, (born August 30, 1955) is a former Japanese baseball player of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League.
Playing career He was one of the most famous Japanese left-handed pitchers. He was born in Izumo, Shimane. He was known as the man from . He led his team in five Japan Series and won three titles (1979, 1980 and 1984). In 1998, he decided to retire after giving up a home run to rookie Yoshinobu Takahashi on a fastball he had thrown with absolute confidence.
Legacy 1st pitch on September 4, 1977. 1st win on August 12, 1978. Best ERA (1988 and 1997). Relief Man of the Year Award winner (1991). Greatest Number of Saves (1991 and 1992). Sawamura Award winner (1988). 148 W, 138 S, 59 CG, 19 Shutout and 1733 K. Hiroshima Carp Pitching Coach (1999). Japan national baseball team Pitching Coach at the Athens Olympics (2003–2004). Japan national baseball team Pitching Coach at the Beijing Olympics (2007–2008).
Statistics YearTeamNo.GPWLSIPKERATitles Hiroshima 60 1 0 0 0 0.3 0 135.00 57 41 3 1 0 74.3 54 3.77 57 58 5 5 2 105.3 64 3.86 League Champion, Japan Series Champion 24 49 7 2 1 109.7 76 2.70 League Champion, Japan Series Champion 24 57 8 4 11 111.0 78 2.68 24 57 10 7 11 106.3 82 2.63 24 49 7 10 9 115.3 89 3.51 24 24 10 5 2 147.0 95 2.94 League Champion, Japan Series Champion 24 32 10 7 2 161.7 86 4.06 24 15 6 5 0 92.0 63 2.74 League Champion 24 25 13 5 0 159.7 145 2.93 24 24 13 7 0 185.0 183 1.70 Best ERA, Sawamura Award winner 24 19 8 6 0 145.7 139 1.92 24 27 5 11 3 125.0 118 3.17 24 37 6 2 26 46.3 58 1.17 Relief Man of the Year Award winner, Greatest Number of Saves, League Champion 24 42 5 3 26 59.0 77 1.98 Greatest Number of Saves 24 31 3 1 23 38.0 46 2.37 24 42 4 2 18 48.7 38 2.40 24 22 7 5 4 102.7 66 3.07 24 19 5 4 0 119.0 72 3.93 24 23 9 6 0 135.7 80 2.85 Best ERA 24 13 3 2 0 43.3 24 2.91 TOTALS - 707 148 100 138 2231.0 1733 2.90 -
See also Eiji Sawamura Award List of Nippon Professional Baseball ERA champions
References
External links
Career statistics - NPB.jp his winning pitch for 1991 Central League Champion (youtube.com) his last pitch (youtube.com)