View source for Gurazeni

{{Short description|Japanese baseball manga series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name          = Gurazeni: Money Pitch
| image           = Gurazeni manga vol 1.jpg
| caption         = First {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volume cover, featuring Natsunosuke Bonda
| ja_kanji        = グラゼニ
| ja_romaji       = Gurazeni
| genre           = [[Sports manga|Sports]]<!-- Genres should be based on what reliable sources list them as and not on personal interpretations. Limit of the three most relevant genres in accordance with [[MOS:A&M]]. -->
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type            = manga
| author          = {{ill|Yūji Moritaka|ja|コージィ城倉}}
| illustrator     = {{ill|Keiji Adachi|ja|足立金太郎}}
| publisher       = [[Kodansha]]
| demographic     = {{Transliteration|ja|[[Seinen manga|Seinen]]}}
| imprint         = Morning KC
| magazine        = [[Morning (magazine)|Morning]]
| first           = December 9, 2010
| last            = August 28, 2014
| volumes         = 17
| volume_list     = 
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type            = manga
| title           = Gurazeni: Tokyo Dome-hen
| author          = Yūji Moritaka
| illustrator     = Keiji Adachi
| publisher       = Kodansha
| demographic     = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}
| imprint         = Morning KC
| magazine        = Morning
| first           = September 25, 2014
| last            = February 15, 2018
| volumes         = 14
| volume_list     = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type            = manga
| title           = Gurazeni: Pa League-hen
| author          = Yūji Moritaka
| illustrator     = Keiji Adachi
| publisher       = Kodansha
| demographic     = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}
| imprint         = Morning KC
| magazine        = Morning
| first           = March 29, 2018
| last            = August 19, 2021
| volumes         = 13
| volume_list     = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = tv series
| director        = [[Ayumu Watanabe]]
| producer        = {{ubl|Atsushi Nagauchi|Yoshihiko Yamazaki}}
| writer          = Hideo Takayashiki
| music           = Akifumi Tada
| studio          = [[Studio Deen]]
| network         = [[SKY PerfecTV!|SkyPer!]]
| network_en      = {{English anime network|SEA=[[Animax (Asian TV channel)|Animax Asia]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|title=Animax Asia Airs Last Period, Gurazeni Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-04/animax-asia-airs-last-period-gurazeni-anime/.159224|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=September 1, 2024|date=May 4, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901090341/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-04/animax-asia-airs-last-period-gurazeni-anime/.159224|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| first           = April 6, 2018
| last            = December 21, 2018
| episodes        = 24
| episode_list    = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type            = manga
| title           = Gurazeni: Natsunosuke no Seishun
| author          = Yūji Moritaka
| illustrator     = Yōsuke Uzumaki
| publisher       = Kodansha
| demographic     = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}
| imprint         = Evening KC
| magazine        = [[Evening (magazine)|Evening]]
| first           = March 10, 2020
| last            = November 8, 2022
| volumes         = 6
| volume_list     = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type            = manga
| title           = Shōwa no Gurazeni
| author          = Kawa
| publisher       = Kodansha
| demographic     = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}
| imprint         = Morning KC
| magazine        = Morning
| first           = October 7, 2021
| last            = 
| volumes         = 6
| volume_list     = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type            = manga
| title           = Gurazeni: Dai League-hen
| author          = Yūji Moritaka
| illustrator     = Keiji Adachi
| publisher       = Kodansha
| demographic     = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}
| imprint         = Morning KC
| magazine        = Morning
| first           = December 9, 2021
| last            = 
| volumes         = 6
| volume_list     = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer|portal=yes}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}

{{Nihongo|'''''Gurazeni: Money Pitch'''''|グラゼニ|Gurazeni}}{{efn|'Gurazeni' is a [[portmanteau]] of {{Nihongo||[[wikt:グラウンド|グラウンド]]|guraundo|{{lit|[[Pitch (sports field)|ground]]}}}} and {{Nihongo||ゼニ|zeni|{{lit|money}}}}; the full phrase was coined by former [[Pacific League]] [[Most valuable player|MVP]] and national championship-winning coach [[Kazuto Tsuruoka]] (1916–2000): {{Nihongo||グラウンドにはゼニが落ちている|"Guraundo ni wa zeni ga ochite iru"}},<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:阪神・湯浅京己のブレークにグラゼニ魂あり　「相手チームの年俸を見たり」　躍動のヒミツを明かす|url=https://www.sanspo.com/article/20221128-5I5XWG775RLAHE562I7MK7PKCY/2/?outputType=theme_tigers|publisher=[[Sankei Shimbun]]|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|date=November 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901085353/https://www.sanspo.com/article/20221128-5I5XWG775RLAHE562I7MK7PKCY/2/?outputType=theme_tigers|archive-date=September 1, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:プロ野球開幕！ 『グラゼニ』にみる野球界のシビアで過酷な現実|url=https://ddnavi.com/news/130896/a/|website=[[Da Vinci (magazine)|Da Vinci]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation]]|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|date=March 29, 2013|archive-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128165623/https://ddnavi.com/news/130896/a/|url-status=live}}</ref> which translates as: "There is money to be made on the field".<ref name="Rakuten"/>}} is a Japanese [[Baseball in Japan|baseball]] [[manga]] series written by {{ill|Yūji Moritaka|ja|コージィ城倉}} and illustrated by {{ill|Keiji Adachi|ja|足立金太郎}}. The manga was serialized in [[Kodansha]]'s [[Seinen manga|{{Transliteration|ja|seinen}} manga]] magazine ''[[Morning (magazine)|Morning]]'' from December 2010 to August 2014, with its chapters collected in fourteen {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes. Three sequels have been released since then; ''Gurazeni: Tokyo Dome-hen'' (2014–2018); ''Gurazeni: Pa League-hen'' (2018–2021); and ''Gurazeni: Dai League-hen'' (since 2021). 

The series follows the unforgiving money-and-statistics-centric world of professional baseball,<ref name="Rakuten">{{cite web|title=Baseball manga gives unique insight into lives of the Rakuten Eagles|url=https://rakuten.today/blog/baseball-manga-rakuten-eagles.html|website=Rakuten.Today|access-date=December 22, 2018|date=July 2, 2018|archive-date=December 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222221150/https://rakuten.today/blog/baseball-manga-rakuten-eagles.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in a similar concept to ''[[Moneyball (film)|Moneyball]]'', but through the eyes of players: a relief pitcher and left-handed specialist, Bonda Natsunosuke, and Tokunaga, a retired pitcher turned color commentator. The fictional teams in the series are based on real teams in the [[Nippon Professional Baseball|NPB]], particularly the [[Central League]].

