List of Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks seasons

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are a professional baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The Hawks play in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball. They began play in 1938 as the Nankai Club for the Japanese Baseball League that played in Osaka. They subsequently rebranded as the Kinki Nippon Club and Kinki Great Ring before playing the next 41 years as the Nankai Hawks, starting in 1947. They won the JBL pennant twice in 1946 and 1948. They rebranded again to become the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 1989 with the purchase by department store chain Daiei, who moved the team to Fukuoka. In 2004, they became the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks after the sale to SoftBank Group on January 28, 2005.

Since the formation of NPB in 1950, in their 76 seasons, the franchise has won 12 Japan Series championships, third most in NPB history while finishing first in the Pacific League 26 times with 22 appearances in the Series. Since the introduction of the playoff system in the Pacific League in 2004, the Hawks have made the Climax Series 19 times.

Season-by-season records

Season League Regular season Postseason
(Climax & Japan Series)
Manager(s) Awards Home
attendance
Notes
Finish W L T Win% GB
Nankai Club
1938 fall JBL 8th 11 26 3 .297 18 Kazuo Takasu [1]
1939 JBL 5th 40 50 6 .444 25 Kazuo Takasu
Hachiro Mitani
[2]
1940 JBL 8th 28 71 6 .283 45+12 Kazuo Takasu [3]
1941 JBL 4th 43 41 0 .512 19 Hachiro Mitani [4]
1942 JBL 6th 49 56 0 .467 26+12 Hachiro Mitani
Kisaku Kato
[5]
1943 JBL 8th 26 56 2 .317 28+12 Katsuo Takada
Kisaku Kato
[6]
Kinki Nippon Club
1944 JBL 6th 11 23 1 .324 16+12 Kisaku Kato [7]
1945 Season canceled
Kinki Great Ring
1946 JBL* 1st 65 38 2 .631 Kazuto Tsuruoka Kazuto Tsuruoka (MVP) [8][9]
Nankai Hawks
1947 JBL 3rd 59 55 5 .518 19 Kazuto Tsuruoka [10]
1948 JBL* 1st 87 49 4 .640 Kazuto Tsuruoka (MVP) [11][9]
1949 JBL 4th 67 67 1 .500 18+12 [12]
1950 PL 2nd 66 49 5 .574 15 [13]
1951 PL* 1st 72 24 8 .750 Lost Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–1 Kazuo Kageyama (ROY)
Kazuto Tsuruoka (MVP)
[14][15]
1952 PL* 1st 76 44 1 .633 Lost Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–2 Susumu Yuki (MVP) [16][15]
1953 PL* 1st 71 48 1 .597 Lost Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–2–1 Isami Okamoto (MVP) [17][15]
1954 PL 2nd 91 49 0 .650 +12 Motoji Takuwa (ROY) [18]
1955 PL* 1st 99 41 3 .707 Lost in Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–3 Tokuji Iida (MVP) [19][15]
1956 PL 2nd 96 52 6 .643 12 [20]
1957 PL 2nd 78 53 1 .595 7 Tamotsu Kimura (ROY) [21]
1958 PL 2nd 77 48 5 .612 1 Tadashi Sugiura (ROY) [22]
1959 PL* 1st 88 42 4 .677 Won Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–0 Tadashi Sugiura (JS MVP, MVP) [23][15]
