Hiroaki Inoue (Japanese:井上弘昭; May 5, 1944 – December 8, 2025) was a Japanese baseball player. In 1966, Inoue was…
Hiroaki Inoue (Japanese:井上弘昭; May 5, 1944 – December 8, 2025) was a Japanese baseball player. In 1966, Inoue was selected as a representative of Japan at the Amateur Baseball World Championship, contributing to Japan's championship and being selected as the best nine (outfielder) for working adults. During the 1967 draft, he was a first round pick for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. In 1973, in an exchange trade with Kazuto Kawabata, he transferred to the Chunichi Dragons. In 1981, in an exchange trade with Masaru Tomita and Hideaki Oshima, he transferred to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. After the end of the 1984 season, he retired from playing, and in 1985, he was appointed the defensive base running coach of the Seibu Lions. Due to the retirement of the right pinch hitter, he returned to playing (concurrently serving as a coach). However, he only played in 10 games, and after the end of the season, he left Seibu and officially retired, becoming the first professional baseball commentator on TV Aichi. Inoue was born May 5, 1944, in Osaka. He died on December 8, 2025, at the age of 81.
Famous Japanese People: Baseball
Baseball: 1,745 people
Masanori Murakami (村上 雅則, Murakami Masanori, born May 6, 1944), nicknamed "Mashi", is a Japanese former baseball…
Masanori Murakami (村上 雅則, Murakami Masanori, born May 6, 1944), nicknamed "Mashi", is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. He is notable for being the first Japanese player to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Sent over to the United States by the Nankai Hawks, Murakami saw success as a reliever for the San Francisco Giants, debuting at the age of 20 in 1964. In 1965, he struck out over one batter per inning pitched, posted an ERA under 4 and earned eight saves. Following this season, however, Murakami headed back to the Nankai Hawks due to contractual obligations, where his success continued for another 17 years.
Tokuji "Atsushi" Nagaike (長池 徳士, born February 21, 1944) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder in…
Tokuji "Atsushi" Nagaike (長池 徳士, born February 21, 1944) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played 14 seasons in NPB, all for the Hankyu Braves, from 1966 to 1979. A two-time Pacific League Most Valuable Player and seven-time Best Nine Award-winner, Nagaike was one of his era's best players in Japan's Pacific League. In 1967, Nagaike hit .281 with 27 home runs and 78 RBI and was given a Best Nine Award as an outfielder. In 1969, Nagaike hit .316 with 95 runs scored, 41 home runs, 101 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and a 1.005 OPS, to win the Pacific League MVP Award. That year he led the Pacific League in runs, home runs, and RBI, and won his second Best Nine Award. Nagaike won another Best Nine Award in 1970 with 28 home runs and 102 RBI to go along with a .309 batting average. In 1971 he hit .317 with 40 home runs and 114 RBI, to go with a 1.022 OPS, to win his second Pacific League MVP Award and third Best Nine Award. Nagaikie's 87 runs scored led the league. That year he also had a then-league record 32-game hitting streak. He surpassed 40 home runs and 1.000 OPS each of the following two seasons, with his .290 average, 41 home runs and 95 RBI in 1972 earning him another Best Nine Award. His 1973 stats of 43 home runs and 109 RBI, to go with a .313 average garnered Nagaike his sixth Best Nine Award. In 1975, the Pacific League instituted the designated hitter. Nagaike hit 25 home runs that season and became the very first player to win the Best Nine Award in the DH position. It was his seventh and final Best Nine Award. Late in his career, as he became a part-time player, Nagaike's Braves won three straight Japan Series championships, in 1975, 1976, and 1977. After retiring as a player, Nagaike stayed on as a coach in the NPB through the 1980s and 1990s. Despite his accomplishments, he has not made the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, falling short on the ballot as late as 2025.
Isao Shibata (柴田 勲, Shibata Isao) (born February 8, 1944) is a former professional baseball outfielder who played his…
Isao Shibata (柴田 勲, Shibata Isao) (born February 8, 1944) is a former professional baseball outfielder who played his entire career with the Yomiuri Giants from 1962 to 1981. A speedy switch-hitter, he won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award in 1966, after he hit .565 with 13 hits in the 1966 Japan Series. With 579 career stolen bases, Shibata is third on the all-time Nippon Professional Baseball list. With more than 2,000 career hits, Shibata is a member of Meikyukai, otherwise known as the Golden Players Club.
Makoto Matsubara (松原 誠, Matsubara Makoto; born January 13, 1944 in the Saitama Prefecture, Iruma, Japan) is a Japanese…
Makoto Matsubara (松原 誠, Matsubara Makoto; born January 13, 1944 in the Saitama Prefecture, Iruma, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball first baseman and third baseman in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Taiyo Whales / Yokohama Taiyo Whales from 1962 to 1980 and the Yomiuri Giants in 1981.
