The current Japan Series matchup pitting the Yomiuri Giants against the Saitama Seibu Lions is installment No. 6 since the Seibu Railways bought the Pacific League team and moved it to the Tokyo area almost 30 years ago.

Giants-Lions JS faceoffs actually go back to the era when the Yomiuri opponent was known as the Nishitetsu Lions and based in Fukuoka in the 1950s. But there have been five G-L Japan Series since the Lions moved to Tokorozawa in 1979, and all were memorable.

Following are some facts about the previous Yomiuri-Seibu championship rounds with a repeating cast of characters and changing facilities.