Takao Kajimoto (梶本 隆夫; April 8, 1935—September 23, 2006) was a left-handed Japanese baseball pitcher for the Hankyu…Takao Kajimoto (梶本 隆夫; April 8, 1935—September 23, 2006) was a left-handed Japanese baseball pitcher for the Hankyu Braves from 1954 to 1973. He won 254 games and was a 12-time All-Star during his career. He is a member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and Meikyukai.
Yasumitsu Toyoda (豊田 泰光, Toyoda Yasumitsu; February 12, 1935 – August 14, 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball…Yasumitsu Toyoda (豊田 泰光, Toyoda Yasumitsu; February 12, 1935 – August 14, 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball player and coach, who played as a shortstop. He played and coached for the Nishitetsu Lions and the Swallows franchise of Nippon Professional Baseball. In 1972, he coached the Kintetsu Buffaloes.
Ritsuo Horimoto (堀本律雄, Horimoto Ritsuo; January 20, 1935 – January 14, 2012) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He played…Ritsuo Horimoto (堀本律雄, Horimoto Ritsuo; January 20, 1935 – January 14, 2012) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He played for the Yomiuri Giants from 1960 to 1962, winning both the Central League Rookie of the Year Award and the Eiji Sawamura Award in his first season. The Giants won the Japan Series the next year, and traded him for Toshio Yanagida at the end of the 1962 season. Horimoto closed his playing career with the Orions franchise, and coached the Yokohama Taiyo Whales in two stints from 1977 to 1978 and 1991 to 1992. He then joined the Nippon Ham Fighters coaching staff for two seasons, 1993 and 1994, followed by a return to coaching in 1997 with the Uni-President Lions, a Chinese Professional Baseball League team. Horimoto died of pneumonia in Yokohama on January 14, 2012, at the age of 76.
Kazuo Katsuramoto (born September 5, 1934) is a retired Japanese freestyle wrestler. In 1954 he won the −79 kg event at…Kazuo Katsuramoto (born September 5, 1934) is a retired Japanese freestyle wrestler. In 1954 he won the −79 kg event at the Asian Games and finished third at the world championships. He shared fifth place at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Masaaki Koyama (小山 正明, Koyama Masaaki; July 28, 1934 – April 18, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher in…Masaaki Koyama (小山 正明, Koyama Masaaki; July 28, 1934 – April 18, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Osaka / Hanshin Tigers from 1953 to 1963, the Tokyo / Lotte Orions from 1964 to 1972, and the Taiyo Whales in 1973. He is a member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. A right-handed pitcher, Koyama threw hard and was known for his effective slider and pinpoint control. He ranks third all-time in the NPB in wins (320), strikeouts (3,159), innings pitched (4,899), and shutouts (74). He won 20 or more games 7 separate times, was selected to eleven All-Star teams, and won the 1962 Eiji Sawamura Award.
Hideshi Miyake (三宅 秀史, Miyake Hideshi; April 5, 1934 – March 3, 2021) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball third…Hideshi Miyake (三宅 秀史, Miyake Hideshi; April 5, 1934 – March 3, 2021) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball third baseman and second baseman. He played for the Osaka/Hanshin Tigers from 1953 to 1967.
Noboru Akiyama (秋山 登, Akiyama Noboru; born February 3, 1934, died August 12, 2000) was a Japanese Nippon Professional…Noboru Akiyama (秋山 登, Akiyama Noboru; born February 3, 1934, died August 12, 2000) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher, originally from Okayama, Okayama. He played with the Taiyo Whales. He is a member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Kentarō Ogawa (January 12, 1934 – October 8, 1995) was a Japanese professional baseball player. A right-handed…Kentarō Ogawa (January 12, 1934 – October 8, 1995) was a Japanese professional baseball player. A right-handed submarine-style pitcher, he played in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons. Ogawa was one of the top pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball before a scandal derailed his career. During his prime years from 1965–1969, Ogawa won 93 games, including winning 20 games or more twice.
