Tuffy Rhodes

Tuffy Rhodes was the number three hitter for Kintetsu and is one of the greatest foreign hitters in the history of Japanese professional baseball. In 2001, he won the Home Run King and League MVP titles with a .327 average, 55 home runs, and 131 RBIs. He tied Sadaharu Oh's then-single-season record and, alongside cleanup hitter Norihiro Nakamura, led the devastatingly powerful "Itemae" lineup. His 464 career NPB home runs are the most by a foreign player. He is a legendary import player loved for his explosive hitting and his trademark shout of "Yossha!"

Naoyuki Omura

Naoyuki Omura was the leadoff hitter and center fielder for Kintetsu, serving as the fearless spearhead of the "Itemae" lineup during the 2001 championship season. He played in all 140 games, recording a .271 average and 16 home runs. His ultra-aggressive batting style, swinging at the first pitch without hesitation, created numerous scoring opportunities for the powerful cleanup crew. His wide defensive range was also a weapon, earning him a Best Nine award that year. After Kintetsu was dissolved, he continued to excel at SoftBank and Orix, finishing his career as a renowned outfielder with 1,866 hits.

Koichi Isobe

In 2001, Koichi Isobe had a major breakout as the "Terrifying Number Five Hitter" in Kintetsu's heavy-hitting "Itemae" lineup. This was the year he fully transitioned from catcher to outfielder, and his clutch hitting awakened. Tasked with protecting Norihiro Nakamura in the order, he posted career-high stats with a .320 average, 17 home runs, and 95 RBIs. Notably, his .417 batting average with runners in scoring position led the Pacific League. He contributed significantly to the league championship and earned his first Best Nine award as an outfielder.

Masataka Nashida

In 2001, Manager Masataka Nashida led Kintetsu to their first Pacific League title in 12 years during his second year in charge. Aiming for a comeback after finishing last the previous year, he implemented a "win by out-hitting" strategy, pushing the overwhelming power of the "Itemae" lineup to the forefront while the pitching staff struggled with a 4.98 ERA. His sharp observation and flexible management—honed during his days as a star catcher—shone through in his daily pitching rotations and the pinch-hitting call for Hirotoshi Kitagawa. The image of him crying tears of joy after the dramatic championship-clinching game remains iconic.