:2012 Nippon Professional Baseball season
{{NPBseason|year=2012}}
{{Infobox sports season
| title =2012 NPB season
| league =Nippon Professional Baseball
| sport =Baseball
| duration =March 30 – November 3
| season2 =Central League Pennant
| league_champs2 =Yomiuri Giants
| second_place2 =Chunichi Dragons
| MVP2 =Shinnosuke Abe (Yomiuri)
| MVP_link2 =Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award
| season3 =Pacific League Pennant
| league_champs3 =Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
| second_place3 =Saitama Seibu Lions
| MVP3 =Mitsuo Yoshikawa (Nippon Ham)
| MVP_link3 =Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award
| playoffs =Climax Series
| conf1 =CL
| conf1_link =2012 Central League Climax Series
| conf1_champ =Yomiuri Giants
| conf1_runner-up =Chunichi Dragons
| conf2 =PL
| conf2_link =2012 Pacific League Climax Series
| conf2_champ =Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
| conf2_runner-up =Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
| finals =Japan Series
| finals_link =2012 Japan Series
| finals_champ =Yomiuri Giants
| finals_runner-up =Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
| finals_MVP =Tetsuya Utsumi (Yomiuri)
| finals_MVP_link =Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award
| seasonslist =List of Nippon Professional Baseball seasons
| seasonslistnames =NPB
| prevseason_link =2011 Nippon Professional Baseball season
| prevseason_year =2011
| nextseason_link =2013 Nippon Professional Baseball season
| nextseason_year =2013
}}
The 2012 Nippon Professional Baseball season was the 63rd season since the NPB was reorganized in 1950.
Regular season standings
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" width="60%" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Central League regular season standings !scope="col" width="35%"| Team !scope="col" width="5%"| G !scope="col" width="5%"| W !scope="col" width="5%"| L !scope="col" width="5%"| T !scope="col" width="7%"| Pct. !scope="col" width="5%"| GB |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Yomiuri Giants
| 144 || 86 || 43 || 15 || .667 || — |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Chunichi Dragons
| 144 || 75 || 53 || 16 || .586 || 10.5 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Tokyo Yakult Swallows
| 144 || 68 || 65 || 11 || .511 || 20.0 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Hiroshima Toyo Carp
| 144 || 61 || 71 || 12 || .462 || 26.5 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Hanshin Tigers
| 144 || 55 || 75 || 14 || .423 || 31.5 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Yokohama DeNA BayStars
| 144 || 46 || 85 || 13 || .351 || 41.0 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" width="60%" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Pacific League regular season standings !scope="col" width="35%"| Team !scope="col" width="5%"| G !scope="col" width="5%"| W !scope="col" width="5%"| L !scope="col" width="5%"| T !scope="col" width="7%"| Pct. !scope="col" width="5%"| GB |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
| 144 || 74 || 59 || 11 || .556 || — |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Saitama Seibu Lions
| 144 || 72 || 63 || 9 || .533 || 3.0 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
| 144 || 67 || 65 || 12 || .508 || 6.5 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
| 144 || 67 || 67 || 10 || .500 || 7.5 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Chiba Lotte Marines
| 144 || 62 || 67 || 15 || .481 || 10.0 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Orix Buffaloes
| 144 || 57 || 77 || 10 || .425 || 17.5 |
Climax Series
{{main|2012 Central League Climax Series|2012 Pacific League Climax Series}}
Note: All of the games that are played in the first two rounds of the Climax Series are held at the higher seed's home stadium. The team with the higher regular-season standing also advances if the round ends in a tie.
{{6TeamBracket-info
|team-width=200
|RD1=First Stage
|RD2=Final Stage
|RD3=Japan Series
|RD1-text1={{center|Central League}}
|RD1-text2={{center|Pacific League}}
| RD1-seed1=2
| RD1-team1=Chunichi Dragons
| RD1-score1=2
| RD1-seed2=3
| RD1-team2=Tokyo Yakult Swallows
| RD1-score2=1
| RD1-seed3=2
| RD1-team3=Saitama Seibu Lions
| RD1-score3=1
| RD1-seed4=3
| RD1-team4=Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
| RD1-score4=2
| RD2-seed1=1
| RD2-team1=Yomiuri Giants
| RD2-score1=4
| RD2-seed2=2
| RD2-team2=Chunichi Dragons
| RD2-score2=3
| RD2-seed3=1
| RD2-team3=Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
| RD2-score3=4
| RD2-seed4=3
| RD2-team4=Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
| RD2-score4=0
| RD3-seed1=CL1
| RD3-team1=Yomiuri Giants
| RD3-score1=4
| RD3-seed2=PL1
| RD3-team2=Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
| RD3-score2=2
}}
=First stage=
The regular season league champions, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (PL) and the Yomiuri Giants (CL), received byes to the championship round.