Chikara Hashimoto (橋本 力, Hashimoto Chikara; 20 October 1933 – 11 October 2017), also erroneously called Riki Hashimoto…Chikara Hashimoto (橋本 力, Hashimoto Chikara; 20 October 1933 – 11 October 2017), also erroneously called Riki Hashimoto (はしもと りき, Hashimoto Riki), was a Japanese professional baseball player and actor. Hashimoto played baseball for Mainichi Orions in the 1950s. He was forced to retire in 1958 following an injury, and then joined Daiei Studios. As an actor, he is known for his roles as Daimajin in the 1966 film trilogy and as Hiroshi Suzuki in the 1972 Bruce Lee film, Fist of Fury.
Masaichi Kaneda (金田 正一, Kaneda Masaichi; 1 August 1933 – 6 October 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher…Masaichi Kaneda (金田 正一, Kaneda Masaichi; 1 August 1933 – 6 October 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher of Zainichi Korean origin, one of the best-known pitchers in Japanese baseball history, and is the only Japanese pitcher to have won 400 games. He was inducted in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. Nicknamed "The Emperor" because he was the most dominant pitcher in Japan during his prime, Kaneda holds numerous Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) career records. He won 400 games despite being on an extremely weak team, the Kokutetsu Swallows, for most of his career. About 90% of his 400 career wins came with the Swallows. He left for the Yomiuri Giants in 1965. In five seasons with the team, he won the Japan Series each time before retiring in 1969. Kaneda batted and threw left-handed. After his playing career ended, he became a manager for the Lotte Orions, where he managed in two different stints that saw him win the Japan Series in 1974.
Yoshio Yoshida (吉田 義男, Yoshida Yoshio; July 26, 1933 – February 3, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball player…Yoshio Yoshida (吉田 義男, Yoshida Yoshio; July 26, 1933 – February 3, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball player and manager who spent his entire career with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). His number 23 was retired by the Tigers. He worked for the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation as a live radio and television baseball commentator. Yoshida died of a stroke on February 3, 2025, at the age of 91.
Kiyoshi Doi (土井 淳, Doi Kiyoshi) is a former baseball player from Japan. He played in the Central League for Taiyō…Kiyoshi Doi (土井 淳, Doi Kiyoshi) is a former baseball player from Japan. He played in the Central League for Taiyō Whales Doi played as a catcher. He coached the Whales in various stints and served as a manager for two seasons.
Yoshio Anabuki (穴吹 義雄, Anabuki Yoshio; May 6, 1933 – July 31, 2018) was a Japanese baseball player and former manager…Yoshio Anabuki (穴吹 義雄, Anabuki Yoshio; May 6, 1933 – July 31, 2018) was a Japanese baseball player and former manager of the Nankai Hawks. Anabuki died July 31, 2018.
Kazuhiro Yamauchi (山内 一弘, Yamauchi Kazuhiro; May 1, 1932 – February 2, 2009) was a Japanese baseball player and…Kazuhiro Yamauchi (山内 一弘, Yamauchi Kazuhiro; May 1, 1932 – February 2, 2009) was a Japanese baseball player and manager. He played for the Mainichi Orions, the Hanshin Tigers and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp over the span of an 18 season-long career (1952–1970). Yamauchi was the first Japanese professional baseball player to hit 300 home runs, achieving that feat on July 4, 1963. Some of his career stats include 7,702 at bats, 1,218 runs, 2,271 hits, 396 home runs, 1,286 runs batted in, 118 stolen bases, 1,061 walks, and a batting average of .292. After retiring as a player in 1970, he went on to become an NPB manager and coach for nearly 30 years. He was a founding member of the Meikyukai ("The Golden Players Club") in 1978, and was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Yamauchi died of liver failure in a Tokyo hospital on February 2, 2009. He was 76.
Tatsuro Hirooka (広岡 達朗, Hirooka Tatsurō born February 9, 1932) is a Japanese retired professional baseball player and…Tatsuro Hirooka (広岡 達朗, Hirooka Tatsurō born February 9, 1932) is a Japanese retired professional baseball player and manager. Hirooka played his entire career, from 1954 to 1966, for the Yomiuri Giants. He was awarded the Central League rookie of the year award in 1954. From 1961 to 1966, Hirooka was a player-coach for the Giants. As a manager for the Yakult Swallows (1976–1979) and then the Seibu Lions (1982–1985), Hirooka was known for his tough-love style. Nicknamed "The Iron Shogun", he thrice led his teams to the Japan Series championship — in 1978, 1982, and 1983. With his championships for Yakult and Seibu, he is the third and currently last manager to win the Japan Series with multiple teams. He won the Matsutaro Shoriki Award — presented to a person (a manager or player) who greatly contributes to the development of professional baseball — in 1978 and 1982. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.