1960 PL 2nd 78 52 6 .600 4 [24]
1961 PL* 1st 85 49 6 .629 Lost Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–2 Katsuya Nomura (MVP) [25][15]
1962 PL 2nd 73 57 3 .562 5 [26]
1963 PL 2nd 85 61 4 .582 1 Katsuya Nomura (MVP) [27][15]
1964 PL* 1st 84 63 3 .571 Won Japan Series (Hanshin) 4–3 Joe Stanka (JS MVP, MVP) [28][15]
1965 PL* 1st 88 49 3 .642 Lost Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–1 Katsuya Nomura (MVP) [29][15]
1966 PL* 1st 79 51 3 .608 Lost Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–2 Katsuya Nomura (MVP) [30][15]
1967 PL 4th 64 66 3 .492 11 [31]
1968 PL 2nd 79 51 6 .608 1 [32]
1969 PL 6th 50 76 4 .397 26 Tokuji Iida [33]
1970 PL 2nd 69 57 4 .548 10+12 Katsuya Nomura Michio Sato (ROY) [34]
1971 PL 4th 61 65 4 .484 22+12 [35]
1972 PL 3rd 65 61 4 .516 14 [35]
1973 PL* 1st^ 3rd 68 58 4 .540 13 Won PL Playoffs (Hankyu) 3–2
Lost Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–1
Katsuya Nomura (MVP) [35][15]
1974 PL 4th 2nd 59 55 16 .518 7 5 [35]
1975 PL 5th 3rd 57 65 8 .467 9 11+12 [35]
1976 PL 2nd 2nd 71 56 3 .559 7+12 2 Manabu Fujita (ROY) [35]
1977 PL 2nd 3rd 63 55 12 .534 1+12 4 [35]
1978 PL 6th 6th 42 77 11 .353 20+12 18+12 Yoshinori Hirose Yukihiro Murakami (ROY) [35]
1979 PL 5th 6th 46 73 11 .387 18 12 [35]
1980 PL 5th 6th 48 77 5 .384 7 16 [35]
1981 PL 5th 6th 53 65 12 .449 6 11+12 Don Blasingame [35]
1982 PL 5th 6th 53 71 6 .427 8 11+12 [35]
1983 PL 5th 52 69 9 .430 31+12 Yoshio Anabuki [35]
1984 PL 5th 53 65 12 .449 21 [35]
1985 PL 6th 44 76 10 .367 33 [35]
1986 PL 6th 49 73 8 .402 21+12 Tadashi Sugiura [35]
1987 PL 4th 57 63 10 .475 16 [35]
1988 PL 5th 58 71 1 .450 17+12 Hiromitsu Kadota (MSA, MVP) [35][15]
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
1989 PL 4th 59 64 7 .480 11 Tadashi Sugiura [35]
1990 PL 6th 41 85 4 .325 40 Koichi Tabuchi [35]
1991 PL 5th 53 73 4 .421 29 [35]
1992 PL 4th 57 72 1 .442 24 [35]
1993 PL 6th 45 80 5 .360 28 Rikuo Nemoto [35]
1994 PL 4th 69 60 1 .535 7+12 Hidekazu Watanabe (ROY) [35]
1995 PL 5th 54 72 4 .429 26+12 Sadaharu Oh [35]
1996 PL 6th 54 74 2 .422 22 [35]
1997 PL 4th 63 71 1 .470 14 [35]
1998 PL 3rd 67 67 1 .500 4+12 [35]
1999 PL* 1st 78 54 3 .591 Won Japan Series (Chunichi) 4–1 Koji Akiyama (JS MVP)
Kimiyasu Kudo (MVP)
Sadaharu Oh (MSA)
[35][15]
2000 PL* 1st 73 60 2 .549 Lost Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–2 Nobuhiko Matsunaka (MVP) [35][15]
2001 PL 2nd 76 63 1 .547 2+12 [35]
2002 PL 2nd 73 65 2 .529 16+12 [35]
2003 PL* 1st 82 55 3 .599 Won Japan Series (Hanshin) 4–3 Kenji Johjima (MVP)
Sadaharu Oh (MSA)
Kazumi Saito (ESA)
Toshiya Sugiuchi (JS MVP)
Tsuyoshi Wada (ROY)
[35][15]
2004 PL 1st^ 77 52 5 .597 Lost Playoffs Second Stage (Seibu) 3–2 Nobuhiko Matsunaka (MVP)
Koji Mise (ROY)
[35][15]
