Meikyukai

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The Meikyuakai (名球会, "association of great players") is one of two Japanese baseball halls of fame, the Meikyuakai being an automatic induction for players if they reach 2000 hits (position players) or 200 wins (pitchers) in Japanese major league baseball (or American baseball or other leagues, since it includes a player's cumulative career totals). These numbers are considered significant milestones for Japanese players because the Japanese major league season is shorter than its counterpart in American major league baseball and are considered to be the equivalent of 3000 hits and 300 wins in the American majors.Recent changes for induction rules allow pitchers reached 250 saves to be inducted to the club.

Although other records such as home runs, stolen bases, and strikeouts are not officialy the qualifications, Yutaka Fukumoto was inducted to the Meikyukai before he reach 2000 hits because of reaching 800 career stolen bases. On the other hand, although the nationality of player is not regarded to be the qualification, some foreign players who either hit 2000 or won 200 in their entire American and Japanese careers (including Warren Cromartie, Larry Parrish, and Julio Franco) are not included in the inductees. Also, Hideo Nomo has not acquired membership of the club despite reaching 200 career wins, while Yutaka Enatsu renounced the membership for his drug scandal.

Original members of the club excluded players born prior to Showa era(1925), because such players started their career before the current two-league system of Japanese baseball was established. The membership is still limited to players born in Showa era, but it will probably opened to Heisei(after 1989) born players as they approach to their career milestones in the near future.