Meikyukai

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The Meikyuakai (名球会, "association of great players") is one of two Japanese baseball halls of fame, the players being automatically inducted 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 America (Major League Baseball) and are considered to be the equivalent of 3000 hits and 300 wins in the American Major Leagues. Recent changes for the induction rules allow pitchers who have reached 250 saves to be inducted to the club.

Although other records such as home runs, stolen bases, and strikeouts are not officially the qualifications, Yutaka Fukumoto was inducted to the Meikyukai before he reached 2000 hits because of reaching 800 career stolen bases. On the other hand, although the nationality of players is not regarded as a qualification, some foreign players who have either 2000 hits or 200 wins 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 be opened to Heisei(after 1989) born players as they approach their career milestones in the near future.