Takehiko Bessho
Encyclopedia
Takehiko Bessho born Akira Bessho , was a Japanese sportsperson whose professional career as a player lasted from 1942 until 1960. Bessho first achieved fame as a pitcher
in Nippon Pro Baseball (NPB); later, he served as a NPB manager
.
Bessho spent his first five seasons in 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 top pitcher and went on to earn two Sawamura Award
s, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award
, and six Best Nine Award
s. In 1947, Bessho set the NPB record for most complete game
s 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.
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
elected Bessho in 1979.
in an elementary school. By the time he started his high school career at Takikawa Junior Highschool, Bessho had transitioned from nanshiki to baseball.
In 1940 and 1941, Bessho appeared in the Koshien
tournament. During the 1941 spring edition, he pitched all fourteen innings of a game despite his broken arm; unfortunately, he also lost the decision. After his graduation, Bessho took the entrance exam for Keio University
but ultimately enrolled in vocational classes at Nihon University
.
, an Osaka based team in the Japanese Baseball League
(JBL). Bessho quickly established himself as a quality player and on May 26, 1943, he successfully pitched a no-hitter
against the Yamato team.
In December of that year, the Japanese army conscripted
Bessho and sent him to Manchuria
because of World War II. However, in 1944, Bessho moved to the officer's school in Matsudo, Chiba
before the army finally moved him to the Kōchi Prefecture
. After the war had ended, Bessho rejoined Nankai in 1946.
In 1947 he won and completed 47 games, it has been the best record in Nippon Pro Baseball until now and of which he was proud for long years. In the late of 1948 he moved to Yomiuri Giants
, Tokyo based another baseball team. It became a big scandal in Japanese sports journalism known as Bessho head-hunting Incident (ja: 別所引き抜き事件) which led the League to put a sanction on him to prohibit to playing two months. In Yomiuri Giants, he was still a star. He was also so good at batting that the manager had him play as a batter when he didn't throw. During his lifetime, he won 310 games, that was the national record when he retired.
In 1956, the Los Angeles Dodgers
, a Major League Baseball
franchise, decided to play a series of games in Japan. On October 23, 1956, the Dodgers faced the Yomiuri Giants at Maruyama Stadium
in Sapporo. Carl Erskine
started for the Dodgers, and Sho Horiuchi started for the Giants. In the seventh inning, Bessho replaced Horiuchi and pitched the rest of the game. Unfortunately, Bessho surrendered a solo-home run
to Duke Snider
in the top of the ninth inning; it was the only run of the game.
In 1961 he was a player and pitching coach of Yomiuri Giants. At the end of season he retired and remained at the team as coach. From 1964 till 1966 he was a pitching coach at Taiyō Whales. From 1968 he led Sankei Atoms (and its successors) as the manager until mid 1970. From then he give commentaries at Fuji TV, Bunka Hōsō and Nikkan Sports
. 1979 he was nominated to Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
. Since 1992 he succeeded to the president of Yomiuri Giants Old Boy Club from Tetsuharu Kawakami
.
During his career, Bessho won six Best Nine Awards, more than any other pitcher in history. In addition, he won two MVP awards, led the league in strikeouts from 1950 until 1952, and won 20 or more games eight different seasons. He performed at a high enough level that he led the NPB in wins three times and in ERA, strikeouts and winning percentage
once each.
As commentator, he was known with his cheerful loud laughter, grayed hair and apparent but innocent favoritism to Yomiuri Giants. It was often he didn't remember non-Giants players in their names.
In 1999 he passed away at his home due to heartbreak at 76 year old age.
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 Nippon Pro Baseball (NPB); later, he served as a NPB manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
.
Bessho spent his first five seasons in NPB with the Nankai franchise
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
(1942–43, 1946–48) and his final 12 seasons with 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...
(1949–1960). He quickly established himself as top pitcher and went on to earn two Sawamura Award
Sawamura Award
The , commonly known as the Sawamura Award, is an honor bestowed upon the top starting pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball each year.The award was originally established by Japanese magazine "Nekkyū" in 1947 to honor the career of Eiji Sawamura, a power pitcher who enjoyed an illustrious career...
s, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
, and six Best Nine Award
Best Nine Award
The Best Nine Award is awarded annually to the best player at each position in both the Central League and Pacific League of Japanese professional baseball as determined by a pool of journalists.-History:...
s. In 1947, Bessho set the NPB record for most complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s in a single season (47). In addition, Bessho earned the NPB Most Valuable Player Award in 1952 and 1956. Bessho retired
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
after the 1960 season with 310 wins, a 2.18 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...
, and 1,932 strikeouts.
After he retired from the sport as a player and a manager, Bessho became a sports broadcaster
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
. In recognition of his accomplishments, 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 ....
elected Bessho in 1979.
Early life
Raised solely by his mother, Besho grew up in a in Kobe, Hyogo Japan and went by the name Akira Bessho. Bessho started his athletic career by playing nanshiki ball while he was in the fifth gradeFifth grade
Fifth grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The fifth grade is the fifth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 10 – 11 years old, and are preteens...
in an elementary school. By the time he started his high school career at Takikawa Junior Highschool, Bessho had transitioned from nanshiki to baseball.
