Masataka Nashida (Japanese:梨田 昌孝, born August 4, 1953, in Hamada, Shimane, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional…
Masataka Nashida (Japanese:梨田 昌孝, born August 4, 1953, in Hamada, Shimane, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball catcher and manager. As a player, he played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes from 1972 to 1988. After playing, he went on to manage three NPB teams. First, Nashida was the final manager of the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes before they were dissolved and merged after the 2004 season. He then went on to manage the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters from 2008 to 2011. Finally, he went on to manage the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, the team created to fill the void left by the Buffaloes merger. He was able to lead the Eagles to their third-ever playoff berth in 2017, however he resigned in July the next year when the club dropped to 20 games below a .500 winning percentage. After his resignation, Eagles' coach Yosuke Hiraishi acted as team's interim manager for the remainder of the 2018 season.
Famous Japanese People: Baseball
Baseball: 1,745 people
Akinobu Mayumi (真弓 明信, Mayumi Akinobu; born July 12, 1953) is the former manager for the Hanshin Tigers baseball team…
Akinobu Mayumi (真弓 明信, Mayumi Akinobu; born July 12, 1953) is the former manager for the Hanshin Tigers baseball team in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. After serving 3 seasons (2009–2011) with the team, he was released in October after failing to make the 2011 play-offs. He was shortly replaced with by Yutaka Wada, who had also previously played for the team during his baseball career. Mayumi had been a star player for the Tigers during his playing days. He was part of the Tigers' team that won the 1985 Japan Series, and hit a home run in the series. Before playing for the Tigers, he was drafted by the Taiheiyo Lions and played for them, as well as a minor-league stint with the Lodi Orioles of the California League as part of a development program piloted by the Lions in the 1970s.
Shigeru Kobayashi (小林 繁, Kobayashi Shigeru; November 14, 1952 – January 17, 2010) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He…
Shigeru Kobayashi (小林 繁, Kobayashi Shigeru; November 14, 1952 – January 17, 2010) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He played for the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. His trade to the Tigers gave the Giants Suguru Egawa, as he had been drafted by the Tigers, despite him signing with the Giants in secrecy. Kobayashi coached two other NPB teams, the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and also spent a season in the Korea Baseball Organization as a coach for the SK Wyverns. He died of heart failure in 2010 at the age of 57.
Jun Misawa (Japanese: 三沢 淳 Misawa Jun; 1 October 1952 – 3 March 2022) was a Japanese baseball player and politician. A…
Jun Misawa (Japanese: 三沢 淳 Misawa Jun; 1 October 1952 – 3 March 2022) was a Japanese baseball player and politician. A member of the New Frontier Party, the Liberal Party, and the New Conservative Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000. Misawa died in Nagoya on 3 March 2022, at the age of 69.
Akira Kuramochi (倉持 明, Kuramochi Akira; born July 20, 1952) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. Asuka…
Akira Kuramochi (倉持 明, Kuramochi Akira; born July 20, 1952) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. Asuka Kuramochi, his daughter, is one of the members of female idol group AKB48.
Kojiro Ikegaya (池谷 公二郎, Ikegaya Kojiro; born June 1, 1945) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Hiromasa Arai (新井 宏昌, Arai Hiromasa; born April 26, 1952) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Daisuke Yamashita (山下 大輔, Yamashita Daisuke; born March 5, 1952) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player.
Koji Ota (太田 幸司, Ōta Kōji; born January 23, 1952) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon…
Koji Ota (太田 幸司, Ōta Kōji; born January 23, 1952) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, and belongs to Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc. as a commentator in baseball live on radio and TV. Ota is a son of an American father and a Japanese mother, the adopted son of a Japanese stepfather and a Russian stepmother, who emigrated to Japan because of the Russian Revolution in 1917.