Motoshi Fujita (藤田 元司, Fujita Motoshi; (August 7, 1931 – February 9, 2006) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher…Motoshi Fujita (藤田 元司, Fujita Motoshi; (August 7, 1931 – February 9, 2006) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher and manager. He spent his entire career with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, winning two Japan Series titles as a player and two more as manager.
Hiroshi Arakawa (荒川 博, Arakawa Hiroshi; August 6, 1930 – December 4, 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball player.…Hiroshi Arakawa (荒川 博, Arakawa Hiroshi; August 6, 1930 – December 4, 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball player. From 1953 to 1961, he played in the Pacific League as an outfielder for the Mainichi Orions (later renamed the Daimai Orions), batting .251 with 503 hits, 16 home runs and 172 RBIs. After retiring as a player, he was a batting coach for the Yomiuri Giants and, later, a manager of the Yakult Swallows in the early 1970s. Arakawa died on December 4, 2016, after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Kenjiro Tamiya (田宮 健次郎, Tamiya Kenjiro; February 11, 1928 – May 5, 2010) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…Kenjiro Tamiya (田宮 健次郎, Tamiya Kenjiro; February 11, 1928 – May 5, 2010) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player and manager. In his early years as a professional player, Tamiya was utilized as a pitcher and first baseman, but during the prime of his career, he transitioned to playing as an outfielder. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Junzo Sekine (関根 潤三, Sekine Junzō; March 15, 1927 – April 9, 2020) was a Japanese professional baseball player who…Junzo Sekine (関根 潤三, Sekine Junzō; March 15, 1927 – April 9, 2020) was a Japanese professional baseball player who played as two ways as a pitcher and outfielder. He spent the majority of this career with the Kintetsu Pearls/Kintetsu Buffalo/Kintetsu Buffaloes. As a rookie in 1950, Sekine attracted attention by batting 3rd, 4th, or 5th in the Kintetsu Pearls' lineup while pitching in the game. Sekine focused on pitching from 1950 to 1957, but spent the latter half of his career (1958 to 1965) as a position player. His best year as a pitcher was 1954, when he went 16–12 with a 2.44 earned run average and 118 strikeouts. His best years as a hitter were in 1962–1963, when he hit and .301 and .296 respectively, with a total of 21 home runs and 115 RBI. Sekine was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Sekine died on April 9, 2020, in Tokyo, at the age of 93.
Kazuo Kageyama (蔭山 和夫, Kageyama Kazuo; January 16, 1927 – November 17, 1965) was a Japanese professional baseball third…Kazuo Kageyama (蔭山 和夫, Kageyama Kazuo; January 16, 1927 – November 17, 1965) was a Japanese professional baseball third basemen and manager for the Nankai Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was named manager of the Hawks in November 1965, but died of a sleeping pill overdose later that month.
Rikuo Nemoto (根本 陸夫, Nemoto Rikuo; November 20, 1926 – April 30, 1999) was a Japanese professional baseball catcher and…Rikuo Nemoto (根本 陸夫, Nemoto Rikuo; November 20, 1926 – April 30, 1999) was a Japanese professional baseball catcher and manager in the Nippon Professional Baseball. For his management skills in the front office, he was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Sadao Kondoh (近藤 貞雄, Kondoh Sadao; October 2, 1925 – January 2, 2006) was a former professional baseball pitcher and…Sadao Kondoh (近藤 貞雄, Kondoh Sadao; October 2, 1925 – January 2, 2006) was a former professional baseball pitcher and manager in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Shigeru Sugishita (杉下 茂, Sugishita Shigeru; September 17, 1925 – June 12, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball…Shigeru Sugishita (杉下 茂, Sugishita Shigeru; September 17, 1925 – June 12, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher and coach. Renowned for his forkball, Sugishita dominated the Central League from 1950–1955, winning more than 30 games twice (winning at least 23 games each season), and garnering three Eiji Sawamura Awards. Sugishita usually split his time between starting games and pitching in relief. He played 11 seasons, ten of them for the Chunichi/Nagoya Dragons.