Masahiro Doi (土井 正博, Doi Masahiro) (born December 8, 1943) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder in…
Masahiro Doi (土井 正博, Doi Masahiro) (born December 8, 1943) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes from 1962 to 1974 and the Taiheiyo Club / Crown Lighter / Seibu Lions from 1975 to 1981. In a career that spanned 20 years, the slugger was selected to 15 All-Star games and was named to the Best Nine Award three times (1967, 1968, 1978). Over four decades after his retirement, Doi ranks 10th all-time in hits in Japanese baseball history with 2,452. He last served as the batting coach for the Chunichi Dragons.
Akira Ejiri (江尻 亮, Ejiri Akira; born January 10, 1943) is a former professional baseball player from Japan. Ejiri…
Akira Ejiri (江尻 亮, Ejiri Akira; born January 10, 1943) is a former professional baseball player from Japan. Ejiri played baseball for the Taiyo Whales. He eventually served as a manager for the Chiba Lotte Marines
Hideo Iijima (飯島 秀雄, Iijima Hideo; born January 1, 1944) is a retired Japanese sprint runner and professional baseball…
Hideo Iijima (飯島 秀雄, Iijima Hideo; born January 1, 1944) is a retired Japanese sprint runner and professional baseball player. He competed at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics in the 100 m and 4 × 100 m relay events, but was eliminated in semifinals on all occasions. At the 1968 Games he ran his personal best in all competitions (10.24–10.34 seconds depending on the wind). After the 1968 Olympics Iijima became a professional baseball player. He retired in 1971 and for one year worked as a baseball coach.
Takashi Teraoka (September 13, 1942 – February 4, 2011) was a Japanese baseball player and coach. He played and coached…
Takashi Teraoka (September 13, 1942 – February 4, 2011) was a Japanese baseball player and coach. He played and coached for the Nankai Hawks and Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball. He also coached in South Korea's KBO League, and Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League. Teraoka died in Okinawa Prefecture on February 4, 2011, at the age of 68.
Shozo Doi (土井 正三, Doi Shōzō; June 28, 1942 – September 25, 2009) was a former Japanese baseball player. He played for…
Shozo Doi (土井 正三, Doi Shōzō; June 28, 1942 – September 25, 2009) was a former Japanese baseball player. He played for the Yomiuri Giants in the Nippon Professional Baseball. He was highly hated during his time as manager of the Orix BlueWave from 1991 to 1993 because he replaced longtime manager Toshiharu Ueda, who led the team to their 3 Japan Series titles under Hankyu. He alienated star player Greg "Boomer" Wells, an 8-year NPB veteran and Triple Crown winner, eventually leading Wells to request a trade to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. From then on, the furious BlueWave fans would constantly taunt Doi when he took the field. Doi is also infamous for his refusal to play a young Ichiro Suzuki because of his unwillingness to accept Ichiro’s unorthodox swing. Doi was fired in 1993, and his successor, Akira Ōgi, immediately inserted Ichiro into the lineup every day, and he quickly blossomed into a superstar, leading to them winning the Pacific League pennant in 1995 and 1996, winning the Japan Series in the latter year.
Toshimitsu Suetsugu (末次 利光, Suetsugu Toshimitsu; born March 2, 1942) is a Japanese former professional baseball…
Toshimitsu Suetsugu (末次 利光, Suetsugu Toshimitsu; born March 2, 1942) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Yomiuri Giants from 1965 to 1977.
Kim Sung-keun (Korean: 김성근; Hanja: 金星根; born October 30, 1941, in Kyoto, Japan) is a retired South Korean left-handed…
Kim Sung-keun (Korean: 김성근; Hanja: 金星根; born October 30, 1941, in Kyoto, Japan) is a retired South Korean left-handed baseball pitcher and KBO League manager. Over the course of his managerial career, Kim managed seven different KBO League teams, and is only the second manager in the history of the league to record 1,000 victories. He is a four-time KBO Manager of the Year, and as manager of the SK Wyverns led the team to victory in the Korean Series three times. His nickname is the "Baseball God."
Morimichi Takagi (高木 守道, Takagi Morimichi; July 17, 1941 – January 17, 2020) was a Japanese baseball player known for…
Morimichi Takagi (高木 守道, Takagi Morimichi; July 17, 1941 – January 17, 2020) was a Japanese baseball player known for his long affiliation with the Chunichi Dragons. He played with the Dragons from 1960 to 1980, accumulating 2,274 hits and 236 home runs. A speedy second baseman, he was a seven-time Central League Best Nine Award-winner (the most for his position in NPB history), a three-time Central League Golden Glove Award-winner and led the Central League in stolen bases three times. He was an NPB All-Star four separate times. He finished with 369 career stolen bases. Takagi began as a player-coach for the Dragons in 1978, staying in that role through his retirement as a player in 1980. He stayed on as coach through 1986, returning to the team as manager from 1992 to 1995, and also from 2012 to 2013.
