ran an editorial series called "The Evil of Baseball" in which several leaders who were opposed to the game were quoted. Fortunately for Japan, there were people who believed strongly in baseball such as Matsutara Shoriki. He was responsible for a tour of Japan by American players Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Fox and other all-stars. Named by many "the great genius-father figure of Japanese baseball" he founded the first professional team in December 1934, the Great Tokyo baseball club. In 1936 the number of teams in the league jumped to six teams, most of the sponsored by newspapers and trains in hope of increasing business.
             The Second World War affected Japanese baseball. Japan and America were enemies throughout the war and that carried out to the baseball diamond. English words were banned in Japanese baseball as well as throughout the rest of Japan. The six teams all changed their names from English to Japanese. Play was suspended in 1945 due to the war but resumed in 1946 with the addition of two new teams, the Senators and Goldstar. During the course of the war one team dominated the rest much like the Yankees did in America, the Kyojin. Led by perhaps the greatest pitcher ever in Japan Eiji Sawamura, they won six league titles. In a career shortened by a tragic death he suffered while fighting in the navy, he went 63-22, with a 1.74 era and 554 strikeouts. The Japanese version of the Cy Young award, Sawamura award, was named after in him in honor of his short, yet amazing career.
             In the 1960's another dominant team came to power, the Tokyo Giants. With the pleasure of being the wealthiest team in the league the Giants won nine straight cha
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