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The best record in the Japan League in 1957 went to Sendai at 96-66, giving the Samurai their third playoff berth in five years. Sendai ended two games better than defending league champ Sapporo at 94-68 and seven ahead of Saitama in the North Division. Kobe claimed the South Division at 93-69 for back-to-back division titles. The Blaze were two games ahead of Fukuoka and four ahead of both Hiroshima and Kitakyushu.

The Japan League MVP and Pitcher of the Year both went to Saitama’s Tadasumi Tanabe. It is back-to-back MVPs for the two-way star and his first PotY. On the moun, Tanabe led the league in innings (278) and WAR (9.5), while adding a 18-6 record, 2.20 ERA, and 289 strikeouts. In left field, Tanabe added 7.1 WAR with 142 hits, 29 home runs, 82 RBI, a .932 OPS and .315 average in 115 starts. By combined WAR, it is the greatest EAB single season to date and up there with one of the best single seasons in pro baseball history. Overshadowed was Kawasaki 1B Toyo Ishigura, who posted a .345 average, 56 home runs, 129 RBI, and 10.6 WAR. He was only 10 average points away from a Triple Crown.



The best record in the Korea League was Changwon at 102-60, earning their first South Division title since 1949. Defending East Asia Baseball champ Daegu fell to a third place 84-78 record. In the North Division, Hamhung claimed a third straight crown with a 98-64 mark. They were eight games better than Pyongyang.

The Crabs swept the major awards, boasting the league MVP, Pitcher of the Year, and Reliever of the Year. MVP went to 25-year old 3B Hyun-Ook Jo. Nicknamed “Onion,” Jo was the Korea League leader in runs (126), home runs (59), OPS (1.068), wRC+ (181), and WAR (12.0). He also earned his second straight Gold Glove at third. Pitcher of the Year was Dan Dudamel, a 24-year old righty from the Philippines He had the league lead in wins (22), strikeouts (297), WHIP (1.02), K/BB (9.0), quality starts (24), and WAR (8.0), while posting a 2.97 ERA over 269.1 innings. Dudamel also earned Gold Glove honors. Chang-Hee Lee was Reliever of the Year, his first of what would be fourth straight. Lee had a 1.34 ERA and 45 saves for 4.2 WAR out of the bullpen.

Both of the League Championship Series went seven games in 1957. In Japan, Kobe edged Sendai to give the Blaze their third league title, joining the 1935 and 1942 campaigns. In Korea, Changwon seemed on their way to a sweep, but Hamhung rallied from a 3-0 hole to take the series in seven. For the Heat, it is their second title in three ears and sixth overall. The East Asian Championship was far less dramatic as Hamhung swept Kobe for the Heat’s record fifth overall title. With two rings in three years, Hamhung has built up a potential dynasty.





Other notes: Dong-Hee Cho became the ninth EAB hitter to 500 career home runs. Takashi Ishihara became the third to 1500 career RBI. Han-Soo Jung was the third EAB pitcher to 250 career wins. Dong-Ju Hahn of Ulsan had a 32-game hitting streak in 1957, the third-longest to date in EAB. Toshinobu Noguchi won his eighth and final Gold Glove at catcher, a record for the position. 3B Nariyuki Yanagisawa won his ninth Silver Slugger.