==Central League==
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary = Chunichi Dragons (2) vs. Tokyo Yakult Swallows (1)
| winner =
| leader =
| score =
| date1 = October 13
| score1 = Tokyo Yakult Swallows – 1, Chunichi Dragons – 6
| loc1 = Nagoya Dome
| time1 = 3:11
| att1 = 31,146
| ref1 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101301764.html |title=Saturday, October 13, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 4, 2012}}
| date2 = October 14
| score2 = Tokyo Yakult Swallows – 1, Chunichi Dragons – 0
| loc2 = Nagoya Dome
| time2 = 3:26
| att2 = 33,852
| ref2 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101401766.html |title=Sunday, October 14, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 4, 2012}}
| date3 = October 15
| score3 = Tokyo Yakult Swallows – 1, Chunichi Dragons – 4
| loc3 = Nagoya Dome
| time3 = 3:39
| att3 = 23,264
| ref3 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101501768.html |title=Monday, October 15, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 4, 2012}}
}}
==Pacific League==
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2) vs. Saitama Seibu Lions (1)
| winner =
| leader =
| score =
| date1 = October 13
| score1 = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 2, Saitama Seibu Lions – 1
| loc1 = Seibu Dome
| time1 = 2:54
| att1 = 32,074
| ref1 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101301765.html |title=Saturday, October 13, 2012 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 29, 2012}}
| date2 = October 14
| score2 = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 0, Saitama Seibu Lions – 8
| loc2 = Seibu Dome
| time2 = 3:23
| att2 = 33,918
| ref2 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101401767.html |title=Sunday, October 14, 2012 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 29, 2012}}
| date3 = October 15
| score3 = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 3, Saitama Seibu Lions – 2
| loc3 = Seibu Dome
| time3 = 3:23
| att3 = 25,002
| ref3 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101501769.html |title=Monday, October 15, 2012 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 29, 2012}}
}}
=Final stage=
The regular season league champions, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (PL) and the Yomiuri Giants (CL), received a one-game advantage.
==Central League==
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary = Yomiuri Giants (4) vs. Chunichi Dragons (3)
| winner =
| leader =
| score =
| date1 = October 17
| score1 = Chunichi Dragons – 3, Yomiuri Giants – 1
| loc1 = Tokyo Dome
| time1 = 3:21
| att1 = 40,039
| ref1 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101701770.html |title=Wednesday, October 17, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 4, 2012}}
| date2 = October 18
| score2 = Chunichi Dragons – 5, Yomiuri Giants – 2
| loc2 = Tokyo Dome
| time2 = 3:40
| att2 = 39,135
| ref2 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101801772.html |title=Thursday, October 18, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 4, 2012}}
| date3 = October 19
| score3 = Chunichi Dragons – 5, Yomiuri Giants – 4
| loc3 = Tokyo Dome
| time3 = 3:41
| att3 = 44,744
| ref3 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101901774.html |title=Friday, October 19, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 4, 2012}}
| date4 = October 20
| score4 = Chunichi Dragons – 1, Yomiuri Giants – 3
| loc4 = Tokyo Dome
| time4 = 2:57
| att4 = 46,158
| ref4 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012102001776.html |title=Saturday, October 20, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 4, 2012}}
| date5 = October 21
| score5 = Chunichi Dragons – 2, Yomiuri Giants – 3
| loc5 = Tokyo Dome
| time5 = 3:40
| att5 = 45,897
| ref5 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012102101777.html |title=Sunday, October 21, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 4, 2012}}
| date6 = October 22
| score6 = Chunichi Dragons – 2, Yomiuri Giants – 4
| loc6 = Tokyo Dome
| time6 = 3:18
| att6 = 44,351
| ref6 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012102201778.html |title=Monday, October 22, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 4, 2012}}
}}
==Pacific League==
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (4) vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (0)
| winner =
| leader =
| score =
| date1 = October 17
| score1 = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 2, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 3
| loc1 = Sapporo Dome
| time1 = 2:56
| att1 = 31,022
| ref1 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101701771.html |title= Wednesday, October 17, 2012 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 29, 2012}}
| date2 = October 18
| score2 = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 0, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 3
| loc2 = Sapporo Dome
| time2 = 3:17
| att2 = 23,610
| ref2 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101801773.html |title=Thursday, October 18, 2012 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 29, 2012}}
| date3 = October 19
| score3 = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 2, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 4
| loc3 = Sapporo Dome
| time3 = 3:16
| att3 = 37,166
| ref3 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012101901775.html |title=Friday, October 19, 2012 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 29, 2012}}
}}
Japan Series
{{Main|2012 Japan Series}}
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary = CL Yomiuri Giants (4) vs. PL Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2)
