Minoru Kamata (baseball)
Minoru Kamata (鎌田実, Kamata Minoru, 8 March 1939 – 1 August 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball second baseman. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Osaka/Hanshin Tigers (1957–1966; 1970–1972) and Kintetsu Buffaloes (1967–1969).
| Minoru Kamata | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Second baseman | |||
| Born: 8 March 1939 Mihara District, Hyōgo | |||
| Died: 1 August 2019 (aged 80) Ashiya, Hyōgo | |||
| |||
| NPB debut | |||
| 12 June, 1957, for the Hanshin Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1972, for the Hanshin Tigers | |||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .234 | ||
| Runs batted in | 264 | ||
| Home runs | 24 | ||
| Teams | |||
Kamata was known for defense, and was particularly adept at jump throws and backhand tosses, the latter of which was rare in Nippon Professional Baseball. In retirement, Kamata became a youth baseball coach, benefactor, and baseball commentator. Kamata was diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2019, hospitalized for treatment in July, and died of the disease in an Ashiya, Hyōgo hospital on 1 August 2019.[1]
References
- "元阪神・鎌田実氏死去 日本初バックトス＆ジャンピングスローの名手". The Daily (in Japanese). 3 August 2019.
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