Isao Harimoto (張本 勲, Harimoto Isao; June 19, 1940 – September 9, 2026) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…
Isao Harimoto (張本 勲, Harimoto Isao; June 19, 1940 – September 9, 2026) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. Over his 23-season playing career in Nippon Professional Baseball, Harimoto played for the Toei Flyers/Nittaku Home Flyers/Nippon-Ham Fighters, the Yomiuri Giants and the Lotte Orions. He is the holder of the record for most hits in the Japanese professional leagues. An ethnic Korean, his birth name was Jang Hun (Korean: 장훈; Hanja: 張勳). Harimoto spent his life as a resident of Japan and adopted a Japanese name, but remained a Korean citizen, thus making him a Zainichi Korean for many years. An accident from youth forced Harimoto into becoming a left-hander, and when he became interested in baseball, he dedicated himself to adjust to playing the field and batting that resulted in him making the majors in 1959. As a rookie, he batted .275 in 125 games with 115 hits on his way to being named the Pacific League Rookie of the Year. His career furthered the following season, where he earned his first All-Star selection and Best Nine Award. In the entire decade of the 1960s, he was named among the Best Nine in every season. He won the batting title in 1961, batting .336 while collecting 159 hits and 24 home runs. He had the first of his four 30-HR seasons in 1962, which saw the Flyers win their first ever Pacific League pennant along him winning the league MVP Award. The Flyers won their first Japan Series that year in seven games for what ended up being Harimoto's first and only championship. Harimoto would continue to rack up All-Star selections and batting championships for the team, which included seven total batting championships from 1961 to 1974 before he was traded in 1975 to the Yomiuri Giants. He was named to the Best Nine two further times with the Giants, with his 16th and final one occurring in 1977 at the age of 37. He departed the team for the Lotte Orions in 1980 on the precipice of Japanese history. That season, he became the first player in Japanese baseball history with 3,000 career hits, doing so in May. He later hit his 500th career home run that year to become the first Japanese player with 500 home runs and 300 stolen bases. One of the most well-rounded hitters in NPB history, in 23 seasons of play, he had sixteen 20-HR seasons along with five seasons of at least 20 stolen bases while batting .300 in sixteen different seasons. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990 and during his post-playing career worked as a television baseball analyst.
Sadaharu Oh (Japanese: 王貞治, Ō Sadaharu; born May 20, 1940), also known as Wang Chen-chih (simplified Chinese: 王贞治…
Sadaharu Oh (Japanese: 王貞治, Ō Sadaharu; born May 20, 1940), also known as Wang Chen-chih (simplified Chinese: 王贞治; traditional Chinese: 王貞治; pinyin: Wáng Zhēnzhì), is a Chinese-Japanese former professional baseball player and manager who is currently the chairman of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Oh played for 22 consecutive seasons, all of them for the Yomiuri Giants. He holds the world career home run record at 868, over 100 more than MLB record holder Barry Bonds. Oh batted and threw left-handed and primarily played first base. Originally signed with the powerhouse Giants in 1959 as a pitcher, Oh was soon converted to a full-time hitter. Under the tutelage of coach Hiroshi Arakawa, Oh developed his distinctive "flamingo" leg kick. It took Oh three years to blossom, but he went on to dominate Nippon Professional Baseball. He was a 15-time home run champion and was named to the Central League All-Star team 18 times. More than just a power hitter, Oh was a five-time batting champion and won the Japanese Central League's batting triple crown twice. With Oh at first base, the Yomiuri Giants won 11 Japan Series championships, including 9 in a row from 1965 to 1973. Oh was named the Central League's Most Valuable Player nine times, including having the rare honor of winning Central League MVP while not on the team that won the season's pennant, which he did twice, in 1964 by virtue of breaking NPB's single season home run record with 55 home runs, a record that would stand until 2013 when Wladimir Balentien set a new record with 60 home runs that season, and 1974, when he earned his second batting Triple Crown in a row. Oh and Balentien are the only Central League players to win the Central League MVP while not on the pennant winning team the years that they won MVP. In addition to the world career home run record, Oh set many other NPB batting records, including runs batted in (RBI) (2,170), slugging percentage (.634), bases on balls (2,390), and on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) (1.080). In 1977, Oh became the first recipient of the People's Honour Award, and he became the second baseball player to receive the Order of Culture in 2025. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. After retiring as a player, Oh served as the Giants' manager from 1984 to 1988. He also managed the Fukuoka Daiei/Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks from 1995 to 2008. He was the manager of the Japanese national team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, which defeated Cuba for the championship. He is currently the chairman of the Hawks.