Noboru Aota (青田 昇, Aota Noboru; November 22, 1924 – November 4, 1997) was a Japanese professional baseball player. An…Noboru Aota (青田 昇, Aota Noboru; November 22, 1924 – November 4, 1997) was a Japanese professional baseball player. An outfielder, he played with the Tokyo Kyojin/Yomiuri Giants, Hankyu Braves, and Taiyo-Shochiku Robins from 1942 to 1959, playing in both the Japanese Baseball League and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). A five-time league home run champion, he was one of the first true sluggers of Japanese professional baseball despite being a frame of 5'7" and weight of just 171 lbs. Aota was selected as a Best Nine Award-winner five times and a NPB All-Star six separate times. In 2009, he was inducted to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Kazuhiro Kuroda (黒田 一博, September 13, 1924 – August 17, 2007) was a Japanese professional baseball centerfielder in…Kazuhiro Kuroda (黒田 一博, September 13, 1924 – August 17, 2007) was a Japanese professional baseball centerfielder in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Tokuji Iida (飯田 徳治, Iida Tokuji; April 6, 1924 – June 19, 2000) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball first…Tokuji Iida (飯田 徳治, Iida Tokuji; April 6, 1924 – June 19, 2000) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball first baseman. He both batted and threw right-handed. Iida spent most of his 16-year career with the Nankai Hawks, where he won 5 Best Nine Awards, 4 Pacific League pennants, and a Pacific League MVP Award in 1955. He spent the remainder of his career with the Kokutestu Swallows, with his final season in 1963. He played 1,246 consecutive games until finally taking a rest day on May 24, 1958.
Juzo Sanada (真田 重蔵, Sanada Jūzō; May 27, 1923 – May 30, 1994) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. From 1948 to…Juzo Sanada (真田 重蔵, Sanada Jūzō; May 27, 1923 – May 30, 1994) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. From 1948 to 1954 he went by the name of Shigeo Sanada.
Takashi Eda (江田 孝, Eda Takashi; March 18, 1923 – February 11, 1978) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. From…Takashi Eda (江田 孝, Eda Takashi; March 18, 1923 – February 11, 1978) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. From 1948 to 1955 he went by the name of Koichi Eda. He finished his career in 1957.
Takehiko Bessho (別所 毅彦, Bessho Takehiko; October 1, 1922 – June 24, 1999), born Akira Bessho (別所 昭, Bessho Akira), was…Takehiko Bessho (別所 毅彦, Bessho Takehiko; October 1, 1922 – June 24, 1999), born Akira Bessho (別所 昭, Bessho Akira), was a Japanese baseball player whose professional career as a player lasted from 1942 until 1960. Bessho first achieved fame as a pitcher in Japanese professional baseball; later, he served as a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) manager. Bessho spent his first five seasons in the Japanese Baseball League (the predecessor of NPB) with the Nankai franchise (1942–43, 1946–48) and his final 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants (1949–1960). He quickly established himself as a top pitcher and went on to earn two Sawamura Awards, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award, and six Best Nine Awards. In 1947, Bessho set the JBL record for most complete games in a single season (47). In addition, Bessho earned the NPB Most Valuable Player Award in 1952 and 1956. Bessho retired after the 1960 season with 310 wins, a 2.18 earned run average, and 1,932 strikeouts. Up until 2019, he was also the only Hawk to ever throw a no-hitter. After he retired from the sport as a player and a manager, Bessho became a sports broadcaster. In recognition of his accomplishments, the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Bessho in 1979.
Nobuo Oshima (大島 信雄, Ōshima Nobuo; October 2, 1921 – January 8, 2005) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for…Nobuo Oshima (大島 信雄, Ōshima Nobuo; October 2, 1921 – January 8, 2005) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for Shochiku Robins and the Chunchi Dragons. His professional career record was 64 wins and 41 losses. In 1940, he pitched shutouts in all 4 games at the Senbatsu Baseball Tournament, helping Gifu Prefectural Commercial High School win. He attended Keio University.
Seiichi Shima (嶋清一, Shima Seiichi; December 15, 1920 – March 29, 1945) was a baseball player who pitched for Kaisou…Seiichi Shima (嶋清一, Shima Seiichi; December 15, 1920 – March 29, 1945) was a baseball player who pitched for Kaisou Central High School and Meiji University of the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League. He never got to play professionally, as he was drafted into the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1945. He died during World War II, on March 29, 1945, off the coast of Indochina. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008. Shima represented Kaisou Central in the 1939 Japanese High School Baseball Championship, where he shut out all five of the opposing teams, only allowed five hits, struck out 57 batters, and pitched no-hitters in the semifinal and final rounds. Shima began to play for Meiji University in 1940.
