Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Seiichi Uchikawa

Seiichi Uchikawa of the Hawks got his 2000th hit today against the Lions in Tokorozawa.   He'd gone hitless in his previous 14 at bats so I'm sure he was happy to get it over with.



Uchikawa was the first round pick of the Yokohama Baystars back in the fall 2000 draft.  He made his NPB debut as an 18 year old in 2001 but he didn't really become a regular for the Baystars until a few years later.  He left Yokohama as a free agent after the 2010 season and signed with the Hawks.  Jim Allen mentioned on this week's Japan Baseball Weekly podcast that Uchikawa was the first Central League star in his prime to use free agency to move to a Pacific League team.  He's the second player ever (after Shinichi Eto) to win a batting crown in both leagues.  He's made the All Star team six times (2008-09, 2011-13, 2017) and been named to the Best 9 team five times (2008-09, 2011-13).  He was the Pacific League MVP in 2011.  He's played in four Nippon Series - all with the Hawks - and was on the winning side in all four (2011, 2014-15, 2017).  He's played for the Japan National Team in three of the four World Baseball Classics (2009, 2013, 2017).

Here's a bunch of his cards from over the years:

2001 BBM Preview #P30

2001 BBM #321

2001 Upper Deck #1

2002 BBM 2nd Version #517

2004 BBM 2nd Version #826

2007 Konami Baseball Heroes 3 Black Edition #B07B238

2008 BBM Baystars #YB59

2009 Bowman Draft Picks WBC #BDPW34

2011 BBM Nippon Series #S23

2012 BBM 1sr Version #325

2013 Calbee #205

2014 Hawks "Special Baseball Card" #1

2014 Calbee #C-6

2015 BBM Memories Of Uniform #095

2016 BBM Hawks #H56

2017 Epoch Pacific League #14


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