A 24-episodes [[anime]] television series adaptation by [[Studio Deen]] was broadcast from April to December 2018.

==Characters==
;{{nihongo|Natsunosuke Bonda|凡田 夏之介|Bonda Natsunosuke}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Fukushi Ochiai]]}}<ref name="ANN1">{{cite web|title=Gurazeni Baseball TV Anime Reveals Lead Voice Actor, Staff, Spring Debut|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-10-19/gurazeni-baseball-tv-anime-reveals-lead-voice-actor-staff-spring-debut/.122919|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=October 19, 2017|date=October 19, 2017|archive-date=December 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207163437/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-10-19/gurazeni-baseball-tv-anime-reveals-lead-voice-actor-staff-spring-debut/.122919|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Fukushi is the son of former professional baseball player and manager [[Hiromitsu Ochiai ]]}}
:A 26-year-old professional baseball player for the ''Jingū Spiders''. Born in [[Yamanashi Prefecture|Yamanashi]], he was recruited 8 years ago and was [[Mr. Irrelevant]] in his draft class that received only 15 million yen (US$137,000) as a signing bonus. Left-handed [[middle relief pitcher|short middle relief pitcher]] and [[left-handed specialist]]. He earns 18 million yen (US$160,000) per year, which is above average for his role due to games played per season, yet it is well below average for players his age. Obsessively reads player's directories and has become very knowledgeable about other players contracts and annual salaries. He is very worried he won't be able to earn enough money during his baseball career so he can retire comfortably. It got to the point that in a radio interview, where he was inebriated, he blurted out his jealousy over the Osaka Tempters and Mops middle relief pitchers, who not only earn more than him, but also made twice the appearance each, exposing his inferiority complex.
;{{nihongo|Tokunaga|徳永}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Daisuke Namikawa]]}}<ref name="Natal1"/>
:Usually called {{nihongo|''Toku''|トク}}; he is a 35-year-old radio [[color commentator]]. Originally from [[Yamanashi Prefecture|Yamanashi]] like Bonda. He was a starter for the ''Spiders'' for 10 years before retiring from baseball 3 years previously. He had less than 50 wins and his highest salary was 30 million yen per year (US$274,000). He got his current job through his connections with director of Otowa radio but often offers nothing of substance as a commentator. Bonda believes that due to his extravagant life style he ended his career broke and is making little money in his current job. Despite being more diligent on his research due to him using a computer, as opposed to Hideo Matsumoto's fully manual system, which helped the radio station getting inside scoop on newly promoted players, he was fired in season 2, just as he and his fiancée are travelling to [[Guam]].
;{{nihongo|Akira Shibuya|渋谷 章|Shibuya Akira}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Takanori Hoshino]]}}<ref name="Natal1"/>
:Spider's no.2 starting pitcher. 26 years old, from the same draft class and area as Bonda, but earns 36 million yen, has 21 wins in 7 years as a pro. Bonda's best friend and they frequently go out for drinks together. In the current season of baseball he has been a starter in 3 games, with only 1.00 ERA, but lost all 1-0.
;{{nihongo|Yukio Ohno|大野 雪雄|Ōno Yukio}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Yusuke Shirai]]}}
:Left-handed Left outfielder for the ''Spiders'', from [[Yamanashi Prefecture|Yamanashi]] like Bonda. He wears jersey no.3, traditionally given to the team's best hitter. He is dealing with a batting slump. He was first to hit Bonda's pitch for a home-run in a high school tournament. Earns 20 million per year.
;{{nihongo|Tanabe|田辺}}    
:{{Voiced by|[[Issei Futamata]]}}<ref name="Natal1">{{cite web|title=アニメ「グラゼニ」追加キャストにM・A・O、二又一成ら、主題歌はサ上とロ吉|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/268193|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=August 22, 2018|language=ja|archive-date=April 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413214726/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/268193|url-status=live}}</ref>
:Manager of Jingu Spiders. Has a lot of trust in Bonda as a reliever.
;{{nihongo|Sakota|迫田}} 
:{{Voiced by|[[Kenji Nomura]]}}<ref name="Natal1"/>
:The Spiders bullpen coach. A stoic bearded man who has a good understanding of Bonda's strengths and weaknesses.
;{{nihongo|Yuki|ユキちゃん|Yuki-chan}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Mao Ichimichi]]}}<ref name="Natal1"/>
:Japanese canteen waitress, very optimistic and bubbly and popular among men. From Osaka, a huge fan of Osaka Tempters, while she hated Bonda in the game, she had no recollection of him as a player when he was a customer. Her opinion of him changed when she attended a fan meeting session in the playoffs.
;{{nihongo|Yasuda|安田}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Masuo Amada]]}}
:Bonda's scout. He advised Bonda to not spend the money he got as a signing bonus but use it as an insurance if he's injured or is dropped from the team.
;[[:ja:松本秀夫|Hideo Matsumoto]]
:Voiced by himself. The only factual character in the anime, a baseball announcer for Otowa Radio Station. In season 2, it is revealed that he still uses a fully manual system to write notes rather than using a computer. However, due to the extensive research needed to cover back-to-back games live, he often works long hours and little sleep.
;{{nihongo|Segawa|瀬川}} 
:{{Voiced by|Yūki Hayashi}}
:29-year-old right-handed [[Closer (baseball)|closer]] for the ''Spiders''. He was scouted from an amateur team and earned the closer spot last year receiving a 50 million yen contract. He robbed a win from Shibuya, but injured himself after blowing a save a month later. After he recovered, he blew one more save costing Shibuya another win and was sent to the minors.
;{{nihongo|Roppa Itsuki|樹 六破|Itsuki Roppa}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Wataru Takagi]]}}
:A portly family man. He is a player in the Spiders' Minor League team who bats left but throws right. He is the same age as Bonda and was recruited out of college 4 years previously. He's been brought up to the majors after a successful streak in the minors but Bonda thinks he isn't cut out to be in the pros. Yet, he was instrumental in helping Spider win the divisional pennant after two hot streaks, all despite his wife giving birth to a son by emergency cesarean due to breech birth.

