Atsuya Furuta
Encyclopedia
Atsuya Furuta (古田 敦也, b. August 6, 1965 in Kawanishi, Hyōgo
) is a Japanese
former baseball
player and player-manager for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
professional baseball
club in the Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League
. Drafted in the 2nd round in 1990, Furuta became a leader for the Swallows as a catcher and became the first player-manager in Japanese baseball in 29 years, since Katsuya Nomura
in 1977. In addition to his skills on the field, he is also known for leading a successful two day strike in 2004 as the head of the Japanese baseball players union.
He remains one of the most prominent figures in Japanese baseball because of his leadership both on and off the field. In June 2007, Furuta removed himself from the active roster so he could focus on managing the floundering Swallows. He retired as player and manager in the same season.
before entering the Toyota company baseball team in 1988. He was chosen as part of the Japanese Olympic team in 1988 for the Seoul Olympics, and won a silver medal.
The Yakult Swallows drafted Furuta in the second round of the 1990 draft. He became the team's starting catcher in his first season. In the 1991 all star game, he threw out three runners attempting to steal in one inning, receiving the all star MVP award. He has appeared in the all star game every single year of his career. The same year, he also beat Hiromitsu Ochiai
to win the batting title (.340 batting average). He also hit a cycle in the 1992 all star game, receiving the all star MVP award again. In the 1995 Japanese championship series, he outsmarted batting champion Ichiro Suzuki
, leading his team to victory. In 1997, he won the season MVP award for leading his team to another championship.
On June 28, 2003, Furuta hit home runs in 4 consecutive at bats, tying the Japanese record. He got his 2000th hit on April 24, 2005, which is the 32nd Japanese player, the second catcher (after Katsuya Nomura
), and the first-ever player drafted from university/company team to reach such achievement. In 2004, he led the first player strike in Japanese baseball history, in opposition to the elimination of the Kintetsu Buffaloes
team. In 2006, he agreed to become a player-manager for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
, the first in 29 years, after his mentor, Katsuya Nomura
. His team had a record of 70-73-3 in 2006, placing in third, but Furuta's own statistics were easily his career worst. He was given the largest salary decrease in Japanese baseball history after the season (his player contract and manager contract are separate, where the player contract is shorter), but he remained a player-manager for the 2007 season. He retired from baseball both as a player and as a manager at the end of 2007.
Though his hitting and defensive skills eroded over the years due to age and many injuries, Furuta was by far the best catcher in Japan during his prime, tirelessly analyzing opposing batters, and throwing out many base stealers during his career. His percentage of base stealers thrown out was above .600 in 1993 and 2000, a phenomenal percentage. He also contributed significantly with the bat, winning a batting title, and having eight seasons with a batting average over .300 (the most among Japanese catchers). He has also caught two no-hit games: Terry Bross
in 1995, and Kazuhisa Ishii
in 1997.
Furuta developed many of his skills under the tutelage of legendary catcher Katsuya Nomura
, who was also his manager in the 1990s when the Swallows were one of the most feared teams in Japan, winning three Japan Series championships in that decade. Something else the two had in common was that both were player-managers: Nomura for the then-Nankai Hawks, and Furuta for Yakult. The two would face off as managers during the 2006 interleague tournament, and Furuta got the better of his mentor, winning five out of the six games between Yakult and the 2nd-year Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
.
and the Orix Blue Wave. The owners wanted to get rid of the financially defunct Buffaloes, and merge the two baseball leagues which had been placed in Japan since 1958, since teams in the Central League
saw much higher profits than the Pacific League
, having popular teams such as the Yomiuri Giants
and Hanshin Tigers
. A battle escalated between the players union and the owners, and reached its height when Yomiuri Giants
owner Tsuneo Watanabe
controversially remarked that Furuta was "a mere player," implying that players had no say in what league would look like the next year. The strike was originally planned in all Saturday and Sunday games on that month, starting from September 11, 2004, but was pushed back due to the agreement of another meeting between the union and the owners on September 10, 2004. The players went on strike the following week when no progress was made in the negotiations.
The strike immediately led to a compromise between the two groups. Although the Buffaloes were merged with the Blue Wave (and formed into Orix Buffaloes) after the incident, the Rakuten Eagles
were newly created to keep the former six team league structure. The dispute received huge press coverage (which mostly favored Furuta and the players union) and was dubbed one of the biggest events in the history of Japanese baseball. Proposals and amendments concerning inter-league games, player drafting, and management were also discussed between the players union and the owners during this period. The dispute officially ended after the two groups reached on consensus on September 23, 2004.