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2005 PL 1st^ 89 45 2 .664 Lost Playoffs Second Stage (Lotte) 3–2 Sadaharu Oh Toshiya Sugiuchi (ESA, MVP) [35][15]
2006 PL 3rd^ 75 56 5 .573 4+12 Won Playoffs First Stage (Seibu) 2–1
Lost Playoffs Second Stage (Nippon-Ham) 3–0[c]
Sadaharu Oh (MSA)
Kazumi Saito (ESA)
[35]
2007 PL 3rd^ 73 66 5 .525 6 Lost CS First Stage (Lotte) 2–1 [35]
2008 PL 6th 64 77 3 .454 12+12 [35]
2009 PL 3rd^ 74 65 5 .532 6+12 Lost CS First Stage (Rakuten) 2–0 Koji Akiyama Tadashi Settsu (ROY) [35]
2010 PL* 1st^ 76 63 5 .547 Lost CS Final Stage (Lotte) 4–3[c] Tsuyoshi Wada (MVP) [35][15]
2011 PL* 1st^ 88 46 10 .657 Won CS Final Stage (Seibu) 4–0[c]
Won Japan Series (Chunichi) 4–3
Koji Akiyama (MSA)
Hiroki Kokubo (JS MVP)
Seiichi Uchikawa (MVP)
[35][15]
2012 PL 3rd^ 67 65 12 .508 6+12 Won CS First Stage (Seibu) 2–1
Lost CS Final Stage (Nippon-Ham) 4–0[c]
Tadashi Settsu (ESA) 2,447,501 [35][36]
2013 PL 4th 73 69 2 .514 9+12 2,408,993 [35][37]
2014 PL* 1st^ 78 60 6 .565 Won CS Final Stage (Nippon-Ham) 4–3[c]
Won Japan Series (Hanshin) 4–1
Koji Akiyama (MSA)
Seiichi Uchikawa (JS MVP)
2,468,442 [35][38]
2015 PL* 1st^ 90 49 4 .647 Won CS Final Stage (Lotte) 4–0[c]
Won Japan Series (Yakult) 4–1
Kimiyasu Kudo Kimiyasu Kudo (MSA)
Dae-ho Lee (JS MVP)
Yuki Yanagita (MVP)
2,535,877 [35][15][39]
2016 PL 2nd^ 83 54 6 .606 2+12 Won CS First Stage (Lotte) 2–0
Lost CS Final Stage (Nippon-Ham) 4–2[c]
2,492,983 [35]
2017 PL* 1st^ 94 49 0 .657 Won CS Final Stage (Rakuten) 4–2[c]
Won Japan Series (DeNA) 4–2
Dennis Sarfate (JS MVP, MSA, MVP) 2,526,792 [35][15]
2018 PL 2nd^ 82 60 1 .577 6+12 Won CS First Stage (Nippon-Ham) 2–1
Won CS Final Stage (Seibu) 4–2[c]
Won Japan Series (Hiroshima) 4–1–1
Takuya Kai (JS MVP)
Kimiyasu Kudo (MSA)
2,566,554 [35]
2019 PL 2nd^ 76 62 5 .551 2 Won CS First Stage (Rakuten) 2–1
Won CS Final Stage (Seibu) 4–1[c]
Won Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–0
Yurisbel Gracial (JS MVP)
Kimiyasu Kudo (MSA)
Rei Takahashi (ROY)
2,656,182 [35]
2020 PL* 1st^ 73 42 5 .635 Won Climax Series[d] (Lotte) 3–0[c]
Won Japan Series (Yomiuri) 4–0
Kimiyasu Kudo (MSA)
Ryoya Kurihara (JS MVP)
Yuki Yanagita (MVP)
532,723[e] [35][15]
2021 PL 4th 60 62 21 .492 8+12 462,060[e] [35]
2022 PL 2nd^ 76 65 2 .539 0 Won CS First Stage (Seibu) 2–0
Lost CS Final Stage (Orix) 4–1[c]
Hiroshi Fujimoto 2,247,898 [35]
2023 PL 3rd^ 71 69 3 .507 15+12 Lost CS First Stage (Lotte) 2–1 2,535,061 [35]
2024 PL* 1st^ 91 49 3 .650 Won CS Final Stage (Nippon-Ham) 4–0[c]
Lost Japan Series (DeNA) 4–2
Hiroki Kokubo Kensuke Kondoh (MVP) 2,726,058 [35][15]
2025 PL* 1st^ 87 52 4 .626 Won CS Final Stage (Nippon-Ham) 4–3[c]
Won Japan Series (Hanshin) 4–1
Hiroki Kokubo (MSA)
Liván Moinelo (MVP)
Hotaka Yamakawa (JS MVP)
2,717,929 [35][15]
Total:87 seasons, 11,304 games 5,794 5,101 409 .532 Pennants:21, Championships:14
Statistics current through the 2025 season