In 1940 and 1941, Bessho appeared in the Koshien
Koshien
Kōshien is a district of Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan.Kōshien also refers to:*Koshien Stadium, a baseball stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, which is the venue of the annual high school baseball tournaments:...
tournament. During the 1941 spring edition, he pitched all fourteen innings of a game despite his broken arm; unfortunately, he also lost the decision. After his graduation, Bessho took the entrance exam for 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...
but ultimately enrolled in vocational classes at 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....
.
Professional career
In 1942, Besho joined the Nankai franchiseProfessional sports league organization
Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...
, an Osaka based team in the Japanese Baseball League
Japanese Baseball League
For the current Japanese Professional League, see Nippon Professional Baseball. was a professional baseball league in Japan.It was established on February 5, 1936 as "Japan Occupational Baseball League". Then it was renamed "Japanese Baseball League" in 1939. It was run until 1949. There was no...
(JBL). Bessho quickly established himself as a quality player and on May 26, 1943, he successfully pitched a 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"...
against the Yamato team.
In December of that year, the Japanese army conscripted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
Bessho and sent him to Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
because of World War II. However, in 1944, Bessho moved to the officer's school in Matsudo, Chiba
Matsudo, Chiba
is a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 484,578 and a population density of 7900 persons per km²...
before the army finally moved him to the Kōchi Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
. After the war had ended, Bessho rejoined Nankai in 1946.
In 1947 he won and completed 47 games, it has been the best record in Nippon Pro Baseball until now and of which he was proud for long years. In the late of 1948 he moved to 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...
, Tokyo based another baseball team. It became a big scandal in Japanese sports journalism known as Bessho head-hunting Incident (ja: 別所引き抜き事件) which led the League to put a sanction on him to prohibit to playing two months. In Yomiuri Giants, he was still a star. He was also so good at batting that the manager had him play as a batter when he didn't throw. During his lifetime, he won 310 games, that was the national record when he retired.
In 1956, the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
franchise, decided to play a series of games in Japan. On October 23, 1956, the Dodgers faced the Yomiuri Giants at Maruyama Stadium
Maruyama Stadium
Maruyama Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Sapporo, Japan. It is currently used mostly for baseball and football matches. The stadium holds 25,000 people. The stadium was built in 1935.-External links:*...
in Sapporo. Carl Erskine
Carl Erskine
Carl Daniel Erskine is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodgers from 1948 through 1959...
started for the Dodgers, and Sho Horiuchi started for the Giants. In the seventh inning, Bessho replaced Horiuchi and pitched the rest of the game. Unfortunately, Bessho surrendered a solo-home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
to Duke Snider
Duke Snider
Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider , nicknamed "The Silver Fox" and "The Duke of Flatbush", was a Major League Baseball center fielder and left-handed batter who played for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Mets , and San Francisco Giants .Snider was elected to the National Baseball Hall of...
in the top of the ninth inning; it was the only run of the game.
In 1961 he was a player and pitching coach of Yomiuri Giants. At the end of season he retired and remained at the team as coach. From 1964 till 1966 he was a pitching coach at Taiyō Whales. From 1968 he led Sankei Atoms (and its successors) as the manager until mid 1970. From then he give commentaries at Fuji TV, Bunka Hōsō and Nikkan Sports
Nikkan Sports
is the first-launched Japanese daily sports newspaper founded in 1946.It has a circulation of 1,965,000, and is an affiliate newspaper of Asahi Shimbun.-Companies and regions:...
. 1979 he was nominated to 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 ....
. Since 1992 he succeeded to the president of Yomiuri Giants Old Boy Club from 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...
.
During his career, Bessho won six Best Nine Awards, more than any other pitcher in history. In addition, he won two MVP awards, led the league in strikeouts from 1950 until 1952, and won 20 or more games eight different seasons. He performed at a high enough level that he led the NPB in wins three times and in ERA, strikeouts and winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
once each.
As commentator, he was known with his cheerful loud laughter, grayed hair and apparent but innocent favoritism to Yomiuri Giants. It was often he didn't remember non-Giants players in their names.
In 1999 he passed away at his home due to heartbreak at 76 year old age.
Records and awards
- Lifetime records as pitcher: playing in 662 games (335 completed), 310 wins, 178 losses, winning average .635, ERA 2.18
- Lifetime records as batter: playing in 828 games, batting average .254, 500 hits, 35 home-runs, 91 walksBase on ballsA base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, 2 hit-by-pitch, RBIRun batted inRuns batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
248 - No-hitterNo-hitterA 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"...
: 1943-05-26 (from Yamato Team) - Central League (Japan) Most Valuable Player Award: 1952, 1956
- Sawamura AwardSawamura AwardThe , commonly known as the Sawamura Award, is an honor bestowed upon the top starting pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball each year.The award was originally established by Japanese magazine "Nekkyū" in 1947 to honor the career of Eiji Sawamura, a power pitcher who enjoyed an illustrious career...
: 1947, 1955 - Best Nine AwardBest Nine AwardThe Best Nine Award is awarded annually to the best player at each position in both the Central League and Pacific League of Japanese professional baseball as determined by a pool of journalists.-History:...
(Pitcher): 1947, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956