==Media==
===Manga===
Written by {{ill|Yūji Moritaka|ja|コージィ城倉}} and illustrated by {{ill|Keiji Adachi|ja|足立金太郎}}, ''Gurazeni'' was serialized in [[Kodansha]]'s [[Seinen manga|{{Transliteration|ja|seinen}} manga]] magazine ''[[Morning (magazine)|Morning]]'' magazine from December 9, 2010,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:アダチケイジ×森高夕次、野球選手のゼニ事情描く新連載|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/41767|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|date=December 9, 2010|archive-date=February 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210044042/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/41767|url-status=live}}</ref> to August 28, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cardine|first=Kyle|title=Gurazeni Baseball Manga to End This Month (Updated)|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-25/gurazeni-baseball-manga-to-end-this-month/.77994|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 18, 2020|date=August 25, 2014|archive-date=November 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110050501/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-25/gurazeni-baseball-manga-to-end-this-month/.77994|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「グラゼニ」最終回＆9月から東京ドーム編|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/124692|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|date=August 28, 2014|archive-date=February 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210044050/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/124692|url-status=live}}</ref> Kodansha collected its chapters in seventeen {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes, released from May 23, 2011,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:グラゼニ（１）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000018016|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926065910/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000018016|url-status=live}}</ref> to January 23, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:グラゼニ（１７）＜完＞|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000018619|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811014604/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000018619|url-status=live}}</ref>

A second series, titled {{nihongo|''Gurazeni: Tokyo Dome-hen''|グラゼニ 〜東京ドーム編〜}}, was serialized in ''Morning'' from September 25, 2014,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「グラゼニ」東京ドーム編開幕でカラー独占|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/126925|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|date=September 25, 2014|archive-date=February 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210044052/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/126925|url-status=live}}</ref> to February 15, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「グラゼニ」東京ドーム編終了、3月末よりパ・リーグ編がモーニングにて始動|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/269665|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|date=February 15, 2018|archive-date=February 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210044044/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/269665|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Bayleigh|title=Gurazeni Ends Tokyo Dome-hen Manga, Starts Pa League-hen Manga|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-15/gurazeni-ends-tokyo-dome-hen-manga-starts-pa-league-hen-manga/.127777|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 18, 2020|date=February 15, 2018|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125021649/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-15/gurazeni-ends-tokyo-dome-hen-manga-starts-pa-league-hen-manga/.127777|url-status=live}}</ref> Kodansha collected its chapters in fifteen {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes, released from January 23, 2015,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:グラゼニ～東京ドーム編～（１）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000018623|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402042122/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000018623|url-status=live}}</ref> to May 23, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:グラゼニ～東京ドーム編～（１５）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000310373|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930152341/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000310373|url-status=live}}</ref>

A third series, titled {{nihongo|''Gurazeni: Pa League-hen''|グラゼニ 〜パ・リーグ編〜}}, was serialized in ''Morning'' from March 29, 2018,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:PEACH-PIT「二科てすら」新シリーズ＆「グラゼニ」パ・リーグ編がモーニングで|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/275709|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|date=March 29, 2018|archive-date=March 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329184811/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/275709|url-status=live}}</ref> to August 19, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:モーニング 2021年38号|url=https://morning.kodansha.co.jp/morning/2021/38.html|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=December 23, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211223155935/https://morning.kodansha.co.jp/morning/2021/38.html|archive-date=December 23, 2021|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PL-vol13"/> Kodansha collected its chapters in thirteen {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes, released from June 22, 2018,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:グラゼニ～パ・リーグ編～（１）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000311940|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402042151/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000311940|url-status=live}}</ref> to October 21, 2021.<ref name="PL-vol13">{{cite web|script-title=ja:グラゼニ～パ・リーグ編～（１３）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000357038|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=October 21, 2021|language=ja|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021052008/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000357038|url-status=live}}</ref>

A fourth series, titled {{nihongo|''Gurazeni: Dai League-hen''|グラゼニ～大リーグ編～}}, started in ''Morning'' on December 9, 2021.<ref name="ANN-Dai"/><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏之介が史上最高額の“グラゼニ”を目指す「大リーグ編」がモーニングでスタート|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/456915|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=December 23, 2021|language=ja|date=December 9, 2021|archive-date=December 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223160243/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/456915|url-status=live}}</ref> The series finished its first part on February 17, 2022;<ref name="LH-part1-end">{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|title=Gurazeni Dai League-hen Baseball Manga Ends 1st Phase, Begins 2nd Phase in May|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-02-19/gurazeni-dai-league-hen-baseball-manga-ends-1st-phase-begins-2nd-phase-in-may/.182746|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=February 19, 2022|date=February 19, 2022|archive-date=February 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219152157/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-02-19/gurazeni-dai-league-hen-baseball-manga-ends-1st-phase-begins-2nd-phase-in-may/.182746|url-status=live}}</ref> the second part started on May 19 of the same year.<ref name="SnG-part2-end"/> The first {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volume was released on April 21, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:グラゼニ～大リーグ編～（１）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000363959|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=April 9, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=February 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221095757/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000363959|url-status=live}}</ref> As of July 23, 2024, six volumes have been released.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:グラゼニ～大リーグ編～（６）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000396312|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=July 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726210138/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000396312url-status=live}}</ref>

====Spin-offs====
A [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] manga, titled {{nihongo||グラゼニ 〜夏之介の青春〜|Gurazeni: Natsunosuke no Seishun}} , written by Yūji Moritaka and illustrated by Yōsuke Uzumaki, was serialized in Kodansha's ''[[Evening (magazine)|Evening]]'' from March 10, 2020,<ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Gurazeni Spinoff, New Manga by Kakegurui's Kawamoto Among 8 New Manga Launching in Evening Magazine|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-02-09/gurazeni-spinoff-new-manga-by-kakegurui-kawamoto-among-8-new-manga-launching-in-evening-magazine/.156255|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 18, 2020|date=February 9, 2020|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329035317/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-02-09/gurazeni-spinoff-new-manga-by-kakegurui-kawamoto-among-8-new-manga-launching-in-evening-magazine/.156255|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:リア充な中学時代の夏之介を描く「グラゼニ」スピンオフがイブニングで始動|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/370486|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|date=March 10, 2020|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924144130/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/370486|url-status=live}}</ref> to November 8, 2022.<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Evening|number=1589785549996335104|user=eveningmagazine|script-title=ja:＼本日発売！#イブニング 23号／『#グラゼニ ～夏之介の青春～』最終話『みんなが青春を…！』の巻が掲載！夏之介が成長した理由☝それは、ひたすらに練習🏃をしていたのだ‼努力の末に実力💪をつけた天才✨今の夏之介の目に、周りはどう映るのか👓|date=November 8, 2022|access-date=February 27, 2023|language=ja}}</ref> Kodansha collected its chapters in six {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes, released from July 20, 2020,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:グラゼニ ～夏之介の青春～（１）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000343115|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=November 18, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=October 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022100831/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000343115|url-status=live}}</ref> to February 21, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:グラゼニ ～夏之介の青春～（６）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000373890|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=February 27, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=February 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227181024/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000373890|url-status=live}}</ref>