Kaoru Betto (別当 薫, Bettō Kaoru; August 23, 1920 - April 16, 1999) was a Nippon Professional Baseball player and…Kaoru Betto (別当 薫, Bettō Kaoru; August 23, 1920 - April 16, 1999) was a Nippon Professional Baseball player and manager. He made his professional debut as a 28-year old for the Ōsaka Tigers in 1948. He played for the team for two seasons. Betto achieved his most noted success for the Mainichi Orions from 1950 to 1957. In his first season with the Orions, Betto won the first Pacific League MVP Award and helped lead the team to victory in the first Japan Series; he batted .500 and had twelve hits with 3 RBIs during the Series to win the very first Japan Series MVP Award. As an outfielder, Betto was named to the Best Nine six straight times from 1948 to 1953. After his playing days ended, he became a manager for four different teams, where he had a managerial record of 1,237–1,156. Betto was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.
Yukio Nishimoto (西本 幸雄, Nishimoto Yukio; 25 April 1920 – 25 November 2011) was a Japanese baseball player and manager.…Yukio Nishimoto (西本 幸雄, Nishimoto Yukio; 25 April 1920 – 25 November 2011) was a Japanese baseball player and manager. He played for the Mainichi Orions from 1950 to 1955. In nearly 500 games for the Orions, he batted .244 and was on the field for the Orions winning the 1950 Japan Series. As a manager he won eight Pacific League pennants for three different teams: Daimai Orions, Hankyu Braves, and the Kintetsu Buffaloes. Only one other person has won pennants for three different teams since Nishimoto. However, his clubs lost in the Japan Series each time, earning him the nickname "Great Tragic Leader". Nishimoto was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. He died of heart failure on 25 November 2011 at the age of 91.
Tetsuharu Kawakami (川上 哲治, Kawakami Tetsuharu; March 23, 1920 – October 28, 2013) was a Japanese baseball player and…Tetsuharu Kawakami (川上 哲治, Kawakami Tetsuharu; March 23, 1920 – October 28, 2013) was a Japanese baseball player and manager, known for his red bat, and his nickname dageki no kamisama (打撃の神様, "the God of Batting/Hitting"). He was a professional player for 18 years, winning the batting title five times, two home run crowns, three RBI titles, and had six titles for the most hits in a season. He was the MVP of the 1953 Japan Series. He was the first player in Japanese pro baseball to achieve 2,000 hits and was named the league's MVP three times. As manager of the Yomiuri Giants from 1961 to 1974, he led the Giants to eleven championships, with nine of them being in consecutive years; his teams never lost a Japan Series with him as a manager. He has the most Japan Series championships as a manager. Kawakami was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965.
Tsuguhiro Hattori (服部 受弘; February 23, 1920 – December 6, 1991) was a prominent Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…Tsuguhiro Hattori (服部 受弘; February 23, 1920 – December 6, 1991) was a prominent Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player who excelled as a pitcher and was the first Chunichi Dragons pitcher to reach 100 wins. He played with the Dragons franchise his entire career. His number 10 jersey is one of only two retired by the team.
Takeshi Nomura (野村 武史, Nomura Takeshi; born Kiyoshi Nomura, April 5, 1919 – January 29, 1985) was a Nippon Professional…Takeshi Nomura (野村 武史, Nomura Takeshi; born Kiyoshi Nomura, April 5, 1919 – January 29, 1985) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Jirō Noguchi (野口二郎, Noguchi Jirō) (January 6, 1920 – May 21, 2007) was a Japanese baseball pitcher and…Jirō Noguchi (野口二郎, Noguchi Jirō) (January 6, 1920 – May 21, 2007) was a Japanese baseball pitcher and outfielder/infielder who played 13 seasons in the Japanese Baseball League and then Nippon Professional Baseball, from 1939 to 1952. A two-way player who really excelled at pitching, Noguchi was a six-time 20-game winner, a three-time 30-game winner, and once won 40 games in a season. His 1.96 career earned run average is second all-time. As a batter, Noguchi had a 31-game hitting streak, a Japanese professional baseball record which stood for 25 years. He was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Noguchi was one of four brothers who played professional baseball in Japan.
