The 2004 Japan Series begins Saturday with the Central League champion Chunichi Dragons of Nagoya facing the Pacific League, playoff-winning Seibu Lions, based in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, in the best-of-seven showdown to decide the No. 1 pro baseball team in this country.
The Lions, managed by Tsutomu Ito, finished four-and-a-half games behind the regular season PL champion Fukuoka Daiei Hawks but made it to the J.S. by beating the third-place Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in a best-of-three First Stage of the Pa League playoffs, then upsetting the Hawks in the best-of-five Second Stage.
Chunichi, managed by Hiromitsu Ochiai, opened up a four-game lead in the Central League in late June and never looked back. We'll know by exactly how many games the Dragons won the CL if the second-place Yakult Swallows ever finish their season.