| winner =
| leader =
| score =
| date1 = October 27
| score1 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 1, Yomiuri Giants – 8
| loc1 = Tokyo Dome
| time1 = 3:13
| att1 = 44,981
| ref1 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012102701779.html |title=Saturday, October 27, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 27, 2012}}
| date2 = October 28
| score2 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 0, Yomiuri Giants – 1
| loc2 = Tokyo Dome
| time2 = 2:51
| att2 = 44,932
| ref2 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012102801780.html |title=Sunday, October 28, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 28, 2012}}
| date3 = October 30
| score3 = Yomiuri Giants – 3, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 7
| loc3 = Sapporo Dome
| time3 = 4:04
| att3 = 36,942
| ref3 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012103001781.html |title=Tuesday, October 30, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 30, 2012}}
| date4 = October 31
| score4 = Yomiuri Giants – 0, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 1
| loc4 = Sapporo Dome
| time4 = 4:15
| att4 = 40,433
| ref4 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012103101782.html |title=Wednesday, October 31, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 1, 2012}}
| date5 = November 1
| score5 = Yomiuri Giants – 10, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 2
| loc5 = Sapporo Dome
| time5 = 3:52
| att5 = 40,579
| ref5 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012110101783.html |title=Thursday, November 1, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 1, 2012}}
| date6 = November 3
| score6 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 3, Yomiuri Giants – 4
| loc6 = Tokyo Dome
| time6 = 3:22
| att6 = 45,018
| ref6 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2012/games/s2012110301784.html |title=Saturday, November 3, 2012 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=November 3, 2012}}
}}
League leaders
=Central League=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Batting leaders !scope="col" width="7%" | Stat !scope="col" width="10%" | Player !scope="col" width="20%" | Team !scope="col" width="3%" | Total |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Batting average
| Shinnosuke Abe || Yomiuri Giants || .340 |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Home runs
| Wladimir Balentien || Tokyo Yakult Swallows || 31 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Runs batted in
| Shinnosuke Abe || Yomiuri Giants || 104 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Runs
| Hayato Sakamoto || Yomiuri Giants || 87 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Hits
| Hayato Sakamoto |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Stolen bases
| Yohei Oshima || Chunichi Dragons || 32 |
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Pitching leaders !scope="col" width="7%" | Stat !scope="col" width="10%" | Player !scope="col" width="20%" | Team !scope="col" width="3%" | Total |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Wins
| Tetsuya Utsumi || Yomiuri Giants || 15 |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Losses
| Bryan Bullington |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Earned run average
| Kenta Maeda || Hiroshima Toyo Carp || 1.53 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Strikeouts
| Toshiya Sugiuchi |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Innings pitched
| Kenta Maeda || Hiroshima Toyo Carp || 206{{frac|1|3}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Saves
| Tony Barnette |
{{col-end}}
=Pacific League=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Batting leaders !scope="col" width="7%" | Stat !scope="col" width="10%" | Player !scope="col" width="20%" | Team !scope="col" width="3%" | Total |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Batting average
| Katsuya Kakunaka || Chiba Lotte Marines || .312 |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Home runs
| Takeya Nakamura || Saitama Seibu Lions || 27 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Runs batted in
| Lee Dae-Ho || Orix Buffaloes || 91 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Runs
| Sho Nakata || Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters || 79 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Hits
| Seiichi Uchikawa || Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks || 157 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Stolen bases
| Ryo Hijirisawa || Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles || 54 |
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Pitching leaders !scope="col" width="7%" | Stat !scope="col" width="10%" | Player !scope="col" width="25%" | Team !scope="col" width="3%" | Total |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Wins
| Tadashi Settsu || Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks || 17 |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Losses
| Takayuki Kishi || Saitama Seibu Lions || 12 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Earned run average
| Mitsuo Yoshikawa || Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters || 1.71 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Strikeouts
| Masahiro Tanaka || Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles || 169 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Innings pitched
| Yoshihisa Naruse || Chiba Lotte Marines || 200{{frac|2|3}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Saves
| Hisashi Takeda || Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters || 32 |
{{col-end}}