Though the Marines may not look like it now, they were once a fearsome team. Originally known as the Mainichi Orions, the ball club seized the Pacific League's first pennant in 1950 and went on to defeat the Shochiku Robins in that year's Japan Series. Remaining strong from then until the early 1980s, the team has employed several players destined for Japan's Hall of Fame.

Kaoru Bettoh: Playing his first two seasons with the Osaka Tigers, Kaoru Bettoh joined the the Mainichi Orions in 1950, leading the expansion franchise to a Pacific League pennant and championship in the first Japan Series. Hitting .335 and swiping 34 bases while leading the league with 43 home runs and 105 RBIs, the right-handed outfielder was an easy choice for 1950 PL Most Valuable Player.

Beginning his professional career at age twenty-seven, Bettoh played from 1948-57, batting .302 with 155 home runs and 186 stolen bases. Also serving as Orions' manager (1954-59), the outfielder compiled a 467-341 record (.578 winning percentage). Bettoh was elected to Japan's Hall of Fame in 1988.

George Altman: Before serving his final season in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers (1975), George Altman played seven seasons with the Tokyo and Lotte Orions (1968-74). Batting from the left-side of home plate, Altman slugged 205 home runs and batted .309 over his Japanese career. At the age of 41, Altman hit .351 with 21 homers and (a team-best) 67 RBIs over 85 games to help Lotte reach (and win) the 1974 Japan Series.

Choji Murata: Because few Japanese pitchers have won over 200 games, Choji Murata is a member of an exclusive club. Earning a 215-177 record (fifteenth on the all-time list) and 2363 strikeouts (eighth), Murata remains the best all-time Lotte pitcher. Pitching from 1968 to 1990 for the Orions, the right-handed ace is probably best known for how he dealt with a career-threatening arm injury.

In 1982, Murata began feeling a sharp twinge in his pitching elbow. When doctors couldn't find a problem, Murata tried "pitching through the pain." Growing more intense, the pain in his elbow forced Murata to try several remedies, including acupuncture, massage, ointments, meditation and more practice. Reluctant to have surgery, Murata believed the common dictum that as soon as a pitcher had surgery on his arm, his career was over.

Only when there were no other options, Murata visited Dr. Frank Jobe, the surgeon who had successfully repaired Tommy John's pitching arm. Diagnosed with a ruptured tendon in his right elbow, Murata agreed to have surgery.

After a long rehabilitation, Murata came back in 1985, posted a 17-5 record, and continued pitching for five more years. Because his success made surgery an acceptable option for pitchers, Murata saved more careers than his own.

Michiyo Aritoh: Although he only won a single league title over his career (batting .329 in 1977), Michiyo Aritoh hit consistently for the Orions from 1969-1986. Winning the 1969 Rookie of the Year award, the right-hander went on to hit 348 career home runs (eighteenth on the all-time list) even though he never hit more than twenty-nine in any single season.

Leron Lee: Though not widely publicized, Japan's all-time career batting leader is none other than former Major Leaguer Leron Lee. In eleven seasons with the Lotte Orions (1977-87), Lee hit .320.

After playing for the Cardinals, Padres, Indians and Dodgers (1969-76), Lee arrived in Japan at age twenty-nine. Earning the Pacific League home run and RBI titles (with 34 and 109 respectively) in his 1977 "rookie" season, the Lotte outfielder and first baseman finished six hits short of picking up a triple crown.

Winning the league batting crown in 1980 with a .358 average, Lee only dropped below the .300 mark his final season.

Among foreign players, Lee leads his peers with 1579 hits, 283 home runs, and 912 RBIs. Arguably the most successful foreign hitter ever to play in Japan, one has to wonder how many more records Lee might now hold if he had started his career in Japan at a younger age.

Leon Lee: Brother of Leron, Leon Lee also played with Lotte (1978-82) before joining the Taiyo Whales (1983-85) and the Yakult Swallows (1986-87). Nearly as successful as his older brother, Leon batted a career .308 average (eighth on the all-time list), slugged 268 home runs and hit 884 RBIs.

Hiromitsu Ochiai: Japan's greatest hitter of the 1980s and one of the all-time best, Hiromitsu Ochiai alone has won three triple-crowns for batting (1982, '85-86). Setting the Pacific League record for most RBIs in a season (146 in 1985), the right handed slugger has won five batting titles (all with Lotte), five for home runs and five for RBIs.

Playing for the Lotte Orions (1979-86), Chunichi Dragons (1987-93), Yomiuri Giants (1994-96) and Nippon Ham Fighters (1997 - present), Ochiai's lifetime .313 average ranks sixth among Japan's all-time batting leaders. The right-handed slugger also places fifth in career home runs (508), and fifth in RBIs (1,546). Given such a career, it's no surprise Ochiai ranks as Lotte's all-time best hitter.

As Japanese baseball's leading iconoclast, Ochiai in the past has openly spurned the old notions of hard work and loyalty to team. Rarely working up a sweat during pre-game practices and claiming in the past that he only plays for the money, one has to wonder why Ochiai has stuck around so long. If money is his objective, he could surely land a lucrative career as a TV commentator. Perhaps in the twilight of his career, Ochiai has lost some of his cynicism and gained a deeper respect for the game and his place in it.

Hideki Irabu: In his last few years with the Marines, Hideki Irabu was very impressive. Averaging over ten whiffs a game, the big right-hander led the Pacific League with 239 strikeouts in both1994 and '95. Earning fifteen wins in 1994, Irabu posted the league's best ERA in 1995 (2.53) and 1996 (2.402).

Though not as consistent as Hideo Nomo, Irabu's dominance of Pacific League batters led many to believe he would be a star in the Major Leagues. Former Lotte Manager Bobby Valentine was quoted in Newsweek, calling Irabu "one of the world's best" pitchers.

Reaching the Major Leagues, Irabu was great . . . for two Major League games. Then, unable to find his 160 kph (100mph) fastball, his ERA rose steadily until he was pushed down to the minors and then relegated to the Yankees bullpen. It will likely take time for the right-hander to acclimate himself to Major League Baseball. Despite the poor start, he still has the potential to be one of the American League's best fireballers.