Another spin-off by Kawa, titled {{nihongo||昭和のグラゼニ|Shōwa no Gurazeni}}, serialized its first part in ''Morning'' from October 7 to December 2, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「グラゼニ」スピンオフ第2弾がモーニングで、昭和を舞台に田舎の“神童”描く|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/448309|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=December 4, 2021|language=ja|date=October 7, 2021|archive-date=October 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010182600/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/448309|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ANN-Dai">{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|title=Yūji Moritaka, Keiji Adachi Launch Gurazeni Dai League-hen Baseball Manga|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-03/yuji-moritaka-keiji-adachi-launch-gurazeni-dai-league-hen-baseball-manga/.180190|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=December 4, 2021|date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204020106/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-03/yuji-moritaka-keiji-adachi-launch-gurazeni-dai-league-hen-baseball-manga/.180190|url-status=live}}</ref> Seven more parts have been serialized since then; the second one from March 3 to April 28, 2022;<ref name="LH-part1-end"/><ref name="SnG-part2-end">{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|title=Shōwa no Gurazeni Manga Ends 2nd Part, Returns in August|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-05-04/showa-no-gurazeni-manga-ends-2nd-part-returns-in-august/.185301|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=May 5, 2022|date=May 4, 2022|archive-date=May 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504183825/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-05-04/showa-no-gurazeni-manga-ends-2nd-part-returns-in-august/.185301|url-status=live}}</ref> The third one from August 4 to October 13, 2022;<ref name="SnG-part2-end"/><ref name="SnG-part3-end">{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|title=Shōwa no Gurazeni Manga Ends 3rd Part, Returns in February|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-10-14/showa-no-gurazeni-manga-ends-3rd-part-returns-in-february/.190766|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=February 27, 2023|date=October 14, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228132948/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-10-14/showa-no-gurazeni-manga-ends-3rd-part-returns-in-february/.190766|url-status=live}}</ref> the fourth one from February 2 to April 6, 2023;<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Morning Official|number=1620981096400957440|user=morningmanga|script-title=ja:【モーニング10号本日発売！】連載再開！『昭和のグラゼニ』は第４期その１「契約金の使い道」が掲載！ 目指していた長茂率いる文京モップスのドラフト指名を逸し、神宮スパイダースから１位指名を受けた安田。進路に迷うも監督から熱い説得を受け、入団を決意。プロ入りした安田を待ち受けるのは⁉︎|date=February 2, 2023|access-date=February 28, 2023|language=ja|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240901080123/https://x.com/morningmanga/status/1620981096400957440|archive-date=September 1, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SnG-part4-end">{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-04-09/showa-no-gurazeni-manga-ends-4th-part-returns-in-july/.196926|title=Shōwa no Gurazeni Manga Ends 4th Part, Returns in July|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|date=April 9, 2023|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=April 9, 2023|archive-date=April 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409203039/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-04-09/showa-no-gurazeni-manga-ends-4th-part-returns-in-july/.196926|url-status=live}}</ref> the fifth one from July 13 to September 21, 2023;<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:モーニング 2023年7/27号 (発売日2023年07月13日)|url=https://www.fujisan.co.jp/product/2651/b/2412988/|website=Fujisan.co.jp|publisher=Fujisan Magazine Service Co., Ltd.|access-date=September 1, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240901073448/https://www.fujisan.co.jp/product/2651/b/2412988/|archive-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Serialized until the magazine's 43rd issue of 2023,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:昭和のグラゼニ（５）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000383215|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=May 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529024820/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000383215|url-status=live}}</ref> released on September 21 of that same year.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:昭和のグラゼニ 2023年第43号|url=https://morning.kodansha.co.jp/morning/2023/43.html|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=September 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901081507/https://morning.kodansha.co.jp/morning/2023/43.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} the sixth one from December 28, 2023, to March 14, 2024;{{efn|Serialized from the combined 4th and 5th issue to the 15th issue of 2024,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:昭和のグラゼニ（６）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000389467|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=June 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603040014/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000389467|url-status=live}}</ref> released on December 28, 2023,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:週刊モーニング 2024年4・5合併号|url=https://morning.kodansha.co.jp/morning/2024/04-05.html|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=September 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901081411/https://morning.kodansha.co.jp/morning/2024/04-05.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and March 14, 2024, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:週刊モーニング 2024年第15号|url=https://morning.kodansha.co.jp/morning/2024/15.html|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=September 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901081455/https://morning.kodansha.co.jp/morning/2024/15.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} and the seventh one started on July 11, 2024.<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Morning Official|number=1811236470121812058|user=morningmanga|script-title=ja:【モーニング32号本日発売！】『昭和のグラゼニ』は、第7期その1「「テレ屋のふたり」の巻」が掲載！ 見事セ・リーグ優勝したスパイダース。次なる目標はもちろん…!? 『昭和』第6巻好評発売中!! 『大リーグ編』第6巻7月23日(火)発売開始!!|date=July 11, 2024|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240901075939/https://x.com/morningmanga/status/1811236470121812058|archive-date=September 1, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> The first {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volume was released on April 21, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:カネもコネもない高校球児が立身出世を目指す、スピンオフ第2弾「昭和のグラゼニ」1巻|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/474802|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=December 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222131329/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/474802|url-status=live}}</ref> As of May 22, 2024, six volumes have been released.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:【5月22日付】本日発売の単行本リスト|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/571522|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|date=May 22, 2024|archive-date=May 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521152139/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/571522|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Anime===
An [[anime]] television series aired from April 6 to June 22, 2018, on [[SKY PerfecTV!]]'s SkyPer! channel.<ref name="ANN1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-18/gurazeni-baseball-manga-gets-tv-anime-in-2018/.113608|title=Gurazeni Baseball Manga Gets TV Anime in 2018|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=March 18, 2017|access-date=March 18, 2017|archive-date=March 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319025351/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-18/gurazeni-baseball-manga-gets-tv-anime-in-2018/.113608|url-status=live}}</ref> Produced by [[SKY Perfect JSAT]], [[Kodansha]] and [[Studio Deen]], the series is directed by [[Ayumu Watanabe]], with Hideo Takayashiki handling series composition and writing the scripts, Kenichi Ohnuki designing the characters and Akifumi Tada composing the music.<ref>{{cite web|title=アニメ『グラゼニ』公式サイト|url=https://www.bs-sptv.com/gurazeni/staffcast/|website=BS SkyPer!|language=ja|access-date=December 23, 2018|archive-date=September 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905144315/https://www.bs-sptv.com/gurazeni/staffcast/|url-status=live}}</ref> The anime's theme song is "Merigo feat. SKY-HI" by Cypress Ueno to Robert Yoshino.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-05/gurazeni-baseball-anime-reveals-promo-video-key-visual-more-cast/.127381|title=Gurazeni Baseball Anime Reveals Promo Video, Key Visual, More Cast|date=February 5, 2018|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=February 6, 2018|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131628/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-05/gurazeni-baseball-anime-reveals-promo-video-key-visual-more-cast/.127381|url-status=live}}</ref> The closing song is "Shadow Monster" performed by [[Asako Toki]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Pro Baseball Players Become Voice Actors for Gurazeni Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-03-20/pro-baseball-players-become-voice-actors-for-gurazeni-anime/.129253|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004023000/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-03-20/pro-baseball-players-become-voice-actors-for-gurazeni-anime/.129253|url-status=live}}</ref> Well known actor and film director [[Takeshi Kitano|'Beat' Takeshi]] appeared as a guest star in the final episode of the first season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beat Takeshi Guest Stars in Gurazeni Anime's Final Episode|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-05-18/beat-takeshi-guest-stars-in-gurazeni-anime-final-episode/.131739|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=August 11, 2018|date=May 18, 2018|archive-date=August 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811231555/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-05-18/beat-takeshi-guest-stars-in-gurazeni-anime-final-episode/.131739|url-status=live}}</ref>  
