I'm not a big sport fan, but I do have to say that these Starting Lineup figures are actually really nicely done. They are a nice tribute to some of America's finest sports professionals. I'm also happy to say that among them are several Asian Pacific Americans who are breaking stereotypes and becoming new role models for a younger generation. Anyway, if you have more information than I have here, please let me know by dropping me an e-mail.
These are some of the figures I have so far:
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Hideo Nomo 1998 Edition Starting Lineup 12" Figure 1998, Kenner Individual Figure Like I said, I don't know much about sports. So, I had to do some research on the Web. Hideo Nomo plays for the Dodgers and was born Osaka, Japan. According to the ESPN Hideo Nomo Profile & Scouting Report, Hideo Nomo was "Nicknamed 'The Tornado' in Japan...the first Japanese major leaguer in 30 years...a silver medalist as part of the 1988 Japanese Olympic team...reached 1,000 career strikeouts faster than any other player in the history of professional baseball in Japan...English speaking limitations have required the first full-time Japanese interpreter, Michael Okumura, to be hired by the club." Now, according to the packaging, Hideo Nomo became the 20th player in franchise history to pitch a no-hitter in 1996. This figure is apparently a rarer figure as Kenner didn't produce many 12" Starting Lineup dolls. So, its nice to see such a tribute to an Asian Pacific American.
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Hideo Nomo 1998 Starting Lineup Line 1998, Kenner Individual Figure This figure is the smaller, more standard Starting Lineup version of Hideo Nomo. It features Nomo wearing his LA Dodgers jacket. According to Peter J. Chen's Asian American Action Figure Homepage, "In 1996, he made SLU history as the first Asian athlete to be cast in plastic. He had two hot pieces that year, one in a gray uniform, the other in a white one. Ever since then, his pieces have been hard-to-find's in the stores (basically, SLU's can be bought at retail for about $8, but there's a whole bunch of people out there who like to camp out at stores, grab all the hot SLU's, and turn around and sell them for secondary market value, which in some cases is SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive than retail). So Nomo's SLU's are a hot commodity, although they are lessening in value with his trade. In 1997, he had a weird pose, and in 1998 he is wearing a warm-up jacket and is just standing around."
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Hideki Irabu 1998 Starting Lineup Line 1998, Kenner Individual Figure Hideki Irabu is from Hyogo, Japan. Unlike Hideo Nomo, it appears as if the ESPN Hideki Irabu Profile & Scouting Report is not as flatting. They did, however, mention "Irabu's devastating splitter and 95-MPH fastball give him the stuff to be a big winner." Apparently, he is probably immortalized in plastic because of his 1998 year (the year that the figure came out). Japanese Sports reporter Michiyo Ishida writes about Hideki Irabu's 1998 with the Yankees, "The New York Yankeee overwhelmed the San Diego Padres in the World Series taking the first 4 games. On Oct. 23, the Yankees returned to the Big Apple for a motorcade. Although Irabu was the only pitcher on the Series' roster who did not get to play, he was happily participating too. He spoke before the crowd saying "I love New York Yankees, I love New York". Irabu became the first Japanese to win the World Series in any case."
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Chan Ho Park 1999 Starting Lineup Line 1999, Kenner Individual Figure Chan Ho Park was born in Kong Ju City, South Korea and pitches for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The most useful information I found about Chan Ho Park was at Peter J. Chen's Asian American Action Figure Homepage. He says, "Chan Ho Park signed with the Dodgers as the first South Korean baseball player in the United States. For symbolic reasons, he chose the number 61 which is the exact mirrored replica of Nomo's # 16. Park has been coming along rather steadily, but is now in the limelight with Nomo being traded to the Mets." While I understand that they released a figure in 1997, this particular figure I have is from 1999. It has Chan Ho Park posing to pitch.
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Paul Kariya 1998 Starting Lineup Pro Action Line 1998, Hasbro Individual Figure Paul Kariya plays for the Anaheim Might Ducks hockey team. According to the Kariya's Korner, Paul "is the son of Tetsuhiko and Sharon Kariya. His father played several tours with the Canadian National Rugby Team. Paul is of Japanese decent and a Dean's list student at Maine... His full name is Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya." This figure is different than other Starting Lineup figures not only because it is cartoony in design, but because it has moveable, action oriented parts. Most Starting Lineup figures are mini-figurines. So, this figure is more like your classic action figure. Unfortunately, it also looks the least like Paul Kariya and more like a big ape. Also, interestingly enough, the Pro Action line was released by Hasbro itself and not by the Kenner brand name like other Starting Lineup.
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Paul Kariya 1999 Starting Lineup Line 1999, Kenner Individual Figure As for Paul's ability in playing...again, the stat charts that are available on the Web are as easy for me to read as Mandarin Chinese. So, I found another site that speaks to Paul's performance on the ice, "Kariya may be the best skater in the NHL. He is so smooth and fluid his movements appear effortless. He's also explosive, with a good change of direction, and he can turn a defender inside out on a one-on-one rush. His speed is a weapon, since he forces defenders to play off him for fear of being burnt, and that opens the ice for his playmaking options. He combines his skating with no-look passes that are uncanny." This figure is more like the classic Starting Lineup figure. This version from the 1998 edition features Paul in his mostly Green Mighty Ducks uniform.
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The following are items I still need to complete the set. If you notice any other items that should be added, please e-mail me.
- Paul Kariya (1998)
- Paul Kariya (1999/2000)
- Hideo Nomo (1996)
- Hideo Nomo (1997)
- Chan Ho Park (1997)
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