Eiji Bandō (板東 英二, Bandō Eiji; April 5, 1940 – July 22, 2026) was a Japanese television entertainer, baseball player…
Eiji Bandō (板東 英二, Bandō Eiji; April 5, 1940 – July 22, 2026) was a Japanese television entertainer, baseball player and YouTuber. He pitched many innings in his high school career. The Japan High School Baseball Federation was afraid that he would injure his arm, so they set a new rematch rule in 1958. However, he pitched 18 innings in a 1958 quarterfinal game, which resulted in the first rematch in the National High School Baseball Championship. He reached the final, but did not win. His record of 83 strikeouts in the tournament remains unbroken. He joined Chunichi Dragons but it is said that he did not regain his pitching strength. He could not extend his elbow even then. Bandō died from chronic heart failure on July 22, 2026, at the age of 86.
Mitsuhiro Adachi (足立 光宏, Adachi Mitsuhiro; born 10 March 1940) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. Mitsuhiro played…
Mitsuhiro Adachi (足立 光宏, Adachi Mitsuhiro; born 10 March 1940) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. Mitsuhiro played with the Hankyu Braves from 1959 to 1979. As one of the most relied upon pitchers for the Braves for two decades, Adachi was a part of nine Japan Series rosters for the Braves. He won the Pacific League MVP Award in 1967, going 20-10 with a 1.97 ERA as the Braves won their first ever Pacific League pennant. Unfortunately, the Braves ran head-on with the Yomiuri Giants, who were in the midst of established the most famed dynasty in NPB history. The Braves would run into the Giants five times from 1967 to 1972 in the Japan Series and lost each time. Adachi was named the Fighting Spirit Award winner (awarded to the best player on the losing team) twice in that span. The Braves returned to the Japan Series for a sixth time in 1975 and finally broke through. He had a no-decision in three of his starts, but the Braves didn't lose any games in the series, winning four and tying twice to prevail over Hiroshima in six games for their first championship. He won two of his starts the following Japan Series and then got a small bit of revenge against the Giants when the Braves defeated them in the 1977 Japan Series for Adachi's third and final championship. In his penultimate season in 1978, the Braves made it back to the Series one more time and lost in seven games, with Adachi (who went 1-1) winning the Fighting Spirit Award once again. No player has won the Fighting Spirit Award more than him. After his career ended, he served as a minor league pitching coach for the Braves and a scout for the Orix BlueWave.
Hidehiko Koga (born September 15, 1939) is a former professional baseball player. He played in Nippon Professional…
Hidehiko Koga (born September 15, 1939) is a former professional baseball player. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball and in the American minor leagues, while later becoming a minor league manager in the United States and a front office worker and coach in Japan.
Motoo Andoh (安藤 統男, Andō Motoo) (born April 8, 1939) is a Japanese former baseball player. He played for the Hanshin…
Motoo Andoh (安藤 統男, Andō Motoo) (born April 8, 1939) is a Japanese former baseball player. He played for the Hanshin Tigers from 1962 to 1973 and served as their manager from 1982 to 1984.
Minoru Kamata (鎌田実, Kamata Minoru; 8 March 1939 – 1 August 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball second baseman.…
Minoru Kamata (鎌田実, Kamata Minoru; 8 March 1939 – 1 August 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball second baseman. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Osaka/Hanshin Tigers (1957–1966; 1970–1972) and Kintetsu Buffaloes (1967–1969). Kamata was known for defense, and was particularly adept at jump throws and backhand tosses, the latter of which was rare in Nippon Professional Baseball. In retirement, Kamata became a youth baseball coach, benefactor, and baseball commentator. Kamata was diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2019, hospitalized for treatment in July, and died of the disease in an Ashiya, Hyōgo hospital on 1 August 2019.
