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Games Shorter than One Hour

Discussion in the Ask the Commish forum
Games Shorter than One Hour
The shortest Japanese professional game is 55 minutes, on July 26, 1946 when Osaka defeated Pacific 1-0. Does anyone know where that game was played, what league that was (Pacific or Central), and what the two teams' nicknames were that year?

But there have been eleven other Japanese professional games shorter than one hour. Does anyone know what they are? If you do, please let me know via e-mail at plowry1176@aol.com and I will update the records. Thank you.
Comments
Re: Games Shorter than One Hour
[ Author: Heian-794 | Posted: Apr 16, 2007 10:14 PM | HT Fan ]

Phil,

That game was played in Nishinomiya (near Koshien Stadium, home of the Hanshin Tigers), and Osaka is indeed the same Tigers team that now calls itself Hanshin. I wasn't able to find out what Pacific's nickname was; I think 1946 was the one-league era, before the Pacific and Central leagues were split apart.

One website (in Japanese) about this game is here.
Re: Games Shorter than One Hour
[ Author: Guest: Phil Lowry | Posted: Apr 18, 2007 5:40 PM ]

Thank you very much for informing me that the 55-minute game in 1946 was played at Nishinomiya Kyujo in Nishinomiya. That is very helpful to my research. Any ideas on how I can identify the other 11 Japanese pro games that have lasted less than one hour?

Phil Lowry
Re: Games Shorter than One Hour
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Apr 20, 2007 9:58 AM | YBS Fan ]

The "2007 Baseball Record Book" by Baseball Magazine Sha lists just the first and second longest games (4 ties for second). Unfortunately, it doesn't list all the information you require. This is what it has:
1 Hanshin - Pacific     1946-07-26  0h 56m  9Top
2 Hanshin - Hankyu 1940-08-11 0h 56m 9T
2 Taiyo - Asahi 1942-05-23 0h 56m 9T
2 Hankyu - Nishitetsu 1943.09.20 0h 56m 9T
2 Hankyu - Tokyu 1947.08.08 0h 56m 9T
All of the above games were during the Single League era.

Hanshin: 1940-1946 were referred to only as Hanshin - no mascot name
Pacific: 1946-1946 was referred to only as Pacific - no mascot name
Hankyu: 1936-1946 was referred to only as Hankyu - no mascot name
Hankyu: 1947-1949 Hankyu Braves
Taiyo: 1941-1942 was referred to only as Taiyo - no mascot name
Asahi: 1941-1945 was referred to only as Asahi - no mascot name
Nishitetsu: 1943-1943 was referred to only as Nishitetsu - no mascot name
Tokyu: 1947-1947 Tokyu Flyers

The Central and Pacific League records were both set in 1950, the birth year of the two-league system. However, no information is provided as to where they stand in the overall rankings.
CL  Chunichi - Shochiku  1950-06-06  1h  7m  9Bottom
PL Taiei - Tokyu 1950-04-26 1h 8m 9B
Chunichi: 1950-1950 Chunichi Dragons
Shochiku: 1950-1952 Shochiku Robins
Taiei: 1950-1956 Taiei Stars
Tokyu: 1950-1953 Tokyu Flyers

I hope that the dates will allow you to narrow down searches for the remainder of the data regarding these games.
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