Koji Ota
Encyclopedia
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 the son of a Japanese father and a Russian
mother, who emigrated to Japan because of the Russian Revolution
in 1917.
. He pitched 18 shut-out innings on one of the most-watched TV programs in Japanese history. After the game was called due to darkness, he returned the next game, but lost 4-2. Before he graduated from high school, a book had been written about him and several TV documentaries had been aired. A popular figure among women due to his appearance, Ota became an instant celebrity nationwide.
All-Star team, starting a trend. An All-Star again in 1971, he went 0-1 with a 6.84 ERA. He improved to 2-1, 3.90 in 1972 - and was an All-Star. In 1973 he made it four All-Star selections and was 6-14 with a 3.23 ERA. 10-14, 4.64 - All-Star material in 1974. He was 12-12 with a 3.71 ERA in 1975 and was picked once more to the midsummer classics. He led the league with 6 wild pitches, the only time he led the PL in anything.
In 1976 Ota finally missed an All-Star team, going 9-7 with a 3.94 ERA. He returned to the All-Star squad in 1977 and went 10-14 with one save and a 3.21 ERA. He never made another All-Star team and slid downhill to 1-9, 5.40 in 1978, 7-4, 3.31 at age 27, 0-4, 10.66 in 1980, 0-1, 18.00 in 1981 and 0-0, 4.50 in 1982. Overall in Nippon Pro Baseball the high school superstar was 58-85 with 4 saves and a 4.05 ERA.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, and belongs to Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc.
Mainichi Broadcasting System
is a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
as a commentator in baseball live on radio and TV. Ota is the son of a Japanese father and a Russian
White Emigre
A white émigré was a Russian who emigrated from Russia in the wake of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, and who was in opposition to the contemporary Russian political climate....
mother, who emigrated to Japan because of the Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
in 1917.
High school career
He is known for pitching in the final of 1969 National High School Baseball ChampionshipNational High School Baseball Championship
The National High School Baseball Championship of Japan, commonly known as "Summer Kōshien" , is an annual nationwide high school baseball tournament...
. He pitched 18 shut-out innings on one of the most-watched TV programs in Japanese history. After the game was called due to darkness, he returned the next game, but lost 4-2. Before he graduated from high school, a book had been written about him and several TV documentaries had been aired. A popular figure among women due to his appearance, Ota became an instant celebrity nationwide.
Professional career
The first-round pick of the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1969, Ota went 1-4 with a 3.86 ERA yet was voted onto the Pacific LeaguePacific 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...
All-Star team, starting a trend. An All-Star again in 1971, he went 0-1 with a 6.84 ERA. He improved to 2-1, 3.90 in 1972 - and was an All-Star. In 1973 he made it four All-Star selections and was 6-14 with a 3.23 ERA. 10-14, 4.64 - All-Star material in 1974. He was 12-12 with a 3.71 ERA in 1975 and was picked once more to the midsummer classics. He led the league with 6 wild pitches, the only time he led the PL in anything.
In 1976 Ota finally missed an All-Star team, going 9-7 with a 3.94 ERA. He returned to the All-Star squad in 1977 and went 10-14 with one save and a 3.21 ERA. He never made another All-Star team and slid downhill to 1-9, 5.40 in 1978, 7-4, 3.31 at age 27, 0-4, 10.66 in 1980, 0-1, 18.00 in 1981 and 0-0, 4.50 in 1982. Overall in Nippon Pro Baseball the high school superstar was 58-85 with 4 saves and a 4.05 ERA.