Hiroshi Gondoh (権藤 博, Gondō Hiroshi; born December 2, 1938) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher…
Hiroshi Gondoh (権藤 博, Gondō Hiroshi; born December 2, 1938) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher and manager. He played his entire career with the Chunichi Dragons. In his rookie season, he collected numerous accolades, including the Central League Rookie of the Year Award and the Eiji Sawamura Award. In 1998, Gondoh became the manager of the Yokohama BayStars and led them to a Japan Series title in his first year. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Takeo Daigo (醍醐 猛夫, Daigo Takeo; 15 November 1938 – 11 December 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball catcher. He…
Takeo Daigo (醍醐 猛夫, Daigo Takeo; 15 November 1938 – 11 December 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball catcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Orions franchise. Daigo was born in Kita, Tokyo, on 15 November 1938. As a high school baseball player, he participated in the Kōshien tournaments alongside batterymate Sadaharu Oh in 1956. When Daigo made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut in 1957, his team was called the Mainichi Orions. Upon his retirement as a player in 1975, the team had become known as the Lotte Orions. Daigo was a career .234/.275/.324 hitter, and not known for power. After he retired as a player, Daigo became a coach for the Orions/Marines. He died in Tokyo of acute myeloid leukemia on 11 December 2019, aged 81.
Akihito Kondo (近藤 昭仁, Kondo Akihito; 1 April 1938 – 27 March 2019) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.…
Akihito Kondo (近藤 昭仁, Kondo Akihito; 1 April 1938 – 27 March 2019) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played for the Taiyō Whales from 1960 to 1973. Kondo was named the Japan Series Most Valuable Player in 1960. He later managed the Yokohama BayStars from 1993 to 1995 and the Chiba Lotte Marines in 1997 and 1998. He died on 27 March 2019, at age 80.
Tetsuya Yoneda (Japanese: 米田 哲也, born March 3, 1938) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who spent most…
Tetsuya Yoneda (Japanese: 米田 哲也, born March 3, 1938) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who spent most of his career with the Hankyu Braves in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He was so tough that he was known as Gasoline Tank and also Human Tank. Yoneda was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.
Masayuki Tanemo (種茂 雅之, Tanemo Masayuki; born February 13, 1938) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…
Masayuki Tanemo (種茂 雅之, Tanemo Masayuki; born February 13, 1938) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball catcher. He played for the Toei Flyers from 1961 to 1971 and the Hankyu Braves from 1972 to 1974. He and teammate Masayuki Dobashi split the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award in 1962.
Shohei Baba (馬場 正平, Baba Shōhei; January 23, 1938 – January 31, 1999), best known by his ring name Giant Baba…
Shohei Baba (馬場 正平, Baba Shōhei; January 23, 1938 – January 31, 1999), best known by his ring name Giant Baba (ジャイアント馬場, Jaianto Baba), was a Japanese professional wrestler, promoter, and professional baseball player. He is best known as a co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), a promotion he founded in 1972 along with Mitsuo Momota and Yoshihiro Momota, the sons of his mentor Rikidōzan. For the first 10 years of its existence, Baba was the top star of All Japan, while also serving as the booker, promoter, head trainer and president of the promotion from its inception in 1972 till his death in 1999. Baba was also responsible for recruiting much of the talent for All Japan, and was the public face of the promotion for much of his lifetime. Considered one of the most beloved Japanese wrestlers ever, Baba was a national hero with a level of popularity in Japan comparable to that of Hulk Hogan in the United States. The 2006 Top 100 Historical Persons in Japan survey ranked Baba the 93rd greatest person in the history of Japan, as voted for by the general public. Among his many accomplishments, Baba was a record seven-time winner of the Champion Carnival, a four-time PWF World Heavyweight Champion, three time NWA International Heavyweight Champion and a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
Kazuhiko Sakazaki (坂崎一彦, Sakazaki Kazuhiko; January 5, 1938 – January 28, 2014) was a Japanese baseball player who…
Kazuhiko Sakazaki (坂崎一彦, Sakazaki Kazuhiko; January 5, 1938 – January 28, 2014) was a Japanese baseball player who played as an outfielder. Born in Toyonaka, Osaka, he played for the Yomiuri Giants (1956–1964) and the Toei Flyers (1965–1967). After he retired from baseball, he took over the electric construction family business, and was also a member of the "Japan Baseball Promotion Association". He died on January 28, 2014, from stomach cancer.
Shinichi Eto (江藤 愼一, Shinichi Eto; October 6, 1937 – February 28, 2008) was a Japanese professional baseball outfielder…
Shinichi Eto (江藤 愼一, Shinichi Eto; October 6, 1937 – February 28, 2008) was a Japanese professional baseball outfielder and first baseman in Nippon Professional Baseball. Eto played for the Chunichi Dragons from 1959 to 1969, where he was the Central League batting champion in 1964 and 1965 (hitting .323 and .336 respectively). In addition, he was a Best Nine Award-winner as an outfielder five times: 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1968. Eto moved to the Lotte Orions from 1970 to 1971 and the Taiyo Whales from 1972 to 1974. He was the player-manager of the Taiheiyo Club Lions in 1975. He returned to the Lotte Orions for his final season in 1976. Eto died in 2008 of liver cancer at the age of 70. He was posthumously inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Junro Anan (阿南 準郎, Anan Junrō; September 2, 1937 – July 30, 2024) was a Japanese professional baseball player who…
Junro Anan (阿南 準郎, Anan Junrō; September 2, 1937 – July 30, 2024) was a Japanese professional baseball player who played for the Hiroshima Carp from 1956 to 1967. From 1968 to 1970 he played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. He later served as a manager for Hiroshima. He played in the Japan Central League and the Japan Pacific League. Anan was born on September 2, 1937. He died on July 30, 2024, at the age of 86. His former team, Hiroshima, wore badges of mourning and displayed flags at half-mast during the game following his death.
