Befitting a team that has won more pennants than any other Pacific League team, the Seibu Lions have had quite a few spectacular players.

Futoshi Nakanishi: One of the best all-around hitters of the mid-1950s, Futoshi Nakanishi played his entire career with the Lions (1952-69).

In his prime, the Nishitetsu third baseman won five home run crowns, three RBI titles, and twice led the league in batting average. Between 1953 and '58, Nakanishi narrowly missed winning a triple-crown four times--by two RBIs in both 1955 and '58, and by a handful of hits in '53 and '56.

Earning the 1956 MVP, Nakanishi helped lead the Lions to three-straight Japan Series championships (1956-58). In his eighteen-season career, Nakanishi hit 244 home runs and compiled a .307 batting average (ninth on the all-time list).

Hiroshi Oshita (also with Nippon Ham Fighters organization): One of Japan's best hitters of the 1940s and '50s, Hiroshi Oshita played his last eight seasons (1952-59) with the Lions. Helping the Lions win four pennants and three Japan Series championships, Oshita earned the 1954 Pacific League MVP and was named the 1957 Japan Series MVP. Oshita's best years (1946-51) were with the Senators and Flyers (now the Fighters).

Osamu Mihara: A mediocre player at best, Osamu Mihara will continue to be remembered for his exemplary record as manager. Managing five clubs from 1948 to '73 (Giants, Lions, Whales, Buffaloes and Atoms), the former second baseman earned 1,726 wins and 1,494 losses (a .536 percentage).

His greatest success, however, came while at the helm of the Nishitetsu Lions. From 1951 to '59, Mihara compiled a 680-458 win-loss record (.598 pct.) and led the team to four pennants and three Japan Series championships. When the successful skipper departed after the 1959 season, the Lions slipped into two decades of mediocrity.

Joining the Taiyo in 1960, Mihara led the Whales to their only pennant and Japan Series championship in franchise history. In 1983, he was inducted into Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame.

Kazuhisa Inao: One of the Pacific League's all-time great pitchers, Kazuhisa Inao led the Lions to three straight Japan Series Championships while earning the 1958 series MVP. Forgetting all his other great years, consider 1961. Inao tied the record for most wins in a season (42), while only losing 14 matches, for a .750 winning percentage. He also led both leagues in ERA (1.69) and strikeouts (353).

In his 1956 debut, Inao set a Pacific League record with a 1.06 ERA while winning the PL Rookie of the Year award. Since 1950, the only Japanese pitcher to have bested that mark is Hanshin's Minoru Murayama (0.98 ERA in 1970). In both 1957 and '58 Inao led both leagues in ERA and wins, and in his third full season, he also topped all Japanese pitchers in strikeouts.

Playing his entire career with the Lions (1956-69), Inao compiled a lifetime 276-137 record--among all Japanese pitchers, the eighth highest number of wins and the fourth highest winning percentage (.668). He also earned the third lowest career ERA (1.98) and the seventh highest number of strikeouts (2574).

In his fourteen year career, Inao averaged almost twenty wins a season while leading the league in ERA five times, strikeouts three times, and wins four times. Named PL MVP in 1957 and '58, Kazuhisa Inao was elected to Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Osamu Higashio: Before becoming Seibu's manager in 1995, Osamu Higashio was the team's best pitcher of the 1970s and early 80s. Playing from 1969 to '88, the baby-faced hurler compiled a 251-247 record with 1684 strikeouts and a 3.50 ERA. Twice leading the league in wins (1975, '83), once in ERA ('83) and strikeouts ('75), Higashio earned the Pacific League MVP in 1983 and '87.

Although his career losses (247) may seem rather high, it's worth noting that through the 1970s, the Lions were one of the worst hitting clubs in Japan. Failing to give their pitchers much run support, it's little surprise Higashio lost so many games. Had he played for a better club (perhaps the Braves, the Hawks or even the Buffaloes) during the 70s, Higashio might have been able to earn 300 career wins.

Steve Ontiveros: Though many clubs pick up foreign players who they think can clout twenty-five or more home runs a season, Steve Ontiveros survived six years (1980-85) with the Seibu Lions by hitting for average. Never slugging more than twenty homers in his Japanese career, the switch-hitting third baseman batted .312 and led the club in batting four straight years. Known simply as "Steve" in Japan, the former major leaguer helped transform the Lions from the worst Japanese team of the 1970s to the strongest of the '80s.

Koji Akiyama: One of the Lions best players of the 1980s, Koji Akiyama helped Seibu win eight pennants with his power-hitting and speed. Playing eleven seasons for the Lions (1981, 1984-93), the center fielder slugged 328 home runs, earned 858 RBIs and stole 227 bases.

Belting forty or more home runs three-straight years, Akiyama earned the 1987 Pacific League round-tripper crown. Three years later, he led the Japanese "junior circuit" with 51 stolen bases. In 1991, the right-handed clutch-hitter was named the Japan Series MVP.

After the 1993 season, Akiyama joined the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. As of the end of the 1997 season, he has hit 394 career home runs with a lifetime .272 batting average.

Taigen Kaku: One of the best pitchers of the 1980s, Taiwanese hurler Taigen Kaku compiled a 117-68 record and with the Lions. His fastball clocked at over 95 mph, the right-handed flame-thrower pitched a no hitter as a rookie in 1985. Earning the 1991 Pacific League MVP, Kaku posted a 15-6 record with a 2.59 ERA and 108 strikeouts while only walking thirty batters.

Kazuhiro Kiyohara: Go through any Japanese baseball card shop, and some of the most expensive cards you'll find are Kazuhiro Kiyohara's.

Before moving to the Giants in 1997, the first baseman and designated hitter had eleven solid years with the Lions (1986-96). Though never hitting more than 37 home runs (in one of the best hitters' parks in Japan) and failing to win a single major batting title in his tenure with the Lions, Kiyohara slugged 329 home runs while playing for Seibu.

A generally consistent hitter, Kiyohara's popularity probably has more to do with his clutch-hitting in post-season and all-star games than with his actual talent.

Orestes Destrade: Winning more league crowns than any other Lions players since Futoshi Nakanishi in the 1950s, Orestes Destrade had a great career with the Seibu (1989-92, 1994). Despite a relatively low average, the Cuban-American slugger took three Pacific League home run titles and two RBI crowns between 1990 and '92.

Named the Tokyo Weekender Foreign Player of the Year each of those years, Destrade decided to reenter the Major Leagues in 1993. When his batting stalled with the Florida Marlins, he returned to Japan in 1995. Midway through the season Destrade's marital problems gained headlines. Putting family before his career, Seibu's designated hitter retired and returned to America.

In four and a half seasons, Destrade belted 160 home runs and earned 366 RBIs. By no coincidence, Seibu won the Pacific League pennant and Japan Series each year their DH earned a home run crown. Arguably the team's most valuable player, shortly after Destrade left the Lions in June 1995, the team fell from first place and finished third at the end of the season.

Yoshitaka Katori: Perhaps not deserving a place on an "all-time greats" list, Yoshitaka Katori nevertheless had a great pitching career with the Giants and Lions. From 1979 to '97, the right-handed middle reliever and closer compiled a 90-45 record with 131 saves, 846 strikeouts and a 2.76 ERA. Katori retired on the same day as Taigen Kaku--both pitched to a single batter before fans and teammates bid them farewell.