LIFE & CULTURE

RANDY BASS Born in Oklahoma in 1954, Bass has been a sports enthusiast since beginning to play at a young age. First draft ed by the Minnesota Twins in 1972, he later played for other MLB clubs, including the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers, before coming to Japan in 1983, where he joined the . With a powerful swing and excellent bat control, his success at the plate helped lead the Tigers to their Top: Even though he has retired, Japanese baseball fans have fi rst championship in 1985. never forgotten what accomplished. Aft er leaving the Tigers and returning to Right: Aft er retiring, Bass kept himself busy as a member of the United States in 1988, Bass ran a farm the Oklahoma Senate. in Oklahoma. In 2004, he began a 15-year stint as a Democratic state senator.

Professional baseball enjoys in franchise history. Today, together downtown immense popularity in Japan, and whenever a new foreign-born with foreign-born the American Randy Bass may player joins the team, fans wonder players from other be the most famous foreign-born whether he will be “the next Bass.” ball clubs. While player in the history of the sport He says, “It’s just a humbling Tokyo is renowned as a city with Despite his busy schedule, he has here. Aft er playing for several experience to be able to know a bustling nightlife, it is also found time to visit Japan several major-league teams in the United they put everything on me.” surrounded by abundant nature. times a year for events such as an States for 11 years, he signed with Th is slugger beloved by Tigers Bass recalled, “It was beautiful all-star game for retired ballplayers the Hanshin Tigers, by far one of fans, now 66, is still so enamored up in the mountainous parts from Japan’s professional league. the most beloved teams in Japan. with Japan that he “could go of Tokyo. You just never forget Wanting to give something back In 1985, his third year in Japan, and live there right now.” Bass that. So peaceful and so quiet.” to all the people who helped him Randy Bass belted 54 home runs, was amazed by the Shinkansen, He said that on one day off , he during his time in Japan, Bass has helping to catapult his team to its which the team rode to away went to catch fi sh in a river in been actively engaged in exchanges fi rst league championship in 21 games. Praising the high-speed the mountains, pitched a tent with the country, participating in years. He blasted home runs in rail network that connects far- with friends, and enjoyed an events such as those organized by three straight games during the fl ung cities in a matter of hours unforgettable day of rest. the America-Japan Society. He Randy Bass reunites with former teammates at an event commemorating the Tigers’ feats in the 1985 season. Japan Series, as the Tigers went on while maintaining astounding Aft er retiring from baseball in says that Japanese children—not to claim their fi rst championship punctuality, Bass said, “It’s just 1988, Bass returned to his home even born when he was playing so effi cient, and it’s a wonderful state of Oklahoma, where he ran baseball in the country—still 1980s way to travel.” Th e place he a farm and, beginning in 2004, come to visit him in Oklahoma, loved the most on the road was he served as a member of the asking him for a handshake or Tokyo, where he would oft en get Oklahoma Senate for 15 years. autograph because of what they have heard from their parents. “It Th ere are still plenty of natural is really a cool thing that Japanese BASEBALL surroundings outside of Tokyo, Bass’s favorite place to people come over and interact play on the road. with people in Oklahoma.” Bass believes that “baseball has the STAR power to unite people.” BRIDGES JAPAN AND He may have hung up his THE UNITED STATES JAPAN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA spikes aft er making the dreams of Japanese baseball fans come true, but Randy Bass is still building

In the 1980s, American professional baseball player More than 130,000 Shinkansen trains travel between Tokyo bridges between Japan and and Osaka annually, running with an average delay of under Oklahoma. Randy Bass became a legend of the sport in Japan. Even today, 20 seconds. long aft er retirement, he retains a close connection to the country.

26 27