Koji Yamamoto (山本 功児, Yamamoto Koji; December 25, 1951 – April 23, 2016) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…
Koji Yamamoto (山本 功児, Yamamoto Koji; December 25, 1951 – April 23, 2016) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Hisao Niura, also known as Kim Il-young (Korean: 김일융; born May 11, 1951), is a Japanese former professional baseball…
Hisao Niura, also known as Kim Il-young (Korean: 김일융; born May 11, 1951), is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who played Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan and KBO League baseball in South Korea. Over a 22-season career, he was a five-time champion, four times with the Yomiuri Giants and once with the Samsung Lions. He was a two-time ERA champion of Japan's Central League. A workhorse during much of his career, he had success as both a starter and a reliever. Although born in Japan, Niura is of Korean descent, part of the Zainichi community.
Akio Matsubara, known as Hiroaki Fukushi and Jang Myeong-bu (Korean: 장명부; December 27, 1950 – April 13, 2005) was a…
Akio Matsubara, known as Hiroaki Fukushi and Jang Myeong-bu (Korean: 장명부; December 27, 1950 – April 13, 2005) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who played Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan and KBO League baseball in South Korea. He holds KBO records for most wins and most complete games in a season, as well as most losses in a season.
Kazuhide Ishiyama or Song Il-soo (石山 一秀、いしやま かずひで、born December 23, 1950) is the former manager of the Doosan Bears of…
Kazuhide Ishiyama or Song Il-soo (石山 一秀、いしやま かずひで、born December 23, 1950) is the former manager of the Doosan Bears of the KBO League.
Yasunori Oshima (大島 康徳, Ōshima Yasunori; October 16, 1950 – June 30, 2021) was a Japanese professional baseball…
Yasunori Oshima (大島 康徳, Ōshima Yasunori; October 16, 1950 – June 30, 2021) was a Japanese professional baseball outfielder, first baseman and third baseman, and coach in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Chunichi Dragons and Nippon Ham Fighters from 1971 to 1994. He went on to manage the Fighters from 2000 to 2002, and served as the hitting coach for the Japan national baseball team during the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Osamu Higashio (東尾 修, Higashio Osamu; born May 18, 1950) is a Japanese former baseball player who played in the…
Osamu Higashio (東尾 修, Higashio Osamu; born May 18, 1950) is a Japanese former baseball player who played in the Japanese professional leagues from 1969–1988, being remembered as one of the leading Japanese pitchers in the 1980s. He also was manager of the Seibu Lions from 1995 to 2001.
Kyosuke Sasaki (佐々木 恭介, Sasaki Kyōsuke; born December 28, 1949) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball…
Kyosuke Sasaki (佐々木 恭介, Sasaki Kyōsuke; born December 28, 1949) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Choji Murata (村田 兆治, 27 November 1949 – 11 November 2022) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He…
Choji Murata (村田 兆治, 27 November 1949 – 11 November 2022) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played for the Tokyo/Lotte Orions over the period 1968 to 1990. Murata led the Pacific League in Earned run average in 1975 and 1976. In 1976 he won 21 games, the only time he won 20 games or more in his career. Overuse of Murata's pitching arm led to extreme pain and injury, and ultimately Murata was forced to undergo Tommy John elbow surgery, performed in 1982 by Dr. Frank Jobe in California. (Murata was the first Japanese pitcher to undergo the procedure.) As a result, Murata missed much of the 1982 season, all of the 1983 season, and most of the 1984 season during his recovery. Rebounding in 1985 with a 17–5 record, Murata won the Nippon Professional Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award. In 1989 he again led the Pacific League in ERA. Retiring in 1990 with 200+ career wins, Murata became a member of Meikyukai. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, Murata served on the Eiji Sawamura Award selection committee. On 23 September 2022, Murata was arrested at Haneda airport for allegedly assaulting a customs agent. On 11 November 2022, Murata's house in Seijo, Setagaya, Tokyo, caught on fire during the early morning. Subsequently, he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead due to carbon monoxide poisoning at age 72.
Katsuhiro Nakamura (中村 勝広, Nakamura Katsuhiro; June 6, 1949 - September 23, 2015) was a professional Japanese baseball…
Katsuhiro Nakamura (中村 勝広, Nakamura Katsuhiro; June 6, 1949 - September 23, 2015) was a professional Japanese baseball player, coach, and manager.
