In 1954, the Chunichi Dragons rode an 86-40-3 record to the Central League championship. They followed up this impressive showing by winning the Japan Series four games to three over the Nishitetsu Lions. Led by 32 game winning
forkballer, Shigeru Sugishita (HOF) and slugging first baseman, Michio Nishizawa (HOF), the Dragons were unstoppable. Sugishita was named league MVP and also won the Sawamura (Japan Cy Young) Award. Sugishita, Nishizawa and
outfielder Satoru Sugiyama were named to the Central League Best 9 team. HOFer Shigeru Makino was also a team member. The manager was HOFer Shunichi Amachi, who had a .581 career percentage in six seasons as a manager.
The 1954 title was the Dragons' first ever. Unfortunately, despite having a number of outstanding teams over the years, the Dragons did not win another Japan Series title until 2007!
The 1954 championship commemorative tie featured in
this lot contains facsimile signatures of 26 members of the 1954 Dragons, including the Japan Hall of Fame members cited above. "Chunichi Dragons" in script is also sown into the tie, along with a Chunichi Dragons label.
Size: Adult man's tie
Condition: Nm