Rob Fitts, Award Winning Author, expert Japanese Baseball, his Book: *In the Japanese Ballpark*** In his new book, *In the Japanese Ballpark: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Professional Baseball*,

Rob’s journey is remarkable — from archaeologist with a Ph.D. from Brown University to award‑winning author of ten books, founder of SABR’s Asian Baseball Committee, and one of the most decorated researchers in the field. His passion for the game and the culture of Japan shines through in everything he does.## **About the Book: *In the Japanese Ballpark*** In his new book, *In the Japanese Ballpark: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Professional Baseball*, Fitts takes us deep inside a world most American fans never get to see. Through twenty‑six interviews — players, managers, cheerleaders, front‑office executives, a mascot, a beer vendor, even a league commissioner — he reveals the real stories behind the NPB season.This is oral history at its finest, in the tradition of Ritter’s *The Glory of Their Times*.### **What you’ll learn:**- Why some Japanese teams **deliberately lose money** - Why having an agent is often **socially discouraged** - How salaries can be cut by **40% in one year** - How a team once tried to acquire a **real lion** as its mascot - Why Japanese training methods may lead to **fewer major injuries** - How the culture of samurai discipline still shapes the modern game And yes — you’ll hear the story of how the Nippon‑Ham Fighters convinced a 17‑year‑old **Shohei Ohtani** to stay in Japan and become a two‑way player.## **Praise for the Book**> “I loved this book!” — Doug Glanville> “Every page is filled with insights and delight.” — Rob Neyer> “Robert Fitts uses the best kind of oral history to bring alive the vibrant and unique culture of Japanese baseball.” — John W. Miller## **Why You Should Listen**If you love:- Japanese baseball culture - storytelling …this episode is a must.Rob brings unmatched insight, humor, and depth — and this conversation opens a window into a baseball world that is rich, passionate, and unlike anything in the U.S.If you want, I can also create:- a **short social‑media caption** - a **30‑second video script** - a **thumbnail title** - a **long‑form episode description** **Listen on Spotify:** *Baseball Outside the Box* **Watch on YouTube:** *Peter Caliendo*Baseball Outisde the Box with Peter Caliendo Dustin Hermanson Randy McGilberry Baseballmania Pallotta Juan Luis Bossio Perez Leon Christian Abel Sergio Perez Gonzalez Women's Baseball Asian Cup 2025 Daiji Yuzuriha Jorge Blanco Mendoza Greg Legg @followers Fred Mitchell Marco Stoovelaar