A second season aired from October 5 to December 21, 2018,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2018-09-10/gurazeni-season-2-premieres-on-october-5/.136597|title=Gurazeni Season 2 Premieres on October 5|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=September 10, 2018|language=en|archive-date=September 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910224655/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2018-09-10/gurazeni-season-2-premieres-on-october-5/.136597|url-status=live}}</ref> which included baseball player [[Masahiro Yamamoto (baseball)|Masahiro Yamamoto]] and comedian Yuki Iwai in cameo roles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gurazeni Season 2 Rolls out Official Release Date|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2018/09/10/gurazeni-season-2-rolls-out-official-release-date|website=Crunchyroll|access-date=December 23, 2018|archive-date=December 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224023732/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2018/09/10/gurazeni-season-2-rolls-out-official-release-date|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Episodes====
{|class="wikitable" width="98%"
|-
! No. !! Title{{efn|English episode titles are taken from [[Crunchyroll]]}}{{efn|Japanese episode titles and airdates are taken from [https://www.bs-sptv.com/gurazeni/story/ The Official Website]}}!! Directed by !! Original airdate
|-
|colspan="4" bgcolor="#CCF"|
|-
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 1
|Title               = My Workplace / Spot Starter
|TranslitTitle       = Boku no Shokuba / Tanima
|NativeTitle         = 僕の職場 / 谷間
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Shunji Yoshida
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|04|06}}
|ShortSummary        = The Spiders are playing the Osaka Tempters. Bonda Natsunosuke is brought in but he has to pitch to a right-handed batter. The batter failed and was ruled out and later demoted to the Minor Leagues. Bonda considers it a statement on his own lack of worth. Tokunaga invites Bonda out for a drink. He is worried about his ratings and tries to get Bonda to tell him who will be the starter in The Spiders' next game. At the day of the game he is very relieved that Bonda is the starter because he knows everything about him.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 2
|Title               = Tendency / Buddies
|TranslitTitle       = Shūsei / Dachi
|NativeTitle         = 習性 / 友達
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Naoki Murata
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|04|13}}
|ShortSummary        = Sakota, the Spiders bullpen coach, observes that Bonda regularly retires hitters who have lower salary than he has and players who make more than 100 million yen but gives up hits up to batters with salary in the range between those amounts. Sakota wonders what will happen when Bonda pitches against a player with exactly the same salary.
Bonda's friend and team-mate Shibuya Akira, who makes twice what Bonda makes in a year, is frustrated because all his starts this season have resulted in a loss.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 3
|Title               = Prefecture Clique
|TranslitTitle       = Kenjinkai
|NativeTitle         = 県人会
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Hiromichi Matano
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|04|20}}
|ShortSummary        = Ōno Yukio wears jersey no.3, traditionally given to the team's best hitter, but recently he has been in a slump.
Ōno, Bonda and Toku who all come from [[Yamanashi Prefecture]] go out for drink together. Toku warns Ōno he has to get his [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] over .300 or 4 home runs in next 4 games because his defense is weak. He also tells Bonda he has to get his [[earned run average]] below 3. When Segawa, the Spiders' closer, is injured, Bonda gets his chance.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 4
|Title               = Railroad to Retirement / The Man Who Couldn't Go Pro
|TranslitTitle       = Intai e no Rēru / Puro ni Narenakatta Otoko
|NativeTitle         = 引退へのレール / プロになれなかった男
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Shunji Yoshida
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|04|27}}
|ShortSummary        = The Spiders are playing The Carnavits. Bonda is pitching against Doteirai, a 41-year-old champion with 500 home runs in his career. Bonda is nervous because he broke Doteirai's wrist the previous season. Some members of the Carnavits' management are hoping Doteirai fails to get a hit so they'll have an excuse to retire him.
On the ballgrounds of Jingu Park, amateur baseball players observe Bonda and a young man playing holding a soccer ball in the air. They are impressed by their fast reflexes.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 5
|Title               = Safe Bets, Risky Bets
|TranslitTitle       = Anzen na Kabu Kiken na Kabu
|NativeTitle         = 安全な株・危険な株
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Hidehiko Kadota
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|05|04}}
|ShortSummary        = Bonda is introduced to Makiba, a manga artist who intends to write a baseball manga. Later, when the two meet again, Makiba explains he never went ahead with the manga because he thought it was too risky instead he created a spin-off of his previous manga. Bonda observes that the worlds of manga publishing and professional baseball are similar. The Spiders' closer Segawa gives up a home run and after injuries is dropped to the Minor Leagues. Toku is named as the fill-in closer.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 6
|Title               = Multiplier
|TranslitTitle       = Baisū
|NativeTitle         = 倍数
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Naoki Murata
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|05|11}}
|ShortSummary        = Bonda and Shibuya start thinking their lifestyle is too modest and boring so they go out drinking in a hostess club in [[Ginza]]. There they meet Sekiya, 1st baseman for the ''Nagoya Wild Ones''. Bonda is very much aware of Sekiya because his salary is 180 million yen a year or ten times what Bonda makes. The day after Bonda goes for a morning run and sees Sekiya exiting a taxi. It's obvious Sekiya has spent the entire night drinking and partying which shocks Bonda because their teams are playing each other later that evening.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 7
|Title               = A Minor League Player in the Majors
|TranslitTitle       = Nigun nanoni Ichigun
|NativeTitle         = 二軍なのに一軍
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Hiromichi Matano
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|05|18}}
|ShortSummary        = When one of the Spiders' catchers is injured a catcher called Tōkō Junji is brought into the team from the Minors. When Bonda is pitching, Tōkō makes a series of mistakes almost costing the Spiders the game. After the game Bonda awkwardly overhears Tōkō getting told off by Kitamura, Tōkō's old teammate in college and now a successful sports reporter. Kitamura thinks Tōkō should retire and has offered him a job with his family business.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 8
|Title               = The Commute to the Ballpark
|TranslitTitle       = Kyūjō made no Tsūkin Jijō
|NativeTitle         = 球場までの通勤事情
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Fumio Maezono
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|05|25}}
|ShortSummary        = It's reported that representatives from the Spiders have gone to the U.S. to acquire closer to replace Segawa. Bonda is visited by Thomas Hotpopper an American left-handed pitcher. He is worried if the Spiders hire a new foreigner he'll be let go because of the restrictions on the number of foreign players on the active roster, each team is allowed in the league. Thomas is a starter in the next game and, since the Game is in Yokohama, Bonda volunteers to escort him there by train. Thomas has to pitch against a lineup of all right-handers, starts struggling and loses control of his temper and is substituted for Bonda. Eventually, the Spiders talks in the U.S. didn't work out and it was decided to keep Segawa.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 9
|Title               = Teacher or Cautionary Tale?
|TranslitTitle       = Kyōshi or Hanmen Kyōshi
|NativeTitle         = 教師or反面教師
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|06|01}}
|ShortSummary        = Kuriki Satoshi is a 30-year-old former pitcher and currently a batting practice pitcher and scorer for the Spiders. Bonda believes if Kuriki hadn't been so obsessed with ball speed his career could have gone a lot further. Kuriki approaches Bonda and wants to give him advice. Bonda has mixed feeling about this because Kuriki's advices haven't worked well for him in the past. Following Kuriki's lesson Bonda changes his pitching form, which gives him more speed, but Bonda worries about losing control of the ball.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 10
|Title               = High School Recruit, College Recruit
|TranslitTitle       = Kōsotsu to Daisotsu
|NativeTitle         = 高卒と大卒
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Hidehiko Kadota
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|06|08}}
|ShortSummary        = 5 years ago at the [[Summer Koshien]] Ishimoto and Ezure were the star players. Both were recruited by the ''Osaka Tempters'', Ishimoto straight out of high school, but Ezure after going through college league. However neither of them managed to become regulars. The Tempters' manager wants to bring in a new pinch hitter and drop one of them to the minors. It's decided to give both of them a chance in the next game against The Spiders, and whoever performs better would be allowed to stay. During the game, Spiders' starting pitcher, Akiba plays badly and The Tempters rack up a big lead. Bonda is put on the mound and told to play four innings. Ishimoto and Ezure are in trouble because both of them have lower salary than Bonda.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 11
|Title               = No Pitch to Throw
|TranslitTitle       = Nageru Tama ga Nai
|NativeTitle         = 投げるタマがない
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Kazuomi Koga
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|06|15}}
|ShortSummary        = The Spiders travel to Hiroshima to play the ''Setouchi Carnabeats''.
One of the Carnabeats' pitchers is Haratake Hiromi, a pro for 14 years and a local media celebrity. Haratake openly admits he's not a good athlete and claims he fakes his way through. Bonda wonders how he has managed to have such a long career. In the fifth inning of the game circumstances force both Haratake and Bonda to hit against each other.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 12
|Title               = The Lonely Gourmet
|TranslitTitle       = Kodoku na Gurume
|NativeTitle         = コドクなグルメ
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Shunji Yoshida
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|06|22}}
