In the moments after the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks clinched their second consecutive Japan Series title on Saturday, club chairman Sadaharu Oh was asked for his thoughts about this year¡¯s team.

Oh¡¯s words hold more weight than most in Japanese baseball. He¡¯s a living legend, owner of the world record for home runs (868) and a man who won the Japan Series 11 times himself, including a run of nine straight, with the Yomiuri Giants.

¡°They were strong,¡± Oh said. ¡°There really isn¡¯t anything else to say about them.¡±