Notes

  • a Games behind is determined by calculating the difference in wins plus the difference in losses divided by two.
  • b Pacific League pitchers were not eligible to receive the Eiji Sawamura Award until 1989.[40]
  • c The final stage of the Climax Series awards the regular season champion an automatic one-win advantage.[41]
  • d Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pacific League decided to modify the traditional Climax Series format and eliminate the first stage series to instead only play one modified final stage series.[42]
  • e NPB's 2020 season was shortened due to COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance to games that did occur was either prohibited or significantly limited.[43] Limiting attendance continued into the 2021 season.[44]

References

  1. ^ "1938 Nankai". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  2. ^ "1939 Nankai". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  3. ^ "1940 Nankai". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  4. ^ "1941 Nankai". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  5. ^ "1942 Nankai". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  6. ^ "1943 Nankai". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  7. ^ "1944 Kinki Nippon". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  8. ^ "1946 Kinki Great Ring". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "最優秀選手(1リーグ)" [Most Valuable Player (1 League)]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  10. ^ "1947 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  11. ^ "1948 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  12. ^ "1949 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  13. ^ "1950 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  14. ^ "1951 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "最優秀選手(パ・リーグ)" [Most Valuable Player (Pacific League)]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  16. ^ "1952 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  17. ^ "1953 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  18. ^ "1954 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  19. ^ "1955 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  20. ^ "1956 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  21. ^ "1957 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  22. ^ "1958 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  23. ^ "1959 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  24. ^ "1960 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  25. ^ "1961 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  26. ^ "1962 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  27. ^ "1963 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  28. ^ "1964 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  29. ^ "1965 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  30. ^ "1966 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  31. ^ "1967 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  32. ^ "1968 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  33. ^ "1969 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  34. ^ "1970 Nankai Hawks". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc "福岡ソフトバンクホークス 年度別成績 (1938–2025)" [Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Results by Year (1938–2025)] (in Japanese). Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  36. ^ "2012年度パシフィック・リーグ観客動員数" [Pacific League attendance figures for 2013] (pdf) (in Japanese). Nippon Professional Baseball. October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  37. ^ "2013年度パシフィック・リーグ観客動員数" [Pacific League attendance figures for 2013] (pdf) (in Japanese). Nippon Professional Baseball. October 13, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  38. ^ "福岡ソフトバンクホークス パ・リーグ史上初250万人突破!" [Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks surpass 2.5 million people for the first time in Pacific League history!] (in Japanese). Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. October 1, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  39. ^ "公式戦観客動員数 ホークス史上過去最多" [Hawks' highest attendance in official games] (in Japanese). Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. September 19, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  40. ^ "沢村賞" [Sawamura Award]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  41. ^ "Climax Series schedules announced". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. March 19, 2008. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  42. ^ Nagatsuka, Kaz (June 15, 2020). "Central, Pacific Leagues announce schedules for remainder of season". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  43. ^ Coskrey, Jason; Nagatsuka, Kaz (July 10, 2020). "Fans welcomed back into NPB stadiums as COVID-19 precautions eased". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  44. ^ Nagatsuka, Kaz (February 22, 2021). "J. League and NPB hopeful current attendance limits will be eased". The Japan Times. Retrieved December 16, 2025.