|ShortSummary        = Yuki works as a waitress in a Japanese diner in [[Ebisu, Shibuya|Ebisu]] called ''Kitchen Ajihei''. Bonda is a frequent customer and has a crush on her. A group of customers offer her tickets to the Jingu Stadium and she agrees if she can go see the ''Osaka Tempters'' because she is a Tempters fan. Next time the Spiders and the Tempters play, Bonda notices Yuki in the bleachers. When Bonda is pitching he accidentally injures two Tempters' players and then executes a flawless [[double play]] that ends the inning. When Bonda glances at the jeering spectators he sees Yuki glaring at him in fury. However next time when he goes to ''Kitchen Ajihei'' Yuki doesn't recognize him again.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 13
|Title               = Back in the Majors
|TranslitTitle       = Ichigun Fukki
|NativeTitle         = 一軍復帰
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Naoki Murata
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|10|05}}
|ShortSummary        = The Spiders are playing an away game in Nagoya. When the scheduled starter comes down with a fever Bonda is rushed in as a substitute. In a rare chance to play as a starter Bonda becomes over-eager and breaks his right-hand wrist when trying to perform a double-tag-out by himself. This is the first major injury in Bonda's career. 
Four months later, Bonda has at last recovered from his injury and makes it back to the team, the Spiders are in the middle of a three-way pennant race with 30 games left until playoffs.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 14
|Title               = The Softy
|TranslitTitle       = Ama-chan
|NativeTitle         = 甘チャン
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Hidehiko Kadota
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|10|12}}
|ShortSummary        = When Bonda returned from the minors Itsuki Roppa came with him. Bonda thinks that while Itsuki is a talented batter he doesn´t have the situational awareness or mindset to be a professional. Bonda gets his appearance after returning from his injuries in Itsuki’s first game against ''the Mops''. When Bonda pitches, an easy pop fly that Itsuki fails to catch, allows the Mops to score a run and eventually costs the Spiders the game. A downhearted Bonda returns to ''Kitchen Ajihei'' hoping that a glimpse of Yuki's face and her "fried chicken & rice" will cheer him up.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 15
|Title               = Rising to First
|TranslitTitle       = Shui Fujō
|NativeTitle         = 首位浮上
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Hiromichi Matano
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|10|19}}
|ShortSummary        = In a vital game Itsuki hits an obvious 'ball', the hit is caught in the field and the game ends in a draw rather than a win for the Spiders. In another game Itsuki manages score several runs but it doesn´t matter because the Spiders are getting thrashed anyway. Itsuki tells Bonda that he knows he will be sent back to the minors but he wants to stay in the majors until his son is born. Bonda disagrees and says people should play baseball for the sake of their own ambition and not for their families. In the next few games Itsuki goes on a hitting streak and earns a role as a starter and keeps the Spiders in the race for the pennant.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 16
|Title               = Celebrate! The League Pennant!
|TranslitTitle       = Shuku Rīgu Yūshō
|NativeTitle         = 祝・リーグ優勝
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Toshihiro Maeya
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|10|26}}
|ShortSummary        = Itsuki is on a hot streak and The Spiders are in first place in the race for the pennant. Itsuki has been staying at a hotel and thinks this helps his concentration but Bonda tells him to go home to his family. After that Itsuki starts to struggle but Bonda tells him it's because other teams have been studying him and making adjustments.
The next game against the Tempters is decisive, if the Spiders win or draw they have clinched the pennant. As Bonda and Itsuki are going the stadium in a taxi Itsuki gets a phone call; his wife delivered a baby boy but there were some complications and the baby is in [[Intensive care unit|ICU]]. Bonda gives up a home run in the 8th inning but Itsuki saves him with a pinch home-run in the bottom of the ninth and the game ends in a draw. The spiders have won the pennant but in the celebrations Bonda has mixed feelings because of his previous blunder. 
Itsuki's baby is out of any danger and when Bonda visits Itsuki, at the hospital birth ward, Itsuki tells him the reason he managed a hit in the game was because he was so worried, that he didn´t pay any attention to the game and unlike the other players wasn´t stressed out. Bonda thanks him for saving him from becoming a scapegoat and the two hug each other in tears.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 17
|Title               = Just Between Us
|TranslitTitle       = Koko dake no Ohanashi
|NativeTitle         = ココだけのおハナシ
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Masahiko Watanabe
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|11|02}}
|ShortSummary        = Bonda appears as a guest on a radio show. He is nervous so he gulps down some whiskey before the show. On air he starts saying things he shouldn’t, like complaining about his salary and criticizing the rules of the [[Japan Series]]. This shocks the other panelist and enrages a player for the ''Osaka Tempters'' who had just won the Japan series. In the end Bonda tries to play the whole thing off as a joke.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 18
|Title               = Lonely Season
|TranslitTitle       = Sabishii Kisetsu
|NativeTitle         = さびしい季節
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Shunji Yoshida
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|11|09}}
|ShortSummary        = During the off-season Bonda is in a workout group with three other pitchers. Soon two of those pitchers are released from the team with Bonda and the 27-year-old Korekawa remaining, and Korekawa suspects he’s going to get the call soon. When the call comes Korekawa is however not being let go but instead being traded to the ''Kobe Oxen'', his other hometown team. The two go out for a dinner to Yuki's diner where Yuki is engrossed in a ''Tempters'' game being shown on television. Korekawa manages to charm Yuki with his knowledge about the [[Koshien Stadium]] much to the chagrin of Bonda and the other customers. Afterwards, as they leave the restaurant, Korekawa says he will miss the ''Spiders'' as it was the team that started his career and implies that if Bonda is interested in Yuki he has to make a move before it's too late. Next season, however, due to lack of appearances, Korekawa retires.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 19
|Title               = Designated for Assignment
|TranslitTitle       = Senryokugai Tsūkoku
|NativeTitle         = 戦力外通告
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Hidehiko Kadota
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|11|16}}
|ShortSummary        = Both Nishigo'uchi, a 38-year-old starter for the ''Sapporo Purple Shadows'' and the ''Spiders''' Tōkō —previously seen in episode 7— have been "[[Designated for assignment|DFA'd]]" by their teams. Neither of them want to quit playing, Tōkō because he believes he still has the ability to play well and Nishigo'uchi for financial reasons (paying hefty taxes from last year's inflated salary). Both of them enter tryouts on the slim chance that some other teams will pick them up. Eventually no Japanese teams are interested but both of them get signed by a team in [[Taiwan]].
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 20
|Title               = Fan Appreciation Day
|TranslitTitle       = Fan Kansha Dē
|NativeTitle         = ファン感謝デー
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Masahiko Watanabe<br>Hiromichi Matano
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|11|23}}
|ShortSummary        = When Yuki was at Jingu Stadium when Bonda beat Osaka Tempters (ep. 12), it was because 3 office workers, who are regulars in the canteen, took her out to watch the game. Yuki overheard that they want to take her out ice skating, which she accepted, as the skating rink is not far from Jingu Stadium. But the three men are way out of their depth since they cannot skate, whereas Yuki can because she has been skating since she was a kid. As they leave the rink, they followed the crowd to the Fan Appreciation Day hosted by Jingu Spiders. This was also the same place where Osaka Tempters won the Climax series. Spiders play in the Japan East vs. West Game based on birthplaces, as well as a hide-and-seek game. Bonda and Akira (East team) are dressed in [[Tutankhamen]] and [[Cleopatra]] costumes respectively, and they sat next to Yuki, but Shibuya manages to strike up a conversation with Yuki, whereas Bonda cannot, even when Yuki wanted to thank him for walking the Tempters during the Climax series that helped them win the series. Just when Bonda thought Akira was trying to flirt with her, he, in fact told Bonda how his decreasing performance would affect his earning power, meaning he can no longer go after women as he pleased.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 21
|Title               = Marrying While Unemployed?!
|TranslitTitle       = Mushoku de Kekkon?!
|NativeTitle         = 無職で結婚…!?
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Naoki Murata<br>Masahiko Watanabe
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|11|30}}
|ShortSummary        = Bonda found out that Toku is engaged, but he has also been fired from his job, because the radio station re-signed a veteran color commentator, Jiro Jinno, for a second stint at the radio station to take over his job after spending the last decade as a coach and commentator in other stations, despite Toku being able to find inside scoops on players. Toku, in his engagement bliss, took his fiancée to [[Guam]] for a vacation, so he doesn't know that he has no job to return to until he returns from the vacation, instead of finalizing his contract extension for next baseball season.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 22
|Title               = Sudden Turnaround!
|TranslitTitle       = Ikinari dai gyakuten!
|NativeTitle         = いきなり大逆転!
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Masayuki Iimura
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|12|07}}
|ShortSummary        = After Toku and Akemi return from Guam, they finally find out that Toku lost his job. Matsumoto manages to get him a job coaching an independent league baseball team in [[Fukui, Fukui|Fukui]]. Due to the long distance away from Tokyo，and a comparatively meagre 3.6 million-yen contract —still a significant pay raise compared to his salary at Otowa Radio— Toku worries that Akemi won't be willing to go with him. Akemi is not happy with the idea but sees this as an opportunity to leave her rather seedy work as a [[Host and hostess clubs#Japan|hostess]] in a club in [[Roppongi]].

