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Updated: March 6, 2013
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Grand Slam/Marco Stoovelaar

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Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2013 by Marco Stoovelaar


Dutch practice in Tokyo
Nederlands

...Practice in the Tokyo Dome...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen)
TOKYO (Japan) - A few hours after arriving in Japanese capitol Tokyo, the Dutch Baseball Team was back on the field for a practice session in the huge Tokyo Dome.

The Tokyo Dome has a capacity of 55.000 and is the home of the Yomiuri Giants, the most famous club in the Japanese professional big league and comparable to the status of the New York Yankees in the Major League.

The Tokyo Dome is the successor of Korakuen Stadium, which was the site of the World Championship 1980 and was located next to where now the Dome is. The Dome is situated on the site of the Velodrome, which was next to Korakuen Stadium.

In 1980, the Dutch Baseball Team finished in twelfth and last place during the Championship in Japan. The team, headed by Manager Hamilton Richardson, then won one of its twelve games played.

The Tokyo Dome opened on March 17, 1988. Its dome-shaped roof is an air-supported structure, a flexible membrane held up by slightly pressurizing the inside of the stadium. The surface is Fieldturf, which is special artificial turf to replicate real grass. The stadium is part of a big entertainment complex, Tokyo Dome City, which includes an amusement park and a rollercoaster, shops and restaurants.

Besides being the home of the Giants baseball-team, basketball, American football and soccer-games have been played there. But also professional wrestling games and other martial arts events.

Several concerts also have been staged in the Tokyo Dome, including Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson (21 times), Paul McCartney, Madonna, Guns N'Roses and Britney Spears. It is also the site of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

Four times, the Major League-season opened with games in the Tokyo Dome.

In 2000, the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets played there, which marked the first time that regular season Major League-games were played in Asia.

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays played two games there to open the 2004 season.

The 2008 season was opened in Tokyo by the Boston Red Sox and Oakland A's.

And in 2012, the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A's played their opening series in the Dome.

Several NFL American Football-teams played exhibition games in the Tokyo Dome.


...The team arrives...
...Here, we see Diegomar Markwell...

...Physical Therapist Pepijn van Ingen...
...oversees a conditioning drills...

...Batting practice...

...The huge and impressive Tokyo Dome...
(© All Photos: Henk Seppen)

(March 6)


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