Katsumi Fujimoto (藤本 勝巳, Fujimoto Katsumi; born August 8, 1937) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball first…
Katsumi Fujimoto (藤本 勝巳, Fujimoto Katsumi; born August 8, 1937) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He played for the Osaka/Hanshin Tigers from 1956 to 1967.
Kazuhisa Inao (稲尾 和久, Inao Kazuhisa; June 10, 1937 – November 13, 2007) was a Japanese pitcher and manager in Nippon…
Kazuhisa Inao (稲尾 和久, Inao Kazuhisa; June 10, 1937 – November 13, 2007) was a Japanese pitcher and manager in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played all of his professional seasons for the Nishitetsu Lions. In the 1956 Japan Series, he won all three of his starts to deliver the Lions their first championship. He was given the Fighting Spirit Award, becoming the first (and so far only) player to be given the award for the winning team. In 1957, he won 20 consecutive games and both of his Japan Series starts in another championship run. In the 1958 Japan Series, tasked to save his team from a 3–0 series deficit, he started four consecutive games and won all of them to become the first NPB team to overcome a 3–0 series deficit, and Inao even hit a home in the Game 5 victory as the Lions won their third straight title; he was named Series MVP for his efforts (he was the second player to have won Japan Series MVP and Fighting Spirit Award for a career). He was the Pacific League's Most Valuable Player in 1957 and 1958. He had 42 wins in 1961. Fans called his great success "God, Buddha, Inao". In 1964, he injured his shoulder but came back to full-time pitching, mainly in relief the next season. He retired as a player in 1969, and went on to manage the Nishitetsu Lions from 1970 to 1974. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993. His number 24 was retired by the Saitama Seibu Lions on April 30, 2012.
Yutaka Sudō (須藤 豊, Sudō Yutaka; born April 21, 1937, in Aki, Kōchi, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional…
Yutaka Sudō (須藤 豊, Sudō Yutaka; born April 21, 1937, in Aki, Kōchi, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder. He played for the Mainichi Orions, Daimai Orions and Yomiuri Giants. He later managed the Yokohama Taiyō Whales from 1990 to 1992.
Hiromi Wada (和田 博実, Wada Hiromi; March 26, 1937 – June 22, 2009) was a Japanese professional baseball catcher. He spent…
Hiromi Wada (和田 博実, Wada Hiromi; March 26, 1937 – June 22, 2009) was a Japanese professional baseball catcher. He spent most of his career with the Nishitetsu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball, and died of pancreatic cancer in Fukuoka in 2009.
Toshiharu Ueda (上田 利治, Ueda Toshiharu; January 18, 1937 – July 1, 2017) was a professional Japanese baseball player…
Toshiharu Ueda (上田 利治, Ueda Toshiharu; January 18, 1937 – July 1, 2017) was a professional Japanese baseball player, coach, and manager. In 20 seasons as a manager, he won 1,322 games and led the Hankyu Braves to three Japan Series titles (which included their first championship in 1975) to go along with five Pacific League pennants. He is one of six managers to win the Japan Series three times in NPB history. He was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Masaaki Mori (森 祇晶, Mori Masaaki; born January 9, 1937) is a retired professional Japanese baseball player and manager.…
Masaaki Mori (森 祇晶, Mori Masaaki; born January 9, 1937) is a retired professional Japanese baseball player and manager. Mori played Nippon Professional Baseball from 1955–1974 as the catcher of the Yomiuri Giants. He was an eight-time Best Nine Award-winner (1961–1968) and the Japan Series MVP in 1967. He was selected to eleven Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Games. He was nicknamed "the brains of the V9 Dynasty", as he was the main catcher of the Yomiuri Giants V9 Dynasty. When his career ended in 1974, he asked newly-minted Giants manager Shigeo Nagashima for a job and was refused. After his retirement as a player, Mori managed the Seibu Lions from 1986 to 1994, leading the team to six Japan Series championships of the Invincible Seibu dynasty. He won the Matsutaro Shoriki Award in 1986 and 1990. He announced his impeding retirement from the Lions at the close of the 1994 Japan Series, although it was later speculated that management expressed it was time for a change. Mori managed the Yokohama BayStars in 2001 to 2002. Mori participated in 27 of the 73 Japan Series contested, as a player, coach, and manager, as of 2023, with him winning 21 of the 27, making him the most decorated individual in NPB history.
