A bat-and-ball sport with global reach and long history
Tributes pour in for Isao Harimoto, the Hit Machine, as his legacy of 3,085 hits, 504 home runs and 319 stolen bases is remembered. The Golden Players Club confirms his passing at 86, reflecting a career that shaped Nippon Professional Baseball.
The National Toy Hall of Fame has announced 12 finalists for the Class of 2026. Public voting runs Sept. 16-23, with a panel of judges set to decide the inductees in November. Nominees include Bop It!, Polly Pocket, Monster High dolls, Mouse Trap and Sorry!, among others. Some past contenders like Tickle Me Elmo, Mahjong and the Pokémon Trading Card Game have previously been nominated.
Sushiro plans a flagship U.S. outlet near Times Square this October, betting that Americans will embrace casual, mass-market sushi as a growth engine. The move follows strong U.S. appetite for sushi, with about 45% of Americans saying they like or love the dish.
Two former Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, have faced federal charges in Brooklyn over a scheme to tip off bettors about pitches from 2023–25. Prosecutors allege bettors profited while the players pocketed kickbacks; defense says the men did not conspire and that bets were not tied to inside information. Jury selection and opening statements are underway.
A witness has detailed how bets on pitches were placed during the 2025 season, with prosecutors alleging players accepted payments to relay information to gamblers. The testimony highlights the rapid growth of sports betting and the complexity of pitch selection in games.