Unbeknownst to them, Jinno's friend, Akihiko Kugutsu, was nominated as the new head coach of the ''Bunkyo Mops''. However, the media start reporting that Kugutsu was once a spokesperson of a real estate company, where the executive turned out to have ties with [[Yakuza|mob syndicates]] and the ''Mops'' withdraw the offer to avoid controversy. Jinno becomes the new  head coach of the ''Bunkyo Mops'' instead, clearing the way for Toku's reinstatement and contract extension with Otowa Radio.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 23
|Title               = Contract Renewals, Part One
|TranslitTitle       = Keiyaku kōkai zenpen
|NativeTitle         = 契約更改・前編
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Masahiko Watanabe
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|12|14}}
|ShortSummary        = During the off season, every player's contracts and salaries are re-negotiated. Bonda feels confident, given that two of the starting pitchers, Shibuya and Ōno both got pay raises on their first negotiations with the club，with Bonda correctly predicting their new salaries. Kawasaki, a 39-year-old veteran pitcher, wants a multi-year contract so he can reach 200 wins but eventually agrees to a one-year 70 million Yen contract. The negotiations with Bonda himself, a relief pitcher who missed 4 months of the season, and had a decent but inconsistent season, is far less straightforward. As a consolation, Yuki finally recognizes him when he visits the canteen, after Bonda had an impromptu signing session when other regulars recognized him. Next day, Bonda was offered 25-million-Yen contract, as predicted, but he appeals to add an extra million.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber       = 24
|Title               = Contract Renewals, Part Two
|TranslitTitle       = Keiyaku kōkai kōhen
|NativeTitle         = 契約更改・後編
|NativeTitleLangCode = ja 
|DirectedBy          = Shunji Yoshida
|OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2018|12|21}}
|ShortSummary        = Bonda argues his case to gain a small, but significant extra million Yen to his contract, but the managers refuse to budge. Bonda brings up a game against ''The Mops'' at Jingu Stadium where his performance secured ''The Spiders''' 4000th win and Kawasaki's 150th win but the managers counter that this has already been taken into account in their offer. Bonda then mentions that at this very game a famous singer and an actor were in the audience leading to the exposure of their relationship. This created a lot of media attention and the fact that the "star-couple" were ''Jingu Spiders''-fans was frequently mentioned. At last, the management gives up and lets Bonda have a 26 million Yen annual contract. Afterwards Bonda is at first exultant but later starts to anguish over his behavior and worrying he might have pushed his luck too far.
}}
|}

