77 | 3 | .454 | 12.5 | ||
| 2009 | Pacific | 3rd | 74 | 65 | 5 | .532 | 6.5 | Lost Climax Series First Stage (Eagles) 2–0 | Tadashi Settsu (PL ROY) |
| 2010 | Pacific | 1st | 76 | 63 | 5 | .547 | — | Lost Climax Series Final Stage (Marines) 4–3 | Tsuyoshi Wada (PL MVP) |
| 2011 | Pacific | 1st | 88 | 46 | 10 | .657 | — | Won Climax Series Final Stage (Lions) 4–0 Won Japan Series (Dragons) 4–3 | Seiichi Uchikawa (PL MVP) |
| 2012 | Pacific | 3rd | 67 | 65 | 12 | .508 | 6.5 | Won Climax Series First Stage (Lions) 2–1 Lost Climax Series Final Stage (Fighters) 4–0 | Tadashi Settsu (Sawamura) |
| 2013 | Pacific | 4th | 73 | 69 | 2 | .514 | 9.5 | ||
| 2014 | Pacific | 1st | 78 | 60 | 6 | .565 | — | Won Climax Series Final Stage (Fighters) 4–3 Won Japan Series (Tigers) 4–1 | |
| 2015 | Pacific | 1st | 90 | 49 | 4 | .647 | — | Won Climax Series Final Stage (Marines) 4–0 Won Japan Series (Swallows) 4–1 | Yuki Yanagita (PL MVP) |
| 2016 | Pacific | 2nd | 83 | 54 | 6 | .606 | 2.5 | Won Climax Series First Stage (Marines) 2–0 Lost Climax Series Final Stage (Fighters) 4–2 | |
| 2017 | Pacific | 1st | 94 | 49 | 0 | .657 | — | Won Climax Series Final Stage (Golden Eagles) 4–2 Won Japan Series (BayStars) 4–2 | Dennis Sarfate (PL MVP) |
| 2018 | Pacific | 2nd | 82 | 60 | 1 | .577 | 6.5 | Won Climax Series First Stage (Fighters) 2–1 Won Climax Series Final Stage (Lions) 4–2 Won Japan Series (Carp) 4–1–1 | |
| 2019 | Pacific | 2nd | 76 | 62 | 5 | .551 | 2.0 | Won Climax Series First Stage (Golden Eagles) 2–1 Won Climax Series Final Stage (Lions) 4–1 Won Japan Series (Giants) 4–0 | |
| 2020 | Pacific | 1st | 73 | 42 | 5 | .635 | — | Won Climax Series [A] (Marines) 3–0 Won Japan Series (Giants) 4–0 | Yuki Yanagita (PL MVP) |
| 2021 | Pacific | 4th | 60 | 62 | 21 | .492 | 8.5 | ||
| 2022 | Pacific | 2nd | 76 | 65 | 2 | .539 | 0 | Won Climax Series First Stage (Lions) 2–0 Lost Climax Series Final Stage (Buffaloes) 4–1 | |
| 2023 | Pacific | 3rd | 71 | 69 | 3 | .507 | 15.5 | Lost Climax Series First Stage (Marines) 2–1 | |
| 2024 | Pacific | 1st | 91 | 49 | 3 | .650 | — | Won Climax Series Final Stage (Fighters) 4–0 Lost Japan Series (BayStars) 4–2 | Kensuke Kondoh (PL MVP) |
| 2025 | Pacific | 1st | 87 | 52 | 4 | .626 | — | Won Climax Series Final Stage (Fighters) 4–3 Won Japan Series (Tigers) 4–1 | |
a This is determined by calculating the difference in wins plus the difference in losses divided by two.
A Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, NPB saw both of their leagues modify their playoff format. The Pacific League decided to modify the traditional Climax Series format and eliminate the First Stage series to instead play only one modified Final Stage series while the Central League sent the first-place team directly to the Japan Series, which in this case was Yomiuri.