Sumio Hirota (弘田 澄男, Hirota Sumio) (born May 13, 1949 in Sukumo, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former…
Sumio Hirota (弘田 澄男, Hirota Sumio) (born May 13, 1949 in Sukumo, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played with the Lotte Orions from 1972 to 1983 and the Hanshin Tigers from 1984 to 1987. He won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award in 1974.
Haruki Ihara (伊原 春樹, Ihara Haruki; born January 18, 1949) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played…
Haruki Ihara (伊原 春樹, Ihara Haruki; born January 18, 1949) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Nishitetsu Lions, and continued his entire career with them. From 2002 to 2003, he was the manager of the Seibu Lions, as well as the Orix BlueWave in 2004. His daughter, Natsuna Ihara, is a model and actress.
Hirotoshi Watanabe (Japanese: 王貞治, Watanabe Hirotoshi, 20 November 1948 – 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball…
Hirotoshi Watanabe (Japanese: 王貞治, Watanabe Hirotoshi, 20 November 1948 – 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball player and coach. He had a brief playing career as a relief pitcher with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball, and later worked to promote baseball internationally. Watanabe signed with the Nishitetsu Lions in 1970 after graduating from Nihon University, where he studied to become a teacher. He was traded to the Hanshin Tigers for cash during the 1972 offseason. He appeared in six games for the Tigers over the 1974 and 1975 seasons, allowing three runs in nine innings pitched. After retiring, he worked for a sporting goods manufacturer. Watanabe got his start coaching internationally in 1999, sent to Ghana at the behest of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. He was tapped by the Asian Baseball Federation to manage the Pakistan national baseball team at the 2003 Asian Baseball Championship; at the helm of Pakistan, he won a historic victory against Indonesia. At the time, he was among the first foreigners to coach the Pakistan national team. He has also served as the manager of the Thailand national baseball team, including at the 2011 SEA Games and at the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifiers. Watanabe died in late 2016.
Toshiyuki Mimura (三村 敏之, Mimura Toshiyuki) (September 19, 1948 – November 3, 2009) was a Japanese baseball player and…
Toshiyuki Mimura (三村 敏之, Mimura Toshiyuki) (September 19, 1948 – November 3, 2009) was a Japanese baseball player and manager of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Hisashi Yamada (山田 久志, Yamada Hisashi; born July 29, 1948) is a retired Japanese professional baseball submarine…
Hisashi Yamada (山田 久志, Yamada Hisashi; born July 29, 1948) is a retired Japanese professional baseball submarine pitcher. He played with the Hankyu Braves in Nippon Professional Baseball from 1969 to 1988. Yamada won the Pacific League MVP for three consecutive seasons (1976–1978), sharing a record with Ichiro Suzuki (1994–1996) for the most consecutive awards won. In addition, Yamada won the Japan Series MVP in 1977. He won 20 or more games four times in his career, including notching 26 victories in 1976. Yamada twice won the Pacific League earned run average championship, with marks of 2.37 in 1971 and 2.28 in 1977. He won the Best Nine Award five times in his career. As coach of the Chunichi Dragons in 1999, he led the team to the Central League pennant. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2009, Yamada served as a coach for the Japanese team in the World Baseball Classic.
Hideji Katō (加藤 秀司, Katō Hideji) (born May 24, 1948) is a Japanese former professional baseball first baseman in Nippon…
Hideji Katō (加藤 秀司, Katō Hideji) (born May 24, 1948) is a Japanese former professional baseball first baseman in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Hankyu Braves from 1969 to 1982, Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 1983, Kintetsu Buffaloes from 1984 to 1985, Yomiuri Giants in 1986 and the Nankai Hawks in 1987. He was the Pacific League MVP in 1975.
