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Michio Nishizawa

Michio Nishizawa
Michio Nishizawa 1949.jpg
Pitcher, First baseman
Born: (1921-09-01)September 1, 1921
Tokyo, Japan
Died: December 18, 1977(1977-12-18) (aged 56)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
JBL debut
1936, for the Nagoya Club
Last NBP appearance
1958, for the Chunichi Dragons
NPB statistics
Win-Loss 60-65
ERA 2.23
Strikeouts 404
NPB statistics
Batting average .286
Home runs 212
RBI 940
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Michio Nishizawa (西澤 道夫?, September 1, 1921 – December 18, 1977) was a prominent Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player who excelled as both a pitcher and a position player. With the Chunichi Dragons franchise his entire career, Nishizawa became one of Japan's most beloved athletes. His number 15 jersey is one of only two retired by the team.

Nishizawa debuted with Nagoya at the age of 15 in 1936, the youngest player ever in the history of pro Yakyu.

He achieved early fame as a pitcher, developing into a twenty-game winner by 1939. His most memorable pitching feats occurred in 1942. On May 24 of that year, Nishizawa pitched a remarkable twenty-eight complete innings, totalling 311 pitches in a 4-4 tie against the Taiyō Whales at Korakuen Stadium. Later that year, he tossed his first and only no-hitter, accomplishing the feat against the Hankyu team.

Despite a career earned run average of 2.23, the heavy workload combined with injuries sustained during two years of service in World War II forced him to switch positions to first base, and later the outfield.

After early struggles with the bat, Nishizawa developed into a feared hitter. He swatted a then-league record 46 home runs in 1950. His best season came in 1952, when he led the league in both batting average and runs batted in. Two years later, Nishizawa led the Dragons to the 1954 Central League title, breaking an eight-year run by the Yomiuri Giants.


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Wikipedia

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