Family[]
Shigeharu Honda[]
Goro's biological father, who introduced him to baseball and swapped from pitcher to batter because his son looked up to him.
Momoko Hoshino[]
Goro's nursery teacher, who even at that time used to cook and take care of Goro whenever his dad was away. And his stepmother who he picked out, he refused to go home with anyone other than Momoko, after his father's death.
Hideki Shigeno[]
Goro's stepfather, who supported him many times through his injuries; and a pitcher that Goro admires.
Shingo Shigeno[]
Goro's little stepbrother. Shingo looks up to his brother because he loves baseball, even though he isn't very good at it like Goro.
Chiharu Shigeno[]
Goro's little stepsister.
Kaoru Shimizu[]
Goro's childhood friend since elementary school. She fell in love with Goro when they were in Elementary. She maintains her crush even after the many times Goro leaves and remains close to the Shigeno family. After being told directly by Fuji and Tashiro about Kaoru's feelings, Goro thinks back on their relationship over the years, and admitted that he had thought of her as a very close friend, to the point of being almost family. After taking her out on a real date, he admits to her that he does love her romantically, even though he was dense for ten years to realize her own feelings. Sawamura stated that he's glad she likes Goro and they're together, since she's the only girl who could stand to be with a complete baseball addict like Honda (because she's a softball addict herself).
Taiga Shimizu[]
Goro's teammate at Seishuu. Taiga joined Seishuu because his sister told him about Goro Shigeno, there Taiga learned a lot from watching Goro, and started playing a different kind of baseball: the type of doing without thinking of advantages and disadvantages. He is Goro's brother-in-law through Kaoru.
Friends[]
Toshiya Sato[]
Goro's best friend throughout the series. They first met at the age of 5-6, Goro taught baseball to Toshi. Later on, Toshi joined Yokohama Little league, whereas Goro joined Mifune, and they played in one of the most memorable matches together. Going further Toshiya and Goro have always been rivals who push each other the extra mile. Sato even says that he would've never made it so far if it wasn't for him making Goro his rival and looking up to him. They've been teammates at Kaido, as well as on the Indiana Hornets once they made it into the major league.
Daisuke Komori[]
Komori was saved from being bullied by Goro and Shimizu, they invited him to join the Mifune Dolphins, where he played as Goro's catcher. Followed by many others, Komori flourished with Goro as an example ahead of him. Komori caught Honda's pitches in Little League and Junior High, and because of his experiences back then, he was 4th batter in Highschool and a pinch hitter at University. He also inspired many kids with the story of their match against Yokohama Little League
Rivals[]
Joe Gibson[]
Like another father figure to Goro. When Goro was a kid, Joe Gibson pitched against Shigeharu Honda and killed him on accident. Years pass and Goro forgives him. When he visits him in America, he makes a promise to face against him someday.
Joe Gibson Jr.[]
Jr. first meets Goro when he insults his father during a game against the Anaheim Salmons. Jr. has a grudge on Goro, Shigeharu Honda, and his father because he blamed them for killing his mom and sister. The next time they face each other in a game, Goro strikes Jr. out with a 100 mph fastball. In their next game facing each other, Jr. learns that Joe Gibson watches over Goro because of their equally intense love for baseball. Jr. realizes what it means to have a true rival after losing to Memphis Bats.