season. NPB opened a season in Tōhoku for the first time with a Lotte game in Miyagi Stadium on April 6, 1974. Contrary to local expectations, however, the Lotte Orions only considered Sendai to be a temporary home until a new one could be found. Despite officially moving the team, the Orions continued to play only about half of their home games there with the other half being split among other stadiums primarily in the Kantō region. Furthermore, the team's offices remained in Tokyo and the players continued to reside in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The unusual home field situation led the Orions to be known as a "gypsy" team. After the Orions won the second half of the season in 1974, Miyagi Stadium hosted its first postseason games in that year's PL Playoffs. Lotte won the series and advanced to the Japan Series, however these games were not held in Sendai. Instead, because of Miyagi Stadium's relatively low capacity, their home games were held at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo. After winning the series, Lotte held their victory parade in Tokyo as well. Local Sendai fans were disappointed with the team's attitude toward the city. Lotte's attendance, which had been the highest in the Pacific League in 1973, dropped to second place the following season. After five years playing in Sendai, it was announced on October 4, 1977, that the team would relocate to Kawasaki Stadium in Kanagawa Prefecture the next season. That night, the Orions fought for a playoff spot during their last regular season game. When they lost the lead in the ninth inning, fans threw cans and bottles onto the field which required the game to be temporarily suspended. Lotte manager Masaichi Kaneda appealed to the crowd on the public address system to let the players finish the game explaining that they were trying their best. Despite the loss, the Orions advanced to the 1977 Pacific League Playoffs and again played their games at Miyagi, however this time they failed to advance to the Japan Series. It would be another 28 years before the stadium had another full-time NPB tenant. Immediately after relocating to Kawasaki, Lotte continued to hold approximately ten countryside games annually at Miyagi Stadium. In 1978, Hankyu Braves pitcher Yutaro Imai threw the second and last perfect game at the stadium against the Orions. However, the number of games the team held there decreased