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The story
Koji Uehara’s remark that “clearing 250 saves for the Meikyukai is too low a bar” — and Kazuhiro Sasaki’s response that “I want more young players to get in, so it’s fine as it is” — became a hot topic on 5ch’s live sports-commentary board. The Meikyukai is a group whose informal entry line is 200 wins or 250 saves for pitchers and 2000 hits for batters, though there have been cases — including Uehara himself and Kyuji Fujikawa — admitted under special exceptions. The thread ranged from debating whether it even makes sense to hold a starter’s 200 wins and a closer’s 250 saves to the same standard, all the way to more basic questions like what the actual benefit of joining the Meikyukai even is.
What people said
What's the value of a "retired-OB Hawaii golf club" that literally anyone can join?
Sasaki got in on a special exception too, though.
What do you mean by that?
Sounds like the kind of thing a Kato Junichi (popular Japanese livestreamer) fan would say lol
Normally you'd think "well, they let me in too, so who am I to talk" instead.
He barely pitched his rookie year and wasn't even the closer then, so it's really just 8 years to get there.
Still, there aren't many guys who can hold down the closer job for 8 straight years.
His knowledge of sports outside baseball is worse than an amateur's.
Is he even taking it seriously?
You really feel the gap next to Harry (commentator Isao Harimoto)…
Harimoto actually takes a real interest in other sports.
He even knows what's going on in Korea.
He never broke down precisely because he got so few chances to pitch.
Sarfate got his start with the Carp too, remember.
Chunichi's offense is weak, so if they won, it was probably a close game.
anyone with 500+ home runs should get into the Meikyukai.
Though anyone who hit 500+ homers probably racked up plenty of hits too.
Tabuchi and "Okawari" (nickname of slugger Tetsuto Okada) should get into the Meikyukai without being held to the 2000-hit rule.
500 home runs beats 2000 hits any way you look at it.
If Uehara and Fujikawa get their special exceptions, there ought to be batters who qualify for one too.
MLB's even got guys past 600.
Exactly this.
No way 200 wins and 250 saves are worth the same.
It's like treating a Tokyo University grad the same as someone from the Kan-Kan-Doh-Ritsu schools (a respected but less elite tier of private universities).
MLB's already got two active guys sitting around 400 saves.
He doesn't meet the requirements.
The 100-100-100 (100 wins, 100 saves, 100 holds) is impressive enough, so it's fine.
Apparently it gets you invited to lectures and events more often, and treated better than other alumni when you are.
Well, of course.
Most commentators are Meikyukai members.
Do they trade you rare Pokémon or something?
Apparently job offers come your way through the Meikyukai.
Ochiai really hates "Kaneyan" (nickname of Masaichi Kaneda).
There's a story that back when he was a rookie, with the press all gathered around, Kaneyan pointed at him and said "this guy's never gonna amount to anything, lol."
They'd clean up on commemorative merch and ticket sales all the way to the day he hits it.
He's still got time age-wise.
Reynolds is the one heading back to America next year, after all.
Would Yamasaki really generate that much buzz?
Background and Key Points of the Debate
The Meikyukai (“Golden Players Club”) is a voluntary organization founded in 1978 with Masaichi Kaneda among its founders. Its informal entry line is “200 wins or 250 saves” for pitchers and “2000 hits” for batters. These standards can be relaxed through a board-approved special exception, and the memberships of Koji Uehara, Kyuji Fujikawa, and Kazuhiro Sasaki all involved such exceptions. What split the thread was whether it even makes sense to judge a starter’s 200 wins and a closer’s 250 saves by the same yardstick — Uehara argued Japan’s 250-save line is too low given that MLB has pitchers in the 400-600 save range, while Sasaki’s response reflected a wish to keep the door open so more young players have something to aim for. Worth noting too: Hiromitsu Ochiai, despite having more than enough credentials, turned down Meikyukai membership — a reminder that the club isn’t simply “a group where everyone was chosen by the same yardstick,” which is worth keeping in mind when following the debate over its standards.
※This article excerpts and summarizes the 5channel (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “Koji Uehara: “Meikyukai’s 250-save bar is too low” — Kazuhiro Sasaki: “I want more young players to get in, so it’s fine as it is”.”
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