Yutaka Enatsu (江夏 豊, Enatsu Yutaka; born May 15, 1948) is a Japanese former pitcher regarded as one of the best…
Yutaka Enatsu (江夏 豊, Enatsu Yutaka; born May 15, 1948) is a Japanese former pitcher regarded as one of the best Japanese strikeout pitchers of all-time. In 1968, he recorded 401 strikeouts, which is still the world record. Enatsu was a big player in the Black Mist Scandal which embroiled Japanese baseball from 1969 to 1971. In November 1970 he received a stern warning from the Central League president due to "involvement with persons in baseball gambling." He recorded nine consecutive strikeouts in one of the 1971 All-Star games, and 15 consecutive strikeouts in three of the All-Star games between 1970 and 1971. His consecutive strikeouts were broken up by Katsuya Nomura. The two records are still unbroken. A starting pitcher for the first part of his career, in 1977 he became a relief specialist, altogether accumulating 193 saves. While playing with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 1979, Enatsu was the Central League MVP, as he compiled a 9–5 record with a 2.67 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 104-2/3 innings. That year the Carp won the Central League pennant and the Japan Series. In 1981, with the Nippon-Ham Fighters, Enatsu was the Pacific League MVP, garnering 25 saves and a 2.82 ERA, as the Fighters won the Pacific League pennant. He is one of just two players to win the MVP in both leagues of NPB and the only one to do so until Michihiro Ogasawara. Enatsu joined the Milwaukee Brewers for spring training in 1985 at age 36 in an attempt to play Major League Baseball. Enatsu finished spring training with a 4.91 ERA in 11 innings and was among the team's final cuts before the season. He ranks fifth all-time in NPB history for strikeouts with 2,987. He has the most strikeouts of any player not in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Hiromitsu Kadota (門田 博光, Kadota Hiromitsu; February 26, 1948 – January 23, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball…
Hiromitsu Kadota (門田 博光, Kadota Hiromitsu; February 26, 1948 – January 23, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball player for the Hawks franchise (known during his career as the Nankai Hawks and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks) and the Orix Braves. Celebrated for his slugging ability, he ate a lot and became a strong hitter, though was later weakened by diabetes mellitus. With 567 home runs, Kadota is number three on the NPB career list. Kadota won the Nippon Professional Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1980 with 41 home runs and 84 RBI. He hit 44 home runs at the age of 40 in 1988, also knocking in 125 runs and winning the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award. He became the first 40-year-old to win the award in NPB history and is still the oldest player to win MVP in NPB history. That year he was also given the Matsutaro Shoriki Award, for contribution to the development of professional baseball. After playing for the Orix Braves for two seasons, he returned to the Hawks in 1991; he retired after his last game against pitcher Hideo Nomo in 1992. Kadota was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Kadota died on January 23, 2023, after a police officer found him lying on the ground after having not showed up to an outpatient treatment in a hospital in Aioi, Hyogo and was confirmed dead on the scene.
Tsuneo Horiuchi (堀内 恒夫, Horiuchi Tsuneo; born January 16, 1948) is a former professional baseball player in Japan's…
Tsuneo Horiuchi (堀内 恒夫, Horiuchi Tsuneo; born January 16, 1948) is a former professional baseball player in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and a politician. A right-handed pitcher, in 2008 he was voted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Akihiko Ohya (大矢 明彦 Ōya Akihiko, born December 20, 1947) is a former Japanese baseball player and manager. He was the…
Akihiko Ohya (大矢 明彦 Ōya Akihiko, born December 20, 1947) is a former Japanese baseball player and manager. He was the manager of the Yokohama BayStars baseball team in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball until he was fired on May 18, 2009, for not maintaining club standards.
Yutaka Fukumoto (福本 豊, Fukumoto Yutaka; born November 7, 1947 in Osaka, Osaka) is a retired Japanese professional…
Yutaka Fukumoto (福本 豊, Fukumoto Yutaka; born November 7, 1947 in Osaka, Osaka) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player in Nippon Professional Baseball. An aggressive lead-off man and superior defensive centerfielder, he holds the Japanese career records in triples and stolen bases. He also hit more lead-off home runs than anyone in Japanese history, with 43. In 2002 (Heisei 14), Fukumoto was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Yasuo Minagawa (皆川 康夫, Minagawa Yasuo; November 3, 1947 – December 19, 2022) was a Japanese professional baseball…
Yasuo Minagawa (皆川 康夫, Minagawa Yasuo; November 3, 1947 – December 19, 2022) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Toei Flyers/Nittaku Home Flyers/Nippon Ham Fighters and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Taira Fujita (藤田 平, Fujita Taira; born October 19, 1947 in Wakayama, Wakayama, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…
Taira Fujita (藤田 平, Fujita Taira; born October 19, 1947 in Wakayama, Wakayama, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Keishi Suzuki (鈴木 啓示, Suzuki Keishi; born September 28, 1947) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in…
Keishi Suzuki (鈴木 啓示, Suzuki Keishi; born September 28, 1947) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes from 1966 to 1985. A member of both Meikyukai and the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, his 317 career victories ranks him fourth on the all-time NPB list.
