1st Annual Sayonara Awards
by Gen on Oct.27, 2009 @ 6:01 pm, under NPB
Yoshiyuki Kamei and Tadahito Iguchi were selected for the first Dramatic Sayonara Award.
The award is given to one player in each league that hit a "memorable" home run during the past season. Winners of the home run also received a cash prize of 2M yen.
Kamei hit a walk-off 3-run homer to help the Yomiuri Giants beat the Chunichi Dragons on April 25th at the Tokyo Dome in the bottom of the 9th. Kamei also finished the season with a league-high 3 walk-off home runs.
Tadahito Iguchi also hit a walk-off home run, his against the Rakuten Eagles on April 16th at Chiba Marine Stadium in the bottom of the 10th. Iguchi finished the season with 2 walk-off home runs.
October 27th, 2009 on 9:14 pm
I didn’t see either of the homeruns that won Kamei and Iguchi this award but I find it hard to believe that they could have been better than Sledge’s game-winning grand slam in game 1 of the Climax Series. I realize this award must be limited to the regular season, but Sledge’s shot kind of makes the whole thing seem meaningless.
PS. GO HAM!
October 28th, 2009 on 4:53 am
Agreed!
October 28th, 2009 on 12:52 pm
I’m sure Sledge’s home run would be at the top of the list if they included postseason games.