Hideo Fujimoto (藤本 英雄, Fujimoto Hideo) (also known as Hideo Nakagami) (May 10, 1918 – April 26, 1997) was a Japanese…Hideo Fujimoto (藤本 英雄, Fujimoto Hideo) (also known as Hideo Nakagami) (May 10, 1918 – April 26, 1997) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He holds the Japanese records for lowest career ERA (1.90) and seasonal ERA (0.73), as well as best all-time winning percentage (.697). During his career, which spanned the one-league and two-league era, he played for the Tokyo Kyojin/Yomiuri Giants and the Chunichi Dragons. He was the player-manager of the Giants in 1944 and part of 1946 (the league cancelled all games in 1945 because of the Pacific War).
Yasuji Hondo (本堂 保次, Hondō Yasuji; March 18, 1918 - June 8, 1997) was a Nippon Professional Baseball second baseman and…Yasuji Hondo (本堂 保次, Hondō Yasuji; March 18, 1918 - June 8, 1997) was a Nippon Professional Baseball second baseman and manager. He received the Best Nine Award as a second baseman in 1950.
Chujiro Endo (遠藤 忠二郎, Endō Chūjirō; born September 20, 1917, date of death unknown) was a professional baseball player.…Chujiro Endo (遠藤 忠二郎, Endō Chūjirō; born September 20, 1917, date of death unknown) was a professional baseball player. He played pitcher, first base and outfield for the Dai Tokyo, Nagoya Baseball Club, and Tokyo Senators baseball teams from 1936 to 1939. He attended Waseda University. He died in combat during military service in World War II, place and date of death unknown.
Akira Noguchi (野口明, Noguchi Akira) (August 6, 1917 – October 5, 1996) was a Japanese baseball pitcher, infielder…Akira Noguchi (野口明, Noguchi Akira) (August 6, 1917 – October 5, 1996) was a Japanese baseball pitcher, infielder, catcher, and manager who played 15 total seasons in the Japanese Baseball League and then Nippon Professional Baseball, during the period 1936 to 1955. The rare two-way player, Noguchi was particularly unusual in that he excelled in the specialized positions of both pitcher and catcher. A four-time All-Star and a two-time Best Nine Award-winner, Noguchi was the eldest of four brothers who played professional baseball in Japan.
Yuko Minamimura (南村 侑広, Minamimura Yukō; born April 17, 1917 – April 17, 1990) was a Nippon Professional Baseball…Yuko Minamimura (南村 侑広, Minamimura Yukō; born April 17, 1917 – April 17, 1990) was a Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder. He became a professional baseball player at the age of 33, doing so for the Nishi Nippon Pirates. When the Pirates fizzled out after one season of play, he shuffled over to the Yomiuri Giants. From 1950 to 1953 he went by the name of Fukashi Minamimura. In the 1951 Japan Series, he batted .563 with nine hits that drove in four runs to lead the Yomiuri Giants to their first Japan Series championship. Minamimura was named Series MVP for his efforts. He became a bench player in 1956 and retired after the following season. He played in 774 games in NPB and batted .283. He became a coach and a baseball commentator in his post-playing career.
Eiji Sawamura (沢村 栄治, Sawamura Eiji; February 1, 1917 – December 2, 1944) was a Japanese professional baseball player.…Eiji Sawamura (沢村 栄治, Sawamura Eiji; February 1, 1917 – December 2, 1944) was a Japanese professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he played in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants. He is one of just two pitchers in Japanese baseball history to throw three no-hitters (the other being Yoshiro Sotokoba) and the only one to do so for thirty years. He is one of just six numbers to be retired by the Giants in their history.
Fumio Fujimura (藤村 富美男, Fujimura Fumio; August 14, 1916 – May 28, 1992) was a Japanese baseball infielder and pitcher…Fumio Fujimura (藤村 富美男, Fujimura Fumio; August 14, 1916 – May 28, 1992) was a Japanese baseball infielder and pitcher who played 22 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 1936 to 1958. He began his career as a stellar right-handed pitcher for the Osaka Tigers, but achieved his greatest fame as a hitter. A superstitious player, Fujimura never hurt insects or shaved before games. He was also hot-tempered, as he was once suspended for physically abusing an umpire. In 1950, Fujimura set the single-season record with 191 base hits. This record remained unbroken for 44 years, until Ichiro Suzuki surpassed it in 1994. Fujimura was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. His number "10" has been retired by the Hanshin Tigers.
