In 2018, the Saitama Seibu Lions, under the leadership of manager Hatsuhiko Tsuji, finished with a record of 88 wins, 53 losses, and 2 ties (a .624 winning percentage), capturing their 22nd Pacific League title and their first in 10 years. It was a "perfect victory" where they never relinquished the top spot from the season opener. Their lineup, boasting overwhelming offensive power, went down in baseball history as the "Bandit Lineup" (or the "Shishi-odoshi Lineup"). The roster included... Shinsaburo Tawata, Yusei Kikuchi, Katsunori Hirai, Ken Togame, Daiki Enokida, Tatsushi Masuda, Tomoya Mori, Ginjiro Sumitani, Shogo Akiyama, Sosuke Genda, Hideto Asamura, Hotaka Yamakawa, Ernesto Mejia, Takeya Nakamura, Yuji Kaneko, Takumi Kuriyama, Fumikazu Kimura, and others.
Characters
Shogo Akiyama
In 2018, Shogo Akiyama played every inning of all 143 games as the leadoff hitter, contributing significantly to the team's league championship. He demonstrated destructive power beyond the typical leadoff role, batting .323 with 24 home runs and 82 RBIs. He recorded 195 hits, leading the league in hits for the second consecutive year, and simultaneously won both the Best Nine and Golden Glove awards. During this season, he reigned as the spearhead of the legendary "Bandit Lineup" with his overwhelming hitting ability, high on-base percentage, and elite defensive skills.
Hatsuhiko Tsuji
The commander who led the Bandit Lineup and guided Saitama Seibu to their first league championship in ten years.
