History of Tokyo Dome (~2005)
4th period: Dome era 1988~
| 1988 (1988) |
Tokyo Dome completed. |
|
|---|---|---|
| March 17 |
An opening ceremony will be held. ![]() It snowed on the first day of the season opener. |
|
| March 18 |
The opening game was a match between the Giants and the Hanshin Tigers, with the Giants' Yoshimura Tadaaki hitting a home run. ![]() Yoshimura Yoshiaki hits the first home run at the Dome and receives the prize money |
|
| April 9 |
Attendance exceeds 1 million. |
|
| 1990 (1990) |
June |
In a game against Nippon Ham, Kintetsu's Bryant hit the ball into the ceiling of Tokyo Dome, which was recognized as the first home run that fell under the Tokyo Dome special rules. The estimated distance was 160m. ![]() Kintetsu's Bryant hit the first home run under the Tokyo Dome special rules. |
| August 10 |
Due to the effects of Typhoon No. 11, public transportation was halted and the first official game (Giants vs. Chunichi) was cancelled since Tokyo Dome opened. |
|
| 1998 (1998) |
April |
Attendance at Tokyo Dome exceeds 100 million. ![]() |
| 1999 (1999) |
April 7 |
Seibu's Daisuke Matsuzaka made his debut at Tokyo Dome, striking out Nippon Ham's Atsushi Kataoka right away. |
| 2000 (2000) |
March |
The first major league opening game outside of North America will be held at Tokyo Dome. Obando of Nippon Ham hits three consecutive home runs. |
| October |
Giants vs Daiei, ON showdown again in Japan Series. ![]() Managers Shigeo Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh shake hands before the match |
|
| 2001 (2001) |
September 28 |
Manager Nagashima announced his retirement at the end of the 2001 season. The new manager was Hara Shin. At the retirement ceremony on the 30th, he handed over the baton to a new era, much to the regret of fans. ![]() "Baseball is life itself," he said at his retirement press conference. He passed the baton to Manager Hara, who will lead the new era. |
| 2002 (2002) |
March |
Introducing "FieldTurf," a new artificial turf that is as close to natural grass as possible. |
| July |
Giants player Matsui hits a long fly ball that disappears into the roof membrane Tokyo Dome (ruled as a second baseman due to special rules). |
|
| October |
Japan Series: Giants vs Seibu. With a 4-0 record, Hara became the manager and took the championship in his first year as manager. ![]() Manager Hara led the Giants with "love for the Giants" as his motto ![]() The Giants won Japan Series for the 20th time, their first in two years. |
|
| 2003 (2003) |
March 30th and 31st |
Major League opening game (New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Devil Days). Hideki Matsui hit a home run in the fifth inning on the 31st and was named MVP. |
| June 7 |
Fukuoka Daiei manager Oh Sadaharu achieves 1,000th win as manager ![]() Fukuoka Daiei manager Sadaharu Oh takes a commemorative photo in front of the Oh Gate to celebrate his 1,000th managerial win. |
|
| June 8 |
A home run by Fukuoka Daiei's Hiroshi Shibahara hit the ABC.Home sign, winning the largest Tokyo Dome prize at the time, 3 million yen. |
|
| July 13 |
Send-off match for the Athens Olympics held (Japan vs. Cuba) |
|
| August 17 |
Kimiyasu Kudo becomes the 23rd player in history to achieve 200 wins at Tokyo Dome (Giants vs Hiroshima) |
|
| 2005 (2005) |
March |
New infield seats "Excite Seats" and new Aurora Vision introduced ![]() Excite Seat ![]() New Aurora Vision |
| May |
First day game against the Giants at Tokyo Dome in 14 years |
|
| July 3 |
Shigeo Nagashima, the Giants' honorary manager, who had been undergoing medical treatment, made his first public appearance in one year and four months (Giants vs. Hiroshima game). |
|
| October 5 |
Tatsunori Hara returns as Giants manager after three years |
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