2014 Nippon Professional Baseball season
{{NPBseason|year=2014}}
{{Infobox sports season
| title =2014 NPB season
| league =Nippon Professional Baseball
| sport =Baseball
| duration =March 28 – October 30
| season2 =Central League pennant
| league_champs2 =Yomiuri Giants
| second_place2 =Hanshin Tigers
| MVP2 =Tomoyuki Sugano (Yomiuri)
| MVP_link2 =Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award
| season3 =Pacific League pennant
| league_champs3 =Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
| second_place3 =Orix Buffaloes
| MVP3 =Chihiro Kaneko (Orix)
| MVP_link3 =Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award
| playoffs =Climax Series
| conf1 =CL
| conf1_link =2014 Central League Climax Series
| conf1_champ =Hanshin Tigers
| conf1_runner-up =Yomiuri Giants
| conf2 =PL
| conf2_link =2014 Pacific League Climax Series
| conf2_champ =Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
| conf2_runner-up =Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
| finals =Japan Series
| finals_link =2014 Japan Series
| finals_champ =Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
| finals_runner-up =Hanshin Tigers
| finals_MVP =Seiichi Uchikawa (SoftBank)
| finals_MVP_link =Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award
| seasonslist =List of Nippon Professional Baseball seasons
| seasonslistnames =NPB
| prevseason_link =2013 Nippon Professional Baseball season
| prevseason_year =2013
| nextseason_link =2015 Nippon Professional Baseball season
| nextseason_year =2015
}}
The 2014 Nippon Professional Baseball season was the 65th edition of NPB since 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 || 82 || 61 || 1 || .573 || — |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Hanshin Tigers
| 144 || 75 || 68 || 1 || .524 || 7 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Hiroshima Toyo Carp
| 144 || 74 || 68 || 2 || .521 || 7.5 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Chunichi Dragons
| 144 || 67 || 73 || 4 || .479 || 13.5 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Yokohama DeNA BayStars
| 144 || 67 || 75 || 2 || .472 || 14.5 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Tokyo Yakult Swallows
| 144 || 60 || 81 || 3 || .426 || 21 |
| 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;"|Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
| 144 || 78 || 60 || 6 || .565 || — |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Orix Buffaloes
| 144 || 80 || 62 || 2 || .563 || — |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
| 144 || 73 || 68 || 3 || .518 || 6.5 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Chiba Lotte Marines
| 144 || 66 || 76 || 2 || .465 || 14.0 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Saitama Seibu Lions
| 144 || 63 || 77 || 4 || .450 || 16.0 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
| 144 || 64 || 80 || 0 || .444 || 17.0 |
Climax Series
{{main|2014 Central League Climax Series|2014 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=Hanshin Tigers
| RD1-score1=1
| RD1-seed2=3
| RD1-team2=Hiroshima Toyo Carp
| RD1-score2=0
| RD1-seed3=2
| RD1-team3=Orix Buffaloes
| RD1-score3=1
| RD1-seed4=3
| RD1-team4=Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
| RD1-score4=2
| RD2-seed1=1
| RD2-team1=Yomiuri Giants
| RD2-score1=1
| RD2-seed2=2
| RD2-team2=Hanshin Tigers
| RD2-score2=4
| RD2-seed3=1
| RD2-team3=Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
| RD2-score3=4
| RD2-seed4=3
| RD2-team4=Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
| RD2-score4=3
| RD3-seed1=CL2
| RD3-team1= Hanshin Tigers
| RD3-score1=1
| RD3-seed2=PL1
| RD3-team2= Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
| RD3-score2=4
}}
=First stage=
The regular season league champions, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL) and the Yomiuri Giants (CL), received byes to the championship round.
==Central League==
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary = Hanshin Tigers (1) vs. Hiroshima Toyo Carp (0)
| winner =
| leader =
| score =
| date1 = October 11
| score1 = Hiroshima Toyo Carp – 0, Hanshin Tigers – 1
| loc1 = Koshien Stadium
| time1 = 2:52
| att1 = 46,721
| ref1 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101101754.html |title=Saturday, October 11, 2014 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 15, 2014}}
| date2 = October 12
| score2 = Hiroshima Toyo Carp – 0, Hanshin Tigers – 0
| loc2 = Koshien Stadium
| time2 = 3:35
| att2 = 46,815
| ref2 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101201756.html |title=Sunday, October 12, 2014 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 15, 2014}}
}}
==Pacific League==
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2) vs. Orix Buffaloes (1)
| winner =
| leader =
| score =
| date1 = October 11
| score1 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 6, Orix Buffaloes – 3
| loc1 = Kyocera Dome
| time1 = 4:01
| att1 = 35,889
| ref1 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101101755.html |title=Saturday, October 11, 2014 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 15, 2014}}
| date2 = October 12
| score2 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 4, Orix Buffaloes – 6
| loc2 = Kyocera Dome
| time2 = 3:32
| att2 = 36,012
| ref2 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101201757.html |title=Sunday, October 12, 2014 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 15, 2014}}
| date3 = October 14*
| score3 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 2, Orix Buffaloes – 1
| loc3 = Kyocera Dome
| time3 = 4:17
| att3 = 32,588
| ref3 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101401759.html |title=Tuesday, October 14, 2014 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 15, 2014}}
}}
:
=Final stage=
The regular season league champions, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL) and the Yomiuri Giants (CL), received a one-game advantage.
