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Sendai had the best record in the Japan League in 1984 at 105-57, tying a franchise record. The Samurai snapped a five-year playoff drought, upending the North Division reign of defending JL champ Sapporo. The Swordfish were a non-factor at 81-81. Kobe claimed the Central Division at 98-64 for their fourth division title in five years, as Osaka was a distant second at 88-74 and last year’s division champ Nagoya was 86-76. Kawasaki claimed a fourth straight capital division as their 86-76 mark was three ahead of Chiba, five over Saitama and six better than Tokyo. Kitakyushu also won a fourth straight division title at 86-76 atop the West Division. It is the sixth playoff berth in seven years for the Kodiaks. Kumamoto was four games back and Hiroshima was five back. In their seventh season, the Monsters became the first of the 1978 expansion teams to post a winning record.

Japan League MVP was Sendai’s Katsunan Higashida. The 27-year old shortstop had joined the Samurai in a trade before the 1983 season after being Jeonju’s #1 draft pick, Higashida led the league in hits (213), runs (116), average (.354), OPS (1.021), and wRC+ (206), adding 9.4 WAR, 42 home runs, and 112 RBI. He would leave for MLB’s Dallas in the offseason. Hiroshima’s Aiya Kodama won his third straight Pitcher of the Year and joined Hall of Famer Chikara Ohkubo as the only two-time Triple Crown winners in East Asia Baseball. The 25-year old lefty had a 22-6 record, 1.84 ERA, and 371 strikeouts. Kodama also led the JL in WHIP (0.77), complete games (21), FIP- (43), shutouts (5), and WAR (11.5).

Kawasaki upset Sendai 3-1 in the first round, while Kobe topped Kitakyushu 3-1. This sent the Killer Whales to their third straight Japan League Championship Series and sent the Blaze for the first time since 1981. The JLCS was a seven game thriller with Kobe coming out on top. It is the fifth JL pennant for the Blaze (1935, 42, 57, 60, 84).



Daejeon (106-56) again had the best record in the Korea League, winning a fourth straight South Division title and a fifth in six years. Defending EAB champ Seongnam improved from a wild card spot the prior year to a 103-59 record atop the North Division. Yongin (98-64) and Suwon (95-67) were the wild cards by a large margin. For the Gold Sox, it was their third playoff berth in five years, while it was the fifth in six years for the Snappers. Busan’s four-year playoff streak ended with an 80-82 record.

Suwon DH Myeong-Won Song won his second Korea League MVP, five years after his first one. Song led in runs (123), OBP (.430), OPS (1.088), wRC+ (190), and 9.4 WAR. He also had 44 home runs and 123 RBI. Changwon’s Seung-Yu Woo won his fourth Pitcher of the Year in five seasons. The 28-year old righty led in wins at 21-12 and complete games with 20. He also had a 3.01 ERA over 280.2 innings, 325 strikeouts, and 6.9 WAR.

After four early exits in recent years, Daejeon topped Suwon 3-1 in the first round to finally advance to the Korea League Championship Series. The Ducks earned only their third-ever KLCS appearance, joining their 1947 and 1950 appearances. Wild card Yongin meanwhile earned a road upset 3-0 over Seongnam, giving the Gold Sox their second KLCS berth in three years. Yongin would deny Daejeon its first pennant with the Gold Sox taking the series 4-1. It is only Yongin’s second Korea League crown, joining the 1970 title.



In the 64^th East Asian Championship, the Gold Sox earned their first-ever overall title. Yongin edged Kobe in a seven game battle, led by an excellent postseason from ace Ju-Eon Eun. He set the EAB playoff record with 2.3 WAR over the postseason, a mark that still stands in 2037. In five starts, he was 4-0 over 41 innings with a 1.76 ERA, 50 strikeouts, and two walks. Catcher Masaru Ikeda won the finals MVP, posting 14 hits, 4 runs, and 8 RBI in 15 starts.



Other notes: LF Ki-Chun Park won his 14^th Gold Glove, an EAB record at any position. Pitcher of the Year Aiya Kodama had a 20 strikeout game over 10 innings against Kawasaki on September 16.