Japan Series
The Nippon Series (Japanese日本 シリーズ, also: Nihon Series; officially日本 選手権 シリーズ, Nihon senshuken shirīzu, "Japanese Championship Series "; engl Japan Series. ) Are the finals of the Japanese professional baseball league.
They are held annually in October and November. Here, the best teams in the Central League and Pacific League meet.
Mode
The Nippon Series determined in a maximum of seven games - plus any draw - the Japanese Baseball Champion: The first player to win four games, the championship will decide for themselves. The two parties are since 2007 in the upstream playoffs, the Climax Series, played in which the top three teams in each league to participate. Previously, it was only in the Pacific League (1973-1985 and since 2004 ) playoffs; in the Central League took until then the leaders of the regular season at Nihon Series part.
The home advantage in the first two and, if necessary, has in the sixth and seventh game of the Nippon Series in years of even-numbered years the crew of the Central League, in years with odd numbers of the Pacific League. The designated -hitter rule ( DH rule) is applied according to the league affiliation of the host: In a stadium in the Pacific League so is with, played in a stadium in the Central League without DH. As in games of the regular season, a draw is possible. If after 15 innings no winner is determined, a game is a draw. From such a possible eighth game, there is no limit to the number of innings.
Climax Series
Participation in the Nippon Series is played since 2007 in both leagues in the Climax Series (クライマックス シリーズ, kuraimakkusu shirīzu ). In the Climax Series ends a game - as in the regular season - in case of a draw after twelve innings.
Play in a first phase ( Stage 1 since 2010: First Stage ) is the second and third place in each league three games against each other. The venue has the second in the regular season. Who first two games or win a game with two draws, occurs in Stage 2 (since 2010: Final Stage ) against the table on the First. Draws are not repeated; case of a tie to qualify the second in the regular season.
Stage 2 consists of six games in the stadium of the winner of the regular season, which starts with a winning edge in the series since 2008. Here, too, are not repeated draw -ending games. In the Nippon Series attracts a who or lies first four wins, or has in the account after six games the front; case of a tie to qualify the league winners of the regular season.
Past Master
Historically, the teams in the Central League were more successful than those of the Pacific League, which is mainly due to the record champion Yomiuri Giants, who won 22 titles in 34 participations. From the Saitama Seibu Lions, the Pacific League took part in the 21 times Nihon Series and won it 13 times the championship.