Masaji Hiramatsu (平松 政次, Hiramatsu Masaji; born September 19, 1947) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher…
Masaji Hiramatsu (平松 政次, Hiramatsu Masaji; born September 19, 1947) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Taiyo Whales / Yokohama Taiyo Whales from 1967 to 1984. He won the Eiji Sawamura Award in 1970. In his career, he had 2,045 strikeouts (in 3,360.2 innings), which is currently 22nd among all NPB players in history. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.
Hiromu Matsuoka (松岡 弘, Matsuoka Hiromu; born July 26, 1947) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in…
Hiromu Matsuoka (松岡 弘, Matsuoka Hiromu; born July 26, 1947) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Sankei Atoms / Yakult Atoms / Yakult Swallows. He won the Eiji Sawamura Award in 1978.
Takenori Emoto (江本 孟紀, born July 22, 1947) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball.…
Takenori Emoto (江本 孟紀, born July 22, 1947) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Toei Flyers in 1971, the Nankai Hawks from 1972 to 1975, and the Hanshin Tigers from 1976 to 1981. Emoto was unusually non-confirmative for a player, once almost being released by the team for letting his hair grow over his ears. After complaining publicly about being shuttled between starting and relief in 1981, he was forced to retire by his team the Hanshin Tigers. Despite being only 34 years old, he was prevented from pitching professionally again. Emoto later went on to write a series of successful tell-all books about his experiences in professional baseball, drawing comparisons to pitcher-turned-author Jim Bouton. Turning to politics, in the late 1990s Emoto became a member of From Five, a political party that existed from December 1997 to January 1998. It was formed by former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa and four other legislators (Emoto, Yoriko Madoka, Shinji Tarutoko, and Kiyoshi Ueda) who left the New Frontier Party in June 1997. From Five merged into the Good Governance Party in January 1998, which became part of the Democratic Party of Japan in 1998. In 1998, Emoto, as a member of the DPJ, was elected to the Japanese House of Councillors.
Masaaki Kitaru (木樽 正明, Kitaru Masaaki) is a former Japanese professional baseball player.
Tsutomu Wakamatsu (若松 勉, Wakamatsu Tsutomu; born April 17, 1947) is a Japanese former baseball player, coach, and…
Tsutomu Wakamatsu (若松 勉, Wakamatsu Tsutomu; born April 17, 1947) is a Japanese former baseball player, coach, and manager for the Yakult Swallows in Nippon Professional Baseball. He batted left-handed, and threw right-handed. His number 1 is honoured by the Swallows.
