Kenjiro Tamiya

Kenjiro Tamiya (田宮 健次郎, Tamiya Kenjiro, February 11, 1928 – May 5, 2010) was a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball player and manager. In his first few years as a major league player, Tamiya was utilized as a pitcher and first baseman, but in the prime of his career, he was an outfielder.[1] He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.[2]

Kenjiro Tamiya
Tamiya in 1959
P/1B/OF
Born: (1928-02-11)February 11, 1928
Shimodate, Ibaraki, Japan
Died: May 5, 2010(2010-05-05) (aged 82)
Ibaraki, Japan
Batted: Left Threw: Left
NPB statistics
Batting average.298
Home runs105
Hits1,415
RBIs591
Stolen bases190
Win–loss record1–5
ERA5.83
Former teams
As player
  • Osaka Tigers (1949–1958)
  • Daimai Orions (1959–1963)

As manager

Career highlights and awards
  • 5x Best Nine Award winner (1956–1958, 1960–1961)
  • Fighting Spirit Award winner (1960)
Member of the Japanese
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction2002

Early life

Tamiya was born in Shimodate, Ibaraki and attended Shimodate Shogyo High School. Tamiya also attended Nihon University, where he won a Tokyo Metropolitan University League batting title in 1947, before dropping out.[3]

Professional career

Tamiya first started for the Osaka Tigers of the Japanese Baseball League, as a pitcher and, occasionally, a first baseman. On March 16, 1950, he almost threw the first perfect game in Nippon Professional Baseball history, coming within one out, before Sakae Nakamura got a hit that ended the bid. A shoulder injury in 1952 would see him move to the outfield, where he spent the rest of his career. As a Tiger, Tamiya won the Best Nine Award 3 times, in 1956, 1957, and 1958. He also led the league in slugging percentage and triples in 1957, as well as batting average and triples in 1958. Tamiya would sign with the Daimai Orions in 1959 and immediately tied as league leader in doubles with Kazuhiro Yamauchi. He would win the Best Nine Award two more times, in 1960 and 1961. He retired in 1963. He is one of only six NPB players who have hit 100 homers and pitched a win.[3]

Managerial career

In 1969, Tamiya became a hitting coach for the Chunichi Dragons, but, in the next year, he became the manager of the Toei Flyers, and led for three years, finishing with a record of 155–209–21 as the Flyer's skipper. In 1995 and 1996, he was the manager for the Chinese Professional Baseball League team Wei Chuan Dragons and finished with a record of 83–104–3.[3]

Later life and death

Tamiya would serve as a council member for his hometown, Shimodate.[3] He died on May 5, 2010, at the age of 82 due to brain hemorrhage.[4]

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References
  1. "Kenjiro Tamiya". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  2. "TAMIYA, Kenjiro". english.baseball-museum.or.jp. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  3. "Kenjiro Tamiya". BR Bullpen. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  4. "Ex-batting star Tamiya dead at 82". Japan Times. May 7, 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
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