Kihachi Enomoto (榎本 喜八 Enomoto Kihachi, December 5, 1936 – March 14, 2012) was a Japanese former Nippon Professional…
Kihachi Enomoto (榎本 喜八 Enomoto Kihachi, December 5, 1936 – March 14, 2012) was a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball first baseman. He batted and threw left-handed. Enomoto was a 12-time All-Star, a 9-time Best Nine Award winner, and a Rookie of the Year winner, he was awarded all of these while under the Mainichi/Daimai/Tokyo/Lotte Orions. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Yoshinori Hirose (広瀬 叔功, Hirose Yoshinori; August 27, 1936 – November 2, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball…
Yoshinori Hirose (広瀬 叔功, Hirose Yoshinori; August 27, 1936 – November 2, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball outfielder in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. In 1999, he was voted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He ranks second all-time in the NPB for stolen bases, with 596. He was also a member of the Meikyukai. Hirose died on November 2, 2025, at the age of 89.
Toshio Yanagida (柳田利夫, Yanagida Toshio; born August 18, 1936) is a retired Japanese baseball player. He debuted with…
Toshio Yanagida (柳田利夫, Yanagida Toshio; born August 18, 1936) is a retired Japanese baseball player. He debuted with the Daimai Orions in 1958, playing for the team until he was traded to the Yomiuri Giants at the end of the 1962 season. The Giants traded Yanagida to the Nankai Hawks in the middle of the 1967 season, where he played until retiring in 1970. Yanagida appeared in several Japan Series.
Toshio Naka (中 利夫, Naka Toshio; 28 April 1936 – 10 October 2023) was a Japanese baseball outfielder and manager. Naka…
Toshio Naka (中 利夫, Naka Toshio; 28 April 1936 – 10 October 2023) was a Japanese baseball outfielder and manager. Naka played with the Chunichi Dragons from 1955 to 1972, and later managed the team from 1978 to 1980. He led the Central League with a .343 batting average in 1967.
Shigeo Nagashima (長嶋 茂雄 or 長島 茂雄, Nagashima Shigeo; February 20, 1936 – June 3, 2025) was a Japanese professional…
Shigeo Nagashima (長嶋 茂雄 or 長島 茂雄, Nagashima Shigeo; February 20, 1936 – June 3, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball player and manager. Nagashima first began playing baseball in elementary school, before playing at his high school in Chiba Prefecture, part of Kanto Region, just before he played as a third baseman for Rikkyo University. After winning the batting title for two straight years in Tokyo Big6 Baseball League, Nagashima made his professional debut in 1958 with the Yomiuri Giants. In his rookie season, he led the Central League in home runs and runs batted in, with 29 and 92 respectively and ultimately received Rookie of the Year honors. With the arrival of Sadaharu Oh in 1959, the two would both become a dual force in being the best hitters in the game that earned the nickname "O-N Cannon" for one of the most dominant dynasties in NPB history, and Nagashima won league MVP five times while being named to the Best Nine Award in every season he played; his four Japan Series MVP award wins is still the most in NPB history. After retiring in 1974, he became as a manager of the Giants from 1975 to 1980, and again from 1993 to 2001; during this time, he won the Japan Series twice. His nicknames includes "Mr. Pro Baseball", "Mr. Giants", and "Hot Man" of Japan. Nagashima is regarded as a beloved national figure of postwar Japan, on par with Hibari Misora and Yujiro Ishihara.
Masayuki Dobashi (土橋 正幸, 5 December 1935 – 24 August 2013) was a baseball player and manager in Japan. As a pitcher he…
Masayuki Dobashi (土橋 正幸, 5 December 1935 – 24 August 2013) was a baseball player and manager in Japan. As a pitcher he won over 162 games. He played in the Pacific League for the Toei Flyers. He died from ALS.
Tōru Mori (森 徹, Mori Tōru; 3 November 1935 – 6 February 2014) was a Japanese professional baseball player. Born in…
Tōru Mori (森 徹, Mori Tōru; 3 November 1935 – 6 February 2014) was a Japanese professional baseball player. Born in Manchuria, he was brought up in Hakodate, Hokkaido, later moving to Tokyo. He initially trained as a judoka, but eventually left it to become a baseball player. He started his baseball career playing for the Waseda University team, before turning professional by joining the Chunichi Dragons.
