brainball
Under Coach Harry Miyasaki’s direction in the early 1920s the Asahis developed their own brand of baseball, a game of strategy and speed. They played using tactics of bunting, squeeze plays and base running. The newspapers called it “smartball” or “brainball.”
bunt
The batter positions the bat in front of the body and doesn’t fully swing at the ball, but instead meets the ball and places it usually on the ground along the third base line or the first base line.
squeeze
A play made with usually less than two outs, in which the runner on third base tries to score on a bunt.
stealing bases/base stealing
When a player on base successfully reaches the next base while the pitcher is throwing the ball to home plate and the ball has not yet been hit, or caught by the catcher.
Achievements
Brain ball
The Asahi club perfected their game. Long before Little League, the Asahis organized what may be Canada’s first club system of youth teams to shape talent in the team’s own style. Their legendary “brainball,” with amazing bunts, double steals and squeeze plays, was the result of years of intense training and preparation.
Trophy inscribed "Championship Japanese Baseball League, 1933, Asahi Jr." JCNM Collection. Gift of Haruji Suga.
