Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
November 13, 2007
Iron Man Passes

Frank Osterhaus writes:

Thought I'd let you know that yesterday marked the passing of Kazuhisa "Iron Man" Inao, former pitcher for the Nishitetsu Lions of the Japan Leagues. His career ERA was 1.98, and his "signature moment" occurred during the 1958 Japan Series. His team had lost the first three games (including one by Inao) of the best-of-seven match to the Yomiuri Giants, and he came in to pitch Game 4. He pitched his team to a complete-game victory, and then in the next game was called on to pitch in late-inning relief in a tie game. That game went into extra innings and Inao won it by hitting a "sayonara" homerun in the bottom of the 11th. With an off-day to rest, Inao was called upon to start Game 6, in which he again won in a complete game. Game 7 followed and again Inao was tabbed to start and again Inao pitched a complete game and won the Series for the Lions. Inao got the "W" for all four games.

Here's his obituary.

Widely seen as one of Japanese pro baseball's all-time great pitchers, Inao logged a lifetime 276-137 record, playing his entire career with the Lions until 1969.

He led the Lions to three consecutive Japan Series championships. In he tied the record for most wins in a season with 42 triumphs.

That's quite a career. My thoughts go out to his family and friends, and all his Japanese fans.


Posted by David Pinto at 07:54 PM | International | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Actually, he was the losing pitcher in two of the first three games in the 1958 Series. So he had decisions in 6 of the 7 games (4-2)!

Posted by: rocksfan at November 14, 2007 12:21 PM

You're right--thanks for the correction: Inao was the loser in both Game 1 and 3 (he lost the latter 1-0), before going on to win the last four. In the last two complete game victories he allowed a total of 1 run (a home run by the legendary Shigeo Nagashima). He thus pitched in six of the seven games and started five of them (with four complete games).

Posted by: Frank at November 14, 2007 06:52 PM

Japanese Baseball Daily has a very thorough obituary/biography at http://www.japanbaseballdaily.com/obituary.html

Posted by: rocksfan at November 14, 2007 07:49 PM
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