Best known as the team Tom Selleck played for in the film Mr. Baseball, the Chunichi Dragons at first glance resemble the Los Angeles Dodgers since both clubs wear similar uniforms.

But in 1997, Chunichi played more like a wit-less expansion franchise. Their first year at the cavernous Nagoya Dome, the Dragons sank to last place as Chunichi batters struggled not only to hit home runs but to hit anything.

Apparently designed by descendants of dragon-slayers, the Nagoya Dome features a huge Major League-size field surrounded by an immense sixteen-foot (4.8 meters) outfield fence. Nine-parts shopping mall, one-part baseball field, the new multi-purpose facility offers a dull least-common-denominator atmosphere and the kind of visibility that led Galileo to invent the telescope. With high ticket prices and a huge seating capacity, 40,500 fools and their yen will soon be parted.

Panicking after their 1997 detour through the CL cellar, Chunichi released slumping three-time batting champion Alonzo Powell and traded away umpire-shoving slugger Yasuaki Taiho. Remaining with Chunichi are three of the best pitchers in Japan--eighteen game-winner Masahiro Yamamoto, oft-injured Shinji Imanaka, and Korean relief ace Dong Yol Sun.

Joining his fellow countryman in 1988, Korean shortstop Lee Chong Bum will add much needed speed to the Dragons, but will join an infield already crowded with all-star second baseman Kazuyoshi Tatsunami, shortstop Yusuke Torigoe, top batter and third baseman Leo Gomez, and former Hanshin shortstop Teruyoshi Kujii. Meanwhile, outfielder Takeshi Yamazaki will get a chance to disprove the theory that his drop in home run production the last two seasons (from 39 to 19) means he's a small-ballpark slugger.

Hot-headed manager Senichi Hoshino, who helped create an international incident by shoving first baseman Yasuaki Taiho into American umpire Mike DiMuro, may finally get a well-deserved suspension for his on-the-field boxing. Prior to his two stints as skipper, Hoshino pitched 14 seasons (1969-82) with the Dragons, compiling a career 146-121 record. As one of the leading headhunters of the 1970s, the surly right-hander was never shy about aiming for the cranium. As manager, Hoshino forbade pitchers to apologetically tip their hats after drilling a batter.

Less controversial but more successful, Hall of Famer Shigeru Sugishita remains the greatest all-time Dragons pitcher, compiling a career 215-123 record during the 1950s while earning three Sawamura Awards. Other past stars include Alonzo Powell and Kenichi Yazawa, who compiled a career .302 average with 273 home runs from 1970-86.

Founded in 1936, the Dragons played miserably during the war years but matured into a perennial contender after joining the Central League in 1950. In the last 48 years, Chunichi has compiled 32 winning seasons four pennants and one Japan Series championship. But if manager Hoshino and the rest of the shell-shocked team can't find a way to win at the Nagoya Dome, the Dragons' proud tradition of winning will soon come to an end.