Michio Nishizawa
Encyclopedia
was a prominent Japanese
Nippon Professional Baseball player.
, developing into a twenty game winner by 1939. His most memorable pitching feats occurred in 1942. On May 24 of that year, Nishizawa pitched a remarkable twenty-eight complete innings, totalling 311 pitches in a 4-4 tie against the Taiyō Whales
at Korakuen Stadium
. Later that year, he tossed his first and only no-hitter
, accomplishing the feat against the Hankyu team. Despite a career Earned Run Average
of 2.22, the heavy workload combined with injuries sustained during two years of service in World War II
forced him to switch positions to first base, and later the outfield
.
After early struggles with the bat, Nishizawa developed into a feared hitter. He swatted a then league record 46 home runs in 1950. His best season came in 1952, when he led the league in both batting average
and runs batted in. Two years later, Nishizawa led the Dragons to the 1954 Central League
title, breaking an eight year run by the Yomiuri Giants
.
He played his final game in 1958, but went on to manage Chunichi
. The Dragons compiled a 253-217-10 record in Nishizawa's four seasons at the helm (1964–1967). His number 15 jersey is one of only two retired by the team. He became one of Japan
's most beloved athletes, and was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
in 1977 despite the lackluster state of the Chunichi Dragons
throughout much of his career.
After he entered professional baseball career, he graduated from Nihon University
.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
Nippon Professional Baseball player.
Biography
He debuted with Nagoya at the age of 15 in 1936, the youngest player ever in the history of pro Yakyu. He achieved early fame as a pitcherPitcher
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...
, developing into a twenty game winner by 1939. His most memorable pitching feats occurred in 1942. On May 24 of that year, Nishizawa pitched a remarkable twenty-eight complete innings, totalling 311 pitches in a 4-4 tie against the Taiyō Whales
Yokohama BayStars
The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium....
at Korakuen Stadium
Korakuen Stadium
was a stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Completed in 1937, it was primarily used for baseball and was home to the Yomiuri Giants until 1988 when they moved next door, to the Tokyo Dome, which sits on the site of the Velodrome. The ballpark had a capacity of 50,000 people. In 1942 Korakuen Stadium played...
. Later that year, he tossed his first and only no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
, accomplishing the feat against the Hankyu team. Despite a career Earned Run Average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 2.22, the heavy workload combined with injuries sustained during two years of service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
forced him to switch positions to first base, and later the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
.
After early struggles with the bat, Nishizawa developed into a feared hitter. He swatted a then league record 46 home runs in 1950. His best season came in 1952, when he led the league in both batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
and runs batted in. Two years later, Nishizawa led the Dragons to the 1954 Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
title, breaking an eight year run by the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
.
He played his final game in 1958, but went on to manage Chunichi
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:...
. The Dragons compiled a 253-217-10 record in Nishizawa's four seasons at the helm (1964–1967). His number 15 jersey is one of only two retired by the team. He became one of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's most beloved athletes, and was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
The Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a Museum which includes a library, reference rooms and Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame ....
in 1977 despite the lackluster state of the 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:...
throughout much of his career.
After he entered professional baseball career, he graduated from Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
.
Career Statistics
- Games: 1704
- Hits: 1717
- Home runs 212
- RBIs: 940
- Batting average: .284