Tadayuki Inoue (井上 忠行, Inoue Tadayuki; October 25, 1935 – December 15, 2007) was a Japanese baseball player who played…
Tadayuki Inoue (井上 忠行, Inoue Tadayuki; October 25, 1935 – December 15, 2007) was a Japanese baseball player who played for the Nishitetsu Lions from 1957 to 1964. His career on-base plus slugging was .506, with a high of .586 for 1962 and a low of .299 for 1957. After retiring, he became a professional baseball umpire.
Hiromu Fujii (Japanese: 藤井 弘; 29 September 1935 – 9 November 2018) was a baseball player from Japan. He was a…
Hiromu Fujii (Japanese: 藤井 弘; 29 September 1935 – 9 November 2018) was a baseball player from Japan. He was a three-time All-Star for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Tadashi Sugiura (杉浦 忠, Sugiura Tadashi; September 17, 1935 – November 11, 2001) was a Japanese Nippon Professional…
Tadashi Sugiura (杉浦 忠, Sugiura Tadashi; September 17, 1935 – November 11, 2001) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player with the Nankai Hawks. He debuted in the 1958 and went on to join the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame for his skills as a pitcher. He won the Japanese Triple Crown in (1959)
Nobuo Yana (Japanese: 八名信夫, Hepburn: Yana Nobuo; born 19 August 1935) is a Japanese film actor. He is most famous for…
Nobuo Yana (Japanese: 八名信夫, Hepburn: Yana Nobuo; born 19 August 1935) is a Japanese film actor. He is most famous for playing villains. Before he started his acting career, he was a professional baseball player of Toei Flyer's. In 1956, he joined Toei Flyer's but in 1958, he retired because of an injury. He joined Toei film company and made his film debut in 1959. He debuted as a director with his film Dagashiya Koharu in 2018.
Mutsuo Minagawa (皆川 睦夫, July 3, 1935 – February 6, 2005) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. Listed at 5' 10"…
Mutsuo Minagawa (皆川 睦夫, July 3, 1935 – February 6, 2005) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. Listed at 5' 10" [1.82 m], 162 lb. [73 k.], Minagawa batted and threw right handed. He was born in Yonezawa, Yamagata. A tough three quarters, side arm pitcher, Minagawa spent 18 seasons in the Pacific Coast League during three different decades spanning 1954–1971, all of them with the Nankai Hawks, which is currently known as the Softbank Hawks. By using a wide array of breaking pitches, his command of sliders and screwballs secured him double-digit victories during 11 seasons, including eight consecutive years from 1956 through 1963. A six-time All-Star, Minagawa also received Best Nine Award honors and was a member of Hawks teams that won six pennant titles and two Japan Series championships. Overall, he posted a career 221-139 record highlighted by a 31-win season in 1968. Since then there has been no other pitchers in the Nippon Professional Baseball who won 30 or more games in a regular season.
Katsuya Nomura (野村 克也, Nomura Katsuya; June 29, 1935 – February 11, 2020) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…
Katsuya Nomura (野村 克也, Nomura Katsuya; June 29, 1935 – February 11, 2020) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) catcher and manager. During his over 26-season playing career mostly spent with the Nankai Hawks (now the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks), he became one of NPB's greatest offensive catchers. He was awarded the Pacific League MVP Award five times, became the first NPB batter to win the Triple Crown in 1965, and holds the record for second-most home runs and RBIs in NPB history. Nomura was a player-manager for the last eight years he was with the Hawks, leading them to the Pacific League title in 1973. After playing, he became a full-time manager and led the Yakult Swallows to four league titles and three Japan Series championships from 1990 to 1998. Later, he managed the Hanshin Tigers for three seasons and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles for four seasons until his retirement in 2009. As a manager, Nomura recorded 1,565 wins, the fifth-most wins of any manager in NPB history. He was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.
Toshiharu Ai (阿井利治, Ai Toshiharu; born June 6, 1935 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon…
Toshiharu Ai (阿井利治, Ai Toshiharu; born June 6, 1935 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball catcher. He played for the Kokutetsu Swallows from 1954 to 1960.
Akira Ohgi (仰木 彬, Ohgi Akira; April 29, 1935 – December 15, 2005) was a professional Japanese baseball player, coach…
Akira Ohgi (仰木 彬, Ohgi Akira; April 29, 1935 – December 15, 2005) was a professional Japanese baseball player, coach, and manager. He played second base for the Nishitetsu Lions from 1954 to 1968. He became a coach in 1968 for the Lions before being hired to coach the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1970. He was promoted to manager in 1988 and managed five seasons before initially retiring. He then managed the Orix BlueWave from 1994 to 2001 before being brought back to manage the now Orix Buffaloes in 2005. Less than two months after the season ended, Ohgi died.