SENDAI —

The Softbank Hawks failed to bid farewell to manager Sadaharu Oh with a victory Tuesday, losing to the Rakuten Eagles 1-0 in 12 innings to finish the season in last place for the first time since 1996. The 68-year-old Oh leaves his post due to health reasons after guiding the Hawks to Pacific League titles in 1999, 2000 and 2003 and Japan Series titles in 1999 and 2003 during his 14 years at the helm.
   
‘‘I never had a feeling that this was the end of my career. I just spent the day as usual,’’ Oh said. ‘‘In the very end, I was able to enjoy 12 innings of baseball. I had a very good day, but I wish I could have gone out as a winner.’’ In the Central League, Yakult routed Chunichi 17-1. 
   

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3 Comments

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  ProfessorJ at 08:33 AM JST - 8th October

  In the Central League, Yakult routed Chunichi 17-1.

  Nice work by Yakult.

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  Beelzebub at 06:35 PM JST - 8th October

  Even if he retires the media won't leave him alone. There just aren't enough other baseball people with the media recognition or popularity to fill up the sportscasting time. For a decade after Oh and Nagashima are dead, the TV will keep showing footage.

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  timorborder at 11:43 PM JST - 8th October

  Goodbye Oh-san, although you blotted your copybook as a manager when you decided to pitch out Randy Bass, et. al., you are still the best Japanese hitter of all time. And the only one your US contemporaries seem to know anything about. Nagashima who? Biggest regret is that the exodus of Japanese players to the MLB didn't start with you.

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