Kawanishi, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the northwestern part of the Kansai Region of Japan, about 5 km north of Osaka Itami Airport. It is bordered on the west by Inagawa River.-History:...
) is a Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
former baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and player-manager for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
is a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League.The Swallows are named after their corporate owners, the Yakult Corporation. From 1950 to 1965, the team was owned by the former Japanese National Railways and called the Kokutetsu Swallows; the team was then owned by the newspaper Sankei...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
club in the Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
. Drafted in the 2nd round in 1990, Furuta became a leader for the Swallows as a catcher and became the first player-manager in Japanese baseball in 29 years, since Katsuya Nomura
Katsuya Nomura
was one of Nippon Professional Baseball's greatest players as a catcher and was also a long-time manager for the Yakult Swallows, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB's Pacific League.-Career:...
in 1977. In addition to his skills on the field, he is also known for leading a successful two day strike in 2004 as the head of the Japanese baseball players union.
He remains one of the most prominent figures in Japanese baseball because of his leadership both on and off the field. In June 2007, Furuta removed himself from the active roster so he could focus on managing the floundering Swallows. He retired as player and manager in the same season.
Biography
Furuta graduated from Kawanishi Meihou High School and Ritsumeikan UniversityRitsumeikan University
Ritsumeikan University has a growing reputation as one of the main private universities of Japan. It is part of a group of prestigious private universities in the Kansai area, called "Kan -Kan -Dou -Ritsu "...
before entering the Toyota company baseball team in 1988. He was chosen as part of the Japanese Olympic team in 1988 for the Seoul Olympics, and won a silver medal.
The Yakult Swallows drafted Furuta in the second round of the 1990 draft. He became the team's starting catcher in his first season. In the 1991 all star game, he threw out three runners attempting to steal in one inning, receiving the all star MVP award. He has appeared in the all star game every single year of his career. The same year, he also beat Hiromitsu Ochiai
Hiromitsu Ochiai
Hiromitsu Ochiai is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He is currently manager of the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball...
to win the batting title (.340 batting average). He also hit a cycle in the 1992 all star game, receiving the all star MVP award again. In the 1995 Japanese championship series, he outsmarted batting champion Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki
, usually known simply as is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for hits with 262...
, leading his team to victory. In 1997, he won the season MVP award for leading his team to another championship.
On June 28, 2003, Furuta hit home runs in 4 consecutive at bats, tying the Japanese record. He got his 2000th hit on April 24, 2005, which is the 32nd Japanese player, the second catcher (after Katsuya Nomura
Katsuya Nomura
was one of Nippon Professional Baseball's greatest players as a catcher and was also a long-time manager for the Yakult Swallows, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB's Pacific League.-Career:...
), and the first-ever player drafted from university/company team to reach such achievement. In 2004, he led the first player strike in Japanese baseball history, in opposition to the elimination of the Kintetsu Buffaloes
Kintetsu Buffaloes
The was a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka, Japan, which were in the Pacific League. The team was owned by Kinki Nippon Railway Co. and later sold to the Orix Group, the owner of the Orix BlueWave baseball team, in 2004...
team. In 2006, he agreed to become a player-manager for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
is a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League.The Swallows are named after their corporate owners, the Yakult Corporation. From 1950 to 1965, the team was owned by the former Japanese National Railways and called the Kokutetsu Swallows; the team was then owned by the newspaper Sankei...
, the first in 29 years, after his mentor, Katsuya Nomura
Katsuya Nomura
was one of Nippon Professional Baseball's greatest players as a catcher and was also a long-time manager for the Yakult Swallows, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB's Pacific League.-Career:...
. His team had a record of 70-73-3 in 2006, placing in third, but Furuta's own statistics were easily his career worst. He was given the largest salary decrease in Japanese baseball history after the season (his player contract and manager contract are separate, where the player contract is shorter), but he remained a player-manager for the 2007 season. He retired from baseball both as a player and as a manager at the end of 2007.
