Summary
Masahiro 'Masa' Yamamoto (山本昌, born August 11, 1965, in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a left-handed, retired Japanese professional baseball pitcher. A screwballer, Yamamoto pitched for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball for 29 years from 1986 to 2015. He is the oldest Japanese pitcher to win a baseball game.[1] With 200+ career victories, he is a member of Meikyukai.
| Masa Yamamoto | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: August 11, 1965 Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| NPB debut | |
| October 16, 1986, for the Chunichi Dragons | |
| Last NPB appearance | |
| October 7, 2015, for the Chunichi Dragons | |
| NPB statistics (through 2015) | |
| Win–loss | 219–165 |
| Earned run average | 3.45 |
| Shutouts | 30 |
| Innings pitched | 3,348.2 |
| Strikeouts | 2,310 |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the Japanese | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2022 |
| Vote | 85.0%（307/361） |
Biography edit
Yamamoto attended Nichidai Fujisawa High School, and was selected at age 18 by Chunichi.[2]
Yamamoto was the Central League Earned Run Average Champion in 1993, posting a 2.05 ERA. He won the 1994 Eiji Sawamura Award, going 19–8 with 3.49 ERA and 14 complete games.
On September 16, 2006, Yamamoto threw a no-hitter against the Hanshin Tigers, becoming the oldest pitcher in NPB to throw a no-hit game.
On September 5, 2014, Yamamoto won his first and only start of the season at Nagoya Dome in a shutout match against the Hanshin Tigers, making him the oldest Japanese pitcher to win a game, at 49 years, 25 days, surpassing the old mark of 48 years, 4 months set by the Hankyu Braves’ Shinji Hamazaki in 1950.[2] During the game, he threw 90 pitches in five scoreless innings, gave up five hits and a walk, and striking out two.
Yamamoto has pitched in six Japan Series with the Dragons, with his team winning once (in 2007).
Other activities edit
Yamamoto is a well known RC model aficionado, and came in 4th place in a RC tournament in 2002.[3] He has also hosted an RC model TV show on Fuji TV ONE titled Yamamoto Masa no Rajiko Dojo.[4]
In addition, Yamamoto also has owned shares of racehorses, with his most successful horses being Al Ain and Shahryar.[5]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Snyder, Matt. "Masahiro Yamamoto will turn 50 next year while pitching in Japan," CBSSports.com (November 6, 2014).
- ^ a b "Dragons lefty Yamamoto sets NPB record for oldest winning pitcher at age 49". The Japan Times. September 5, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-08.
- ^ "2002 1/10EPツーリングカースポーツクラス決勝成績". www.jmrca.jp. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
- ^ "山本昌のラジ魂道場". フジテレビ ONE TWO NEXT(ワンツーネクスト) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-23.
- ^ "山本昌さんが"日本ダービーオーナー"に「うれしくて頭をぶつけました」一口馬主で出資 単勝５万円的中". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
External links edit
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- NPB.com