Episode 5 in the series of Japan Series between the Yomiuri Giants and Seibu Lions gets under way on Saturday at the Tokyo Dome, and it should be a dandy. My feeling is it will go the full seven games, and I'll predict Seibu will win that seventh game at the Big Egg on Sunday, Nov. 3.
The two clubs have met in the J.S. four times since the Lions moved to Tokorozawa under the Seibu banner in 1979. The Leos won in 1983, 1987 and 1990, while the Kyojin took the last meeting in 1994. All four were memorable and, while a lot of changes have taken place over the years, many of the names and faces are, incredibly, still around.
In 1983, the Lions beat the Giants in a seesaw seven-game affair which included participation by a couple of young third-year infielders; third baseman Tatsunori Hara of the Giants and shortstop Hiromichi Ishige of Seibu. Hara is now the Yomiuri manager, while Ishige is the Orix BlueWave skipper.