was a Japanese professional baseball player. Hall of famer

Early life

Born in Sannomiya Kobe

Kobe

, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...

 city, Hyogo prefecture on December 15, 1922, His father died in the war when he was in childhood. His family moved to Gaoshun, Taiwan. He grew up in Gaoshun, Taiwan. He graduated from Gaoshun Commercial High School in Taiwan. He was recruited by Mr. Tairiku Watanabe. Mr. Watanabe was graduate of Meiji University

Meiji University

is a private university in Tokyo and Kawasaki, founded in 1881 by three lawyers of the Meiji era, Kishimoto Tatsuo, Miyagi Kōzō, and Yashiro Misao. It is one of the largest and most prestigious Japanese universities in Tokyo, Japan....

. Then, he went back to Japan when he went on to Meiji University. Meiji University has been one of top universities for its academic level in Japan. Also, Meiji University has been famous for baseball. Meiji University has belonged to Tokyo Big Six League. The Tokyo Big Six League consists of six universities, Waseda University

Waseda University

, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...

, Keio University

Keio University

,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...

, Rikkyo University

Rikkyo University

, also known as Saint Paul's University, is a private university, based on Christian precepts, in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. There is a suburban campus in Niiza in nearby Saitama.It is known for its liberal climate symbolized by the motto -History:...

, Hosei University

Hosei University

is a private university based in Tokyo, Japan.The university originated in a school of law, Tōkyō Hōgakusha , established in 1880, and the following year renamed Tōkyō Hōgakkō . This was from 1883 headed by Dr. Gustave Emile Boissonade, and was heavily influenced by the French legal tradition...

, The University of Tokyo and Meiji University. The league was so popular at that time. He became a member of Meiji University baseball team. During World War II, he was a second lieutenant in the Japanese Imperial Army

Army

An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...

. He had been trained for the kamikaze

Kamikaze

The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....

 attack pilot. But he survived before the taking-off of his airplane because the war ended on August 15, 1945.

Career

He joined the Japanese Professional Baseball League in 1946. He played for the Senators and hit 20 Home Runs. And, he became Home Run King in 1946 season. He occurred huge booms because no professional baseball players had hit such numer of Home Runs before him. Next season, in 1947, the Senators became the Tokyu Flyers. He got Leading Hitter title and Home Run King title in 1947 season. He became a Super Star in Japan after 1947 season. He was so handsome man. Many ladies tried to get him as a boy friend. He was also an idol for children. He would use a blue painted bat. His rival, Tetsuharu Kawakami

Tetsuharu Kawakami

is a former Japanese baseball player and manager. Born in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto, he was nicknamed "God of batting" as a player. In 1951, he had whiffed only 6 times, which is the Japanese single-season tie record. He was ruthless as a manager, but it made his team strong...

 of the Tokyo Giants would use a red painted bat. He and his rival Tetsuharu Kawakami of Tokyo Giants divided there popularities into two parts. So, people called him blue bat's Ohshita, "AO BATTO NO OHSHITA", red painted bats Kawakami was called "AKA BATTO NO KAWAKAMI" . Ohshita became Leading Hitter in 1950 season again. He got Leading hitter title and Home Run King title in 1951 season . His batting average .383 in 1951 season had been Japanese record for long time. After 1951 season, he was trades to the Nishitetsu Lions in 1952 season. He got 1954 Pacific League

Pacific League

The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...

 MVP. His batting average .321 was on second in 1954 season. His team, the Nishitetsu Lions won the Pacific League Championship in 1954, but lost to Nagoya Chunichi Dragons

Chunichi Dragons

The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and 2007 Asia Series.-History:...

 of Central League Champion on Japan Championship Series. Finally, his team, the Nishitetsu Lions defeated Tokyo Giants, which has been the most traditional team in Japanese Professional League, of Central League Champion, and won Japanese Championship Pennant in 1956, 1957 and 1958. He was Japanese first Hom run batsman in the history of Japanese Professional Baseball. He retired the professional career in 1959. He became batting coach for the Hankyu Braves in 1961 season. But it was just one season. Except for a manager and coach on the ball park, he has been a commentator

Sports commentator

In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...

 for professional baseball. He became manager for Tokyo Toei Flyers in 1968 season. There were very famous things when he was manager for the team. He declared that in the team, no signs in a game, no penalty in the team and no curfew in the team. However, despite of his struggles, his team was fell into last place in Pacific League in 1968 season. He was fired by the owner of the team after the season. Again, he took batting coach for the Taiyo Whales in 1974 and 1975 seasons. For many years, he had coached baseball for kids after having left his professional careers.He got cerebral thrombosis in June 1978. He died on May 23, 1979. He was selected Japanese Professional Baseball Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...

in 1980. His tomb is in Wakaba ward Chiba city, Chiba Prefecture in Japan.

Teams

as a player

• the Senators: 1946
• the Tokyu Flyers: 1947~1951
• the Nishitetsu Lions: 1952~1959

as a batting coach

• the Hankyu Braves 1961
• the Taiyo Whales 1974~1975

as a manager

• the Toei Flyers 1968

Career record

• Games: 1547
• Hits: 1667
• Home Runs: 201
• RBIs: 861
• Batting Average: .303

Missing number

• His uniform number " 3 " was retired in the Nishitetsu Lions team until 1968 when he became manager for the Toei Flyers.

Titles

• Pacific League MVP (1954)
• Leadind Hitter 3 Times (1947, 1950 and 1951)
• Home Run King 3 Times (1946, 1947 and 1951)
• Japanese Series MVP (1957)

External links

• Japanese Professional Baseball League