As Hanshin Tigers first baseman Craig Brazell continues his hot hitting and home run barrage, the Japanese media has begun to compare him to Randy Bass, another lefty-hitting Hanshin first baseman, from 25 years ago.
To refresh your memory, Bass had two of the best seasons enjoyed by anyone in Japanese baseball — native or foreigner — when he won back-to-back Triple Crowns in the Central League in 1985-86. Moreover, in '85, the Oklahoma native led the Tigers to their first Japan Series championship, hitting 54 home runs while driving in 134 and batting .389, still an NPB record for highest average.
Linking the two became intensified last week after Brazell knocked out two home runs in a July 2-4 series against the archrival Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome, following his three-homer game against the Chunichi Dragons at Koshien Stadium on June 29.