Akira Noguchi
Akira Noguchi | ||
---|---|---|
Strikeouts 328 | | |
JBL/NPB career hitting statistics | ||
Batting average | .251 | |
Home runs | 61 | |
Run batted in | 572 | |
Teams | ||
As player
As manager | ||
Career highlights and awards | ||
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Akira Noguchi (野口明, Noguchi Akira) (August 6, 1917 – October 5, 1996) was a Japanese baseball pitcher, infielder, catcher, and manager who played 15 total seasons in the Japanese Baseball League and then Nippon Professional Baseball, during the period 1936 to 1955. The rare two-way player, Noguchi was particularly unusual in that he excelled in the specialized positions of both pitcher and catcher.
A four-time All-Star and a two-time Best Nine Award-winner, Noguchi was the eldest of four brothers who played professional baseball in Japan.
Biography
Born in
Senators/Taiyō/Nishitetsu
Noguchi began his professional career in 1936 with the
Noguchi wore uniform number 18 for the Senators, starting a trend where ace pitchers wore that number. Other notable Japanese pitchers who have worn number 18 since Akira Noguchi (even carrying the tradition over to Major League Baseball) include Tsuneo Horiuchi, Masumi Kuwata, Yu Darvish, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Tsuyoshi Wada.[1]
After excelling as a pitcher in 1936–1937, Noguchi left professional baseball for four seasons, during which his younger brother
Akira returned to the team in 1942–1943, joining Jirō. After his hiatus from baseball, Akira mostly left pitching behind, concentrating on hitting, initially as a first baseman and then in later years as a catcher. Altogether, Noguchi played four seasons with the Senators franchise, which, due to various pressures and changing ownership went through a number of name changes during his tenure: Tokyo Senators (1936–1937), Taiyō (1942), and finally Nishitetsu (1943).
Hankyu
Noguchi moved to the
Dragons
Leaving the Braves after the 1948 season, Akira joined the Chunichi Dragons, the franchise where he would have his greatest success, as a catcher. He played for the Dragons from 1949 to 1955, making four All-Star teams and being named to the Best Nine at catcher twice.[citation needed] His best year was 1950, when he hit .271 with a career-best 18 home runs and 73 RBI.
Immediately after his playing career ended, Noguchi was hired by Dragons as the team's manager. He guided the team to winning records in 1955 and 1956, and then retired from baseball.[citation needed]
Death
Noguchi died on October 5, 1996, at age 79.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Mike. What’s In A Number?," River Ave Blues (February 21, 2012).
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)