Masashi Ozaki (尾崎 将司, Ozaki Masashi; 24 January 1947 – 23 December 2025) was a Japanese professional golfer. Ozaki is…
Masashi Ozaki (尾崎 将司, Ozaki Masashi; 24 January 1947 – 23 December 2025) was a Japanese professional golfer. Ozaki is often known as Jumbo Ozaki (ジャンボ尾崎 Janbo Ozaki) on account of his height and length off the tee. He featured in the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings for almost 200 weeks between 1989 and 1998. He is the most successful player of all time on the Japan Golf Tour, having led the money list a record 12 times and won 94 tournaments, over 40 more than the second highest player. Ozaki was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
Senichi Hoshino (星野 仙一, Hoshino Sen'ichi; January 22, 1947 – January 4, 2018) was a Japanese Nippon Professional…
Senichi Hoshino (星野 仙一, Hoshino Sen'ichi; January 22, 1947 – January 4, 2018) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player and manager. As a player, he shined as a highlight pitcher on varying levels of struggling seasons for the Chunichi Dragons. He won the Eiji Sawamura Award for his saves in 1974 as the team won their first Central League pennant in twenty years. He pitched his final season in 1982, the same year the Dragons went to the Japan Series. He became manager of the Dragons in 1987 and managed them to a Central League pennant in 1988 before departing the team in 1991. He returned in 1996 and managed for five years, leading them to the pennant again in 1999, where they lost again in the Japan Series. He resigned in 2001 and joined the Hanshin Tigers the following year. In 2003, he led the Hanshin Tigers to their first Central League pennant in eighteen years before retiring for health reasons at the close of the loss in the 2003 Japan Series. In 2007, he managed the Japanese national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In October 2010, Hoshino was hired as manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. He led the Eagles to a Pacific League pennant to become the second person to win league pennants with three teams. On his sixth trip to the Japan Series, he won the championship; he retired the following year and the Golden Eagles subsequently retired his number. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.
Sachio Kinugasa (衣笠 祥雄; January 18, 1947 – April 23, 2018) was a Japanese professional baseball third baseman for the…
Sachio Kinugasa (衣笠 祥雄; January 18, 1947 – April 23, 2018) was a Japanese professional baseball third baseman for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball league from 1965 to 1987. He was nicknamed Tetsujin, meaning "Iron Man". He played in a record-breaking 2,215 consecutive games, having surpassed Lou Gehrig's record by 1987. Kinugasa is mostly remembered for his consecutive-game streak, but he ranks seventh in Nippon Professional Baseball in career home runs (504), 5th in career hits (2543) and 10th in career RBIs (1448), showing that he was one of the most consistent hitters in Japanese baseball. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.
Hiroyuki Yamazaki (山崎 裕之, Yamazaki Hiroyuki; born December 22, 1946) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball…
Hiroyuki Yamazaki (山崎 裕之, Yamazaki Hiroyuki; born December 22, 1946) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball second baseman and shortstop. He played for the Tokyo/Lotte Orions from 1965 until 1978 and the Seibu Lions from 1979 until his retirement in 1984. Over his career, he won five Best Nine Awards and three Golden Glove Awards. He led the NPB in batting average twice and was an All-Star eleven times. With 2081 hits, he is a member of the Meikyukai and is ranked 37th in terms of NPB players by total career hits.
Michiyo Arito (有藤 通世, Aritō Michiyo; born December 17, 1946) is a Japanese former professional baseball third baseman…
Michiyo Arito (有藤 通世, Aritō Michiyo; born December 17, 1946) is a Japanese former professional baseball third baseman in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played his entire career for the Lotte Orions from 1969 to 1986. He was the Pacific League Rookie of the Year in 1969.
Kōji Yamamoto (山本 浩二, Yamamoto Kōji; born October 25, 1946) is a Japanese former baseball player and manager of the…
Kōji Yamamoto (山本 浩二, Yamamoto Kōji; born October 25, 1946) is a Japanese former baseball player and manager of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League. A four-time home run king having played for Hiroshima Carp throughout his career, Yamamoto contributed to the team winning five league championships including its first-ever in 1975, and three titles of Japan Series in 1979, 1980 and 1984. He recorded over 40 home runs for five years in a row from 1977. With 536 home runs, he is fourth on the NPB career list. He is known as the Mr. Red Helmet (ミスター赤ヘル, Misutā Akaheru), nicknamed after Hiroshima Carp's symbolic red colored helmet. Yamamoto managed Hiroshima Carp twice, between 1989 and 1993, and later between 2001 and 2005. He led the team to win Central League championship in 1991. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008, and is a member of the Meikyukai, or the "Golden Players Club."