==Reception==
By October 2022 the overall series had over 3.5 million copies in circulation.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:『グラゼニ～夏之介の青春～』5巻。ナッツと堀田にカワイイ女子二人組が急接近！|url=https://dengekionline.com/articles/154452/|website=[[Dengeki Online]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa Game Linkage]]|access-date=September 1, 2024|language=ja|date=October 20, 2022|archive-date=October 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020065500/https://dengekionline.com/articles/154452/|url-status=live}}</ref> The series was second on the 2012 edition of [[Takarajimasha]]'s ''[[Kono Manga ga Sugoi!]]'' list of best manga for male readers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-08/top-manga-ranked-by-kono-manga-ga-sugoi-2012-voters|title=Top Manga Ranked by Kono Manga ga Sugoi 2012 Voters|date=December 8, 2011|access-date=September 9, 2013|website=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-date=January 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104182338/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-08/top-manga-ranked-by-kono-manga-ga-sugoi-2012-voters|url-status=live}}</ref> It nominated for the fifth [[Manga Taishō]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-03-23/hiromu-arakawa-silver-spoon-wins-5th-manga-taisho-award|title=Hiromu Arakawa's Silver Spoon Wins 5th Manga Taisho Award|date=March 23, 2012|access-date=October 30, 2013|website=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-date=December 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216223016/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-03-23/hiromu-arakawa-silver-spoon-wins-5th-manga-taisho-award|url-status=live}}</ref> It won the 37th [[Kodansha Manga Award]] in the general category in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ressler|first=Karen|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-09/37th-annual-kodansha-manga-awards-announced|title=Animal Land, Ore Monogatari!! Win 37th Kodansha Manga Awards|date=May 9, 2013|access-date=October 30, 2013|website=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402152238/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-09/37th-annual-kodansha-manga-awards-announced|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Mike Toole'' of [[Anime News Network]] praised the anime adaptation, in particular the main character Bonda but acknowledged it was difficult to sell to most western viewers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Toole|first=Mike|title=Little Pitch Academia|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-mike-toole-show/2018-10-28/.138748|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 19, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214528/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-mike-toole-show/2018-10-28/.138748|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Anime News Network|manga|14816}}

{{Series in Morning}}
{{Series in Evening}}
{{Kodansha Manga Award - General}}
{{Ayumu Watanabe}}
{{Studio Deen}}

[[Category:Baseball in anime and manga]]
[[Category:Kodansha manga]]
[[Category:Seinen manga]]
[[Category:Studio Deen]]
[[Category:Winner of Kodansha Manga Award (General)]]