==Central League==
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary = Hanshin Tigers (4) vs. Yomiuri Giants (1)
| winner =
| leader =
| score =
| date1 = October 15
| score1 = Hanshin Tigers – 4, Yomiuri Giants – 1
| loc1 = Tokyo Dome
| time1 = 2:59
| att1 = 44,871
| ref1 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101501760.html |title=Wednesday, October 15, 2014 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 15, 2014}}
| date2 = October 16
| score2 = Hanshin Tigers – 5, Yomiuri Giants – 2
| loc2 = Tokyo Dome
| time2 = 3:19
| att2 = 44,728
| ref2 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101601762.html |title=Thursday, October 16, 2014 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 24, 2014}}
| date3 = October 17
| score3 = Hanshin Tigers – 4, Yomiuri Giants – 2
| loc3 = Tokyo Dome
| time3 = 3:44
| att3 = 46,025
| ref3 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101701764.html |title=Friday, October 17, 2014 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 24, 2014}}
| date4 = October 18
| score4 = Hanshin Tigers – 8, Yomiuri Giants – 4
| loc4 = Tokyo Dome
| time4 = 3:42
| att4 = 46,311
| ref4 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101801766.html |title=Saturday, October 18, 2014 |publisher=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 24, 2014}}
}}
==Pacific League==
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (4) vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (3)
| winner =
| leader =
| score =
| date1 = October 15
| score1 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 2, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 3
| loc1 = Fukuoka Dome
| time1 = 3:19
| att1 = 28,087
| ref1 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101501761.html |title= Wednesday, October 15, 2014 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 15, 2014}}
| date2 = October 16
| score2 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 5, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 1
| loc2 = Fukuoka Dome
| time2 = 3:30
| att2 = 29,775
| ref2 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101601763.html |title= Thursday, October 16, 2014 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 24, 2014}}
| date3 = October 17
| score3 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 12, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 4
| loc3 = Fukuoka Dome
| time3 = 3:13
| att3 = 31,176
| ref3 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101701765.html |title= Friday, October 17, 2014 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 24, 2014}}
| date4 = October 18
| score4 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 2, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 5
| loc4 = Fukuoka Dome
| time4 = 4:20
| att4 = 31,647
| ref4 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101801767.html |title= Saturday, October 18, 2014 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 24, 2014}}
| date5 = October 19
| score5 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 6, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 4
| loc5 = Fukuoka Dome
| time5 = 4:26
| att5 = 34,070
| ref5 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014101901768.html |title= Sunday, October 19, 2014 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 24, 2014}}
| date6 = October 20
| score6 = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 1, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 4
| loc6 = Fukuoka Dome
| time6 = 3:24
| att6 = 38,561
| ref6 = {{cite web |url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/2014/games/s2014102001769.html |title= Monday, October 20, 2014 |work=Nippon Professional Baseball |access-date=October 24, 2014}}
}}
Japan Series
{{Main|2014 Japan Series}}
League leaders
=Central League=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
| 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
| Matt Murton || Hanshin Tigers || .338 |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Home runs
| Brad Eldred || Hiroshima Toyo Carp || 37 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Runs batted in
| Mauro Gómez || Hanshin Tigers || 109 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Runs
| Yoshihiro Maru |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Hits
| Tetsuto Yamada || Tokyo Yakult Swallows || 193 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Stolen bases
| Takayuki Kajitani || Yokohama DeNA BayStars || 39 |
{{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
| Randy Messenger |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Losses
| Atsushi Nomi || Hanshin Tigers || 13 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Earned run average
| Tomoyuki Sugano || Yomiuri Giants || 2.33 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Strikeouts
| Randy Messenger || Hanshin Tigers || 226 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Innings pitched
| Randy Messenger || Hanshin Tigers || 208{{frac|1|3}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Saves
| Oh Seung-hwan || Hanshin Tigers || 39 |
{{col-end}}
=Pacific League=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
| 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
| Yoshio Itoi || Orix Buffaloes || .331 |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Home runs
| Ernesto Mejía |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Runs batted in
| Sho Nakata || Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters || 100 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Runs
| Yuki Yanagita || Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks || 91 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Hits
| Akira Nakamura || Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks || 176 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Stolen bases
| Haruki Nishikawa || Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters || 43 |
{{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
| Chihiro Kaneko || Orix Buffaloes || 16 |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Losses
| Wataru Karashima |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Earned run average
| Chihiro Kaneko || Orix Buffaloes || 1.98 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Strikeouts
| Takahiro Norimoto || Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles || 204 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Innings pitched
| Takahiro Norimoto || Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles || 202{{frac|2|3}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| Saves
| Yoshihisa Hirano || Orix Buffaloes || 40 |
{{col-end}}
See also
References
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Nippon Professional Baseball Seasons}}