Your guide to adopting an NPB team part 2: Hiroshima Toyo Carp (広島東洋カープ)

Hiroshima Toyo Carp (広島)

Update: Found this post? Here's a 2020 revised edition. 

The Hiroshima (広島 will be seen on scoreboard updates) Toyo Carp were established in 1950, five years removed from the historic atomic bomb that rocked the city. While Carp is a generic term for a fish, it's name comes from the Hiroshima castle known as "Rijo."

With their castle mounted on water, there are essentially Carp surrounding it while the fish also represents a symbol of pride and peace for the area. 

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Ownership: Matsuda family and Mazda 

The Matsuda family is a descendant of the founder of the car company known as Mazda. With the family being majority owners over the car company, they have the city and prefecture title of "Hiroshima" in their name first. "Toyo" is the former name of Mazda, which originated in 1927 and had that name until its current title in 1984.  Mazda itself was also found in Hiroshima. 

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League: Central

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Payroll rank in 2015: 7

The Carp are historically known to be broke and not spending a significant amount of money. They were dead last (12th) in payroll for 2014. 

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Location/Stadium: Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium in Minami, Hiroshima

Hiroshima is on the south side of Honshu island (the biggest of the group in Japan). While historically it's remembered for what happened in 70 years ago, today, it is a city of peace and wants to promote it at all times. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (listed above) is a well-known park in the heart of the city which, for its name-sake, promotes peace. The country has not been at war ever since.

Their stadium is the newest in NPB with its first season in 2009. It's the only ballpark with asymmetric dimensions in the outfield as well as having the Ōendan sections elevated instead of being in a traditional bleacher spot. The visitor's section is away from the photo in left field (you can see it in the left side of the corner) while the Carp Ōendan is the box in right field.

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Primary Uniforms: Currently made by both Descente and Mizuno.

Carp Home uniform

Carp Away Uniform

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Mascot: SLYLY, who resembles the Phillie Phanatic. 

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Cheer Song: Soreike kāpu (それ行けカープ) "Let's Go Carp"

The Carp are one of three Central League teams to have balloons during Lucky 7.  

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Ōendan Songs: Opening at 00:00, 2016 Player songs at 00:57, Special player/cheer songs at 8:40,
Soreike kāpu at 10:33, Chance songs at 11:40, Scoring song at 14:24

(Note: Notice how much standing up and sitting down they do with alternate seats. They're the only Ōendan who does this on a frequent basis. This fanbase travels extremely well for road games too).  

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MLB Comparison: Cincinnati Reds 

Not only are the Carp similar to the Reds in uniform, but also on the field in terms of results. Both teams have not won a World Series or Japan Series in a very long time and both have been perennial losers in the last 30 years. Another close comparison is the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have had glory years, but not much recently until their first postseason appearance in 2013. 

Expectations have been higher in recent years for Hiroshima, but there hasn't been much success. They have not won a pennant since 1991 and a Japan Series since 1984.  

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Notable former MiLB and MLB players who've played for the Carp:

Gail Hopkins, Richie Scheinblum, Colby Lewis, Nate Schierholtz, Kris Johnson, Brad Eldred, Hiroki Kuroda, Bryan Bullington

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Notable Carp who played in MLB:

Alfonso Soriano, Ken Takahashi, Hiroki Kuroda, Colby Lewis, Kenta Maeda

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Yes, that is not a typo. Soriano started his baseball career in the Carp's academy before going to MLB. Kuroda and Lewis are listed twice for going both to and back from MLB and Japan. 

Lewis, in particular, was a dominant strikeout leader during his two years in 2008-2009 and even continued that success with the Texas Rangers in 2010. He is the ultimate success story of being a better pitcher through Japanese coaches.  

Kuroda returned to Japan by choice in 2015 even though he could have played another year or two in MLB. Recently, he signed a deal to return to the team for 2016. 

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The Verdict

Why you root for them: 

Because they have arguably the best looking stadium in NPB for its modern look. Better yet, there's a Costco visible behind it from right-center field! The Carp have one of the most spirited Ōendans in NPB with their noise and they make their presence known at away parks, no matter their record. Their songs and sounds have a nice traditional noise as well.

Why you don't root for them:

Because they have primarily been losers and haven't found postseason success for a long time. With their last Japan Series championship being in 1984, it's the longest drought among all 12 NPB teams. There's even been reports their fans can be potentially psycho despite their passion for the game. 

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Other teams in the Series: 

Yomiuri Giants (巨人)

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (日本)

Orix Buffaloes (オリックス)

Hanshin Tigers (阪神)

Chunichi Dragons (中日)

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (楽天)

Softbank Hawks (ソフトバンク)

Yokohama (DeNA) Baystars

Chiba Lotte Marines (ロッテ)

Tokyo Yakult Swallows (ヤクルトス)  

Saitama Seibu Lions (西武)

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