Kazuto Tsuruoka (鶴岡 一人, Tsuruoka Kazuto; July 27, 1916 – March 7, 2000), also known as Kazuto Yamamoto, was a Japanese…Kazuto Tsuruoka (鶴岡 一人, Tsuruoka Kazuto; July 27, 1916 – March 7, 2000), also known as Kazuto Yamamoto, was a Japanese professional baseball infielder and manager in the Japan Baseball League (JBL) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Tsuruoka played for the same franchise in 1939, and from 1946 to 1952, which during his career changed names from the Nankai Club to Kinki Great Ring, and ultimately to the Nankai Hawks. Tsuruoka did not play professional baseball from 1940 to 1945 due to World War II. In 1939, he won the JBL home run title with 10. In 1946, he won the JBL Most Valuable Player Award, repeating the feat in 1948. His team won the JBL championship both those years. In 1949, he was named player-manager of the Hawks. His playing career ended after the 1952 season, but he stayed on as the team's manager through the 1968 season, guiding the team to Japan Series championships in 1959 and 1964. His managerial record overall was 1773–1140, for a winning percentage of .609. His teams finished .500 or better in 21 of 23 seasons as a manager. Tsuruoka was elected by the Selection Committee for the Players to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965.
Masaru Kageura (景浦 將, Kageura Masaru; July 20, 1915 – May 20, 1945) was a Japanese baseball player from Matsuyama…Masaru Kageura (景浦 將, Kageura Masaru; July 20, 1915 – May 20, 1945) was a Japanese baseball player from Matsuyama, Ehime. An accomplished two-way player, Kaguera is one of two players (Eiji Sawamura being the other) who was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame after being killed in World War II. Kageura's team reached the finals in the 1932 National High School Baseball Championship, but his team was defeated by Masao Yoshida in the championship game. After getting his degree at Rikkyo University, Kageura joined the Tigers of the nascent Japanese Baseball League (JBL) and he was a good rival for Eiji Sawamura of the Giants. Kageura won the 1936 JBL ERA title with a 0.79 mark. He did not play in the JBL from 1939 to 1942, returning to the Tigers for the 1943 season (although he did not pitch that season). Kageura was killed in the Battle of Luzon, in the Philippines, in World War II. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame by the Special Committee in 1965.
Toshio Kurosawa (黒沢 俊夫, Kurosawa Toshio; June 10, 1914 – June 23, 1947) was a Japanese baseball outfielder who played…Toshio Kurosawa (黒沢 俊夫, Kurosawa Toshio; June 10, 1914 – June 23, 1947) was a Japanese baseball outfielder who played eight seasons in the Japanese Baseball League from 1936 to 1947. His career was cut short due to typhoid fever, from which he died at age 33. Kurosawa's number 4 was retired by his last club, the Yomiuri Giants, the same year, and was among the first to be retired in all of Japanese baseball.
Masao Yoshida (吉田 正男, Yoshida Masao; April 14, 1914 – May 23, 1996) was a Japanese amateur pitcher originally from…Masao Yoshida (吉田 正男, Yoshida Masao; April 14, 1914 – May 23, 1996) was a Japanese amateur pitcher originally from Ichinomiya, Aichi. He had 23 wins at Spring and Summer Koshien. In the National High School Baseball Championship between 1931 and 1933, he won 14 consecutive games at Koshien Stadium and he became the only pitcher to win three consecutive championships.
Toshiaki Okamura (岡村 俊昭; 4 May 1912 – 25 January 1996), also known as Yeh Tien-sung (Chinese: 葉天送; Wade–Giles: Yeh4…Toshiaki Okamura (岡村 俊昭; 4 May 1912 – 25 January 1996), also known as Yeh Tien-sung (Chinese: 葉天送; Wade–Giles: Yeh4 Tien1-sung4), was a Taiwanese baseball outfielder who played for the Nankai Hawks of the Japanese Baseball League (JBL) from 1939 to 1949.