“ | Is it the time for me to retire at last? Farewell! | „ |
~ Baseball Mask's last words. |
Baseball Mask (野球仮面 Yakyū Kamen, 53) is a minor antagonist in Himitsu Sentai Gorenger. The last of Volcano Mask General Magman's Masked Monsters of the Black Cross Army, he would then go on to make appearances in several other Super Sentai specials.
He was voiced by the late Ichirō Nagai.
Biography[]
Himitsu Sentai Gorenger[]
Nicknamed "The Red Home Run King" due to his abilities with his red bat, Baseball Mask was recruited by Magman and the Black Cross Führer to save their scientist Doctor Shinigami after the Gorengers apprehend him to prevent him from developing his deadly "Ball Bombs" (ball-shaped bombs with mini bombs to kills anyone hit beyond the initial explosion). Arriving at an EAGLE storage facility, Baseball Mask hits a ball to the scientist containing a pill that kills him, forcing them to send him away for autopsy and allowing for the Masked Monster and his baseball-playing Zolders to regain him. When the Gorenger try to use Gorenger Hurricane against him in the form of a straight pitch, he knocks it back five times hitting all the Gorenger before escaping with the scientist who is ultimately revived keeping with his name.
After bringing back Doctor Shinigami, Baseball Mask protects him for the development of his Ball Bombs, but slowly grows angry at him after he kills his initial Zolder team to test the bomb out, even at the guarantee of having a new Zolder team set up for him. As Shinigami tries to set up a remote version of his Ball Bombs, Kaijo infiltrates and destroys the device forcing out both the doctor and the Masked Monster. After Baseball Mask's bat is slashed by Momorenger's Momo Cards, he becomes even more angered by Doctor Shinigami shooting his prized weapon, allowing his Zolder team to kill him with no complaint.
When facing the Gorenger again with their Gorenger Hurricane, the team decides to use a different strategy: instead of directly throwing a baseball at hsim, they set him up with a special maneuver, with Momorenger making a ball, throwing it first to Midorenger, who then throws it to Kirenger (who plays catcher for the maneuver) to make a strike; then Daita throwing to Aorenger who throws another strike to Kirenger, and then back to Akarenger, who throws the final ball but uses an auto controller to confuse Baseball Mask to the point of dizziness with a whirling ball. As he finally collapses, the ball lands on him, finally finishing him off.
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger The Movie: The Flying Ghost Ship[]
The Baseball Mask appeared in a pocket dimension of the Ghost Ship many years later. He challenges the Gokaigers to a baseball match, saying he'll let them leave if they beat him in a game. The Gokaigers Gokai Change into the Gorengers and manage to win, with the third strike being a cheat, distracting Baseball Mask with a simulacrum of the G3 Princess.
Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen[]
When the Den-Liner took Joe Gibken and Don Dogoier with Daiki Kaito and Hina Izumi to Winter 1976, they met Baseball Mask, who was quickly destroyed by Akarenger (later revealed to be Captain Marvelous in disguise).
Trivia[]
- The Baseball Mask inspired other sport-themed monsters in Sentai history:
- Devil Ball and Devil Batter in J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai in 1977. (episodes 16 and 21; second series of the Shōwa era)
- Sports Monster in Battle Fever J in 1979. (episode 8; third series of the Shōwa era)
- Deadbolar and Sakkalar in Denshi Sentai Denziman in 1980. (episodes 17, 48; fourth series of the Shōwa era)
- Baseball Monger, Boxer Monger and Fighter Monger in Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan in 1981. (episodes 7, 45 and 47; fifth series of the Shōwa era)
- Oumukade in Ninja Sentai Kakuranger in 1994. (episodes 45, 53; sixth series of the Heisei era)
- HH Deo in Gekisou Sentai Carranger in 1996. (episode 19; eighth series of the Heisei era)
- Domeloid in Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters in 2012. (episode 38; twenty-fourth series of the Heisei era)
- Bowlingam in Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger in 2016. (episodes 19-20; twenty-eighth series of the Heisei era)
- Gloven in Uchu Sentai Kyuranger in 2017. (episode 40; twenty-ninth series of the Heisei era)
- Rugby Jamen, Golf Jamen and Football Helmet Jamen in Mashin Sentai Kiramager in 2020. (episodes 2, 35, Mashin Sentai Kiramager Stageshow; first series of the Reiwa era)
- Boxing World and Tennis World in Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger in 2021. (episodes 4, 29; second series of the Reiwa era)