Kōichi Tabuchi (田淵 幸一, Tabuchi Kōichi; born September 24, 1946) is a Japanese former professional baseball player…
Kōichi Tabuchi (田淵 幸一, Tabuchi Kōichi; born September 24, 1946) is a Japanese former professional baseball player, manager, and commentator. During his career, Tabuchi played for the Hanshin Tigers and the Seibu Lions. Tabuchi played catcher for the Hanshin Tigers from 1969 and 1978, where his combination with pitcher Yutaka Enatsu was called the "Golden Battery". Always a long-range hitter, Tabuchi was nicknamed home run artist because of the high-in-the-sky, long trajectory of his home runs. Although his career total of 474 home runs is far below Sadaharu Oh's 868, his frequency nearly matched Oh's. Tabuchi hit a home run once every 12.41 at-bats, while Oh did once every 10.66. In this statistic he is second only to Oh among sluggers who have logged 300 or more home runs. Known as Mr. Tiger (along with Fumio Fujimura, Minoru Murayama, and Masayuki Kakefu), Tabuchi has served as the chairman of Hanshin Tigers Old Boys' Committee since November 2009.
Masaaki Ikenaga (池永 正明, Ikenaga Masaaki; August 18, 1946 – September 25, 2022) was a Japanese professional baseball…
Masaaki Ikenaga (池永 正明, Ikenaga Masaaki; August 18, 1946 – September 25, 2022) was a Japanese professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he played in Japan for the Nishitetsu Lions. Ikenaga was one of the top pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball before a scandal derailed his career at age 23. Before being implicated in the Black Mist Scandal, he made five consecutive All-Star teams at the beginning of his career, and was in the top 10 in ERA every season of his career.
Kazumi Takahashi (高橋一三, Takahashi Kazumi; June 9, 1946 – July 14, 2015) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He played and…
Kazumi Takahashi (高橋一三, Takahashi Kazumi; June 9, 1946 – July 14, 2015) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He played and coached for the Yomiuri Giants and the Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He died of multiple organ failure in 2015 at the age of 69.
Yoshiro Sotokoba (外木場 義郎, Sotokoba Yoshiro; born June 1, 1945 in Izumi, Kagoshima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…
Yoshiro Sotokoba (外木場 義郎, Sotokoba Yoshiro; born June 1, 1945 in Izumi, Kagoshima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. Sotokoba threw a perfect game in 1968. He was also inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Katsuo Osugi (大杉 勝男, Ōsugi Katsuo; March 5, 1945 – April 30, 1992) was a Japanese professional baseball first baseman…
Katsuo Osugi (大杉 勝男, Ōsugi Katsuo; March 5, 1945 – April 30, 1992) was a Japanese professional baseball first baseman in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Toei Flyers / Nittaku Home Flyers / Nippon Ham Fighters from 1965 to 1974 and the Yakult Swallows from 1975 to 1983. He was the Japan Series MVP in 1978 on the strength of his four home runs with 10 RBIs and a .310 batting average as the Swallows won the Series in seven games for their first championship in franchise history. He was awarded the Best Nine Award five times. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. Osugi's 486 career home runs places him ninth on the all-time NPB list.
Yasuhiro Takai (高井 保弘, Takai Yasuhiro; 1 February 1945 – 13 December 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball first…
Yasuhiro Takai (高井 保弘, Takai Yasuhiro; 1 February 1945 – 13 December 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hankyu Braves. Takai was born on 1 February 1945 in Imabari, Ehime. He attended Ehime Prefectural Imabari West High School and played for the Nagoya Nissan Motor Company baseball team before signing with the Hankyu Braves in 1964. Takai was originally signed to the practice squad and made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut in 1966. Over the course of his career, Takai became known for his extensive research into opposing pitchers. He set the NPB record for pinch-hit home runs, with 27. After he retired in 1982, Takai served as a broadcaster. Takai died of kidney failure on 13 December 2019, at a hospital in Nishinomiya, aged 74.
Sōroku Yagisawa (八木沢 荘六, Yagisawa Sōroku; born December 1, 1944 in Nikkō, Tochigi, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…
Sōroku Yagisawa (八木沢 荘六, Yagisawa Sōroku; born December 1, 1944 in Nikkō, Tochigi, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played for the Tokyo Orions and Lotte Orions. He later managed the Chiba Lotte Marines.