Though his hitting and defensive skills eroded over the years due to age and many injuries, Furuta was by far the best catcher in Japan during his prime, tirelessly analyzing opposing batters, and throwing out many base stealers during his career. His percentage of base stealers thrown out was above .600 in 1993 and 2000, a phenomenal percentage. He also contributed significantly with the bat, winning a batting title, and having eight seasons with a batting average over .300 (the most among Japanese catchers). He has also caught two no-hit games: Terry Bross
Terry Bross
Terrence Paul "Terry" Bross is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He bats and throws right-handed....
in 1995, and Kazuhisa Ishii
Kazuhisa Ishii
Kazuhisa Ishii is a Japanese former Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Saitama Seibu Lions....
in 1997.
Furuta developed many of his skills under the tutelage of legendary catcher Katsuya Nomura
Katsuya Nomura
was one of Nippon Professional Baseball's greatest players as a catcher and was also a long-time manager for the Yakult Swallows, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB's Pacific League.-Career:...
, who was also his manager in the 1990s when the Swallows were one of the most feared teams in Japan, winning three Japan Series championships in that decade. Something else the two had in common was that both were player-managers: Nomura for the then-Nankai Hawks, and Furuta for Yakult. The two would face off as managers during the 2006 interleague tournament, and Furuta got the better of his mentor, winning five out of the six games between Yakult and the 2nd-year Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
The is a baseball team founded in 2004; it played its first season in the Japanese Pacific League in 2005. It is simply called Rakuten . The team was created to fill the void left by the merger of the Orix Blue Wave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes, after the 2004 season due to financial difficulties,...
.
The Japanese Baseball Strike
The strike took place over two days, from September 18 to September 19, 2004. It was the first strike in the history of Japanese professional baseball. The strike arose from a dispute that took place between the owners of the 12 professional Japanese baseball teams and the players union (which Furuta was the union's leader on that time), concerning the merging of the Osaka Kintetsu BuffaloesKintetsu Buffaloes
The was a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka, Japan, which were in the Pacific League. The team was owned by Kinki Nippon Railway Co. and later sold to the Orix Group, the owner of the Orix BlueWave baseball team, in 2004...
and the Orix Blue Wave. The owners wanted to get rid of the financially defunct Buffaloes, and merge the two baseball leagues which had been placed in Japan since 1958, since teams in the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
saw much higher profits than the Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
, having popular teams such as the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
and Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
. A battle escalated between the players union and the owners, and reached its height when Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
owner Tsuneo Watanabe
Tsuneo Watanabe
is a Japanese businessman. He leads Yomiuri Shimbun, and he has a great influence on Japanese sports and Japanese politics. Informally he's nicknamed as Nabetsune, although he hates it.-Controversies:...
controversially remarked that Furuta was "a mere player," implying that players had no say in what league would look like the next year. The strike was originally planned in all Saturday and Sunday games on that month, starting from September 11, 2004, but was pushed back due to the agreement of another meeting between the union and the owners on September 10, 2004. The players went on strike the following week when no progress was made in the negotiations.
The strike immediately led to a compromise between the two groups. Although the Buffaloes were merged with the Blue Wave (and formed into Orix Buffaloes) after the incident, the Rakuten Eagles
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
The is a baseball team founded in 2004; it played its first season in the Japanese Pacific League in 2005. It is simply called Rakuten . The team was created to fill the void left by the merger of the Orix Blue Wave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes, after the 2004 season due to financial difficulties,...
were newly created to keep the former six team league structure. The dispute received huge press coverage (which mostly favored Furuta and the players union) and was dubbed one of the biggest events in the history of Japanese baseball. Proposals and amendments concerning inter-league games, player drafting, and management were also discussed between the players union and the owners during this period. The dispute officially ended after the two groups reached on consensus on September 23, 2004.
Role in the Baseball Players Union
Furuta has made a huge impact in the Japanese Baseball Players Union, increasing the rights of players, and mending relationships between the professional leagues and the amateur baseball association in Japan. The baseball strike in 2004 became a nation-wide event, and fans of all teams cheered for Furuta when he appeared following the strike. Furuta was the leader of the players union from 1998 to 2005, stepping down after becoming a player-manager in 2006.Awards and Accomplishments
- MVP (1993, 1997)
- Batting Title (1991)
- Best Nine Award (1991~1993, 1995, 1997, 1999~2001, 2004)
- Golden Glove Award (1990~1993, 1995, 1997, 1999~2001, 2004)
- Championship Series MVP (1997, 2001)
- All Star (1990~2006)
- 1988 Seoul Olympics silver medalist