Koichi Tabuchi
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
former professional baseball
player, manager, and commentator.
Tabuchi played for the Hanshin Tigers
as catcher between 1969 and 1978, where his combination with pitcher Yutaka Enatsu
was called the "Golden Battery". In 1975, he was crowned home run king of the Central League
with 43 homers, putting a brief halt on Sadaharu Oh's
winning another title after his thirteen-year consecutive since 1962. After 1978 season he was traded to the Seibu Lions and continued to play until 1984. All the time a long range hitter, Tabuchi was nicknamed home run artist because of the high-in-the-sky, long trajectory of his home runs. He is also called Mr. Tigers, along with Fumio Fujimura
, Minoru Murayama
and Masayuki Kakefu.
Tabuchi currently serves the chairman of Hanshin Tigers Old Boys' Committee since November 2009.
baseball team together with team mates Masaru Tomita and Koji Yamamoto
, Tabuchi was named the first draft
choice in 1968 by the Tigers, although he had commented earlier he would not join any other team than the Yomiuri Giants
. Having joined the Tigers after all, he appeared in 81 games during the first season, delivering 22 homers, and marked the highest throw-out rate of attempted steals of the year, which enabled him win the Central League's Rookie of the Year
.
In a game against Hiroshima Carp on August 26, 1970, Tabuchi was hit in his head and directly onto his left ear at bat. He was badly bleeding from his ear, and was carried to a hospital immediately where he stayed unconscious for two days. He was oblidged to be hospitalized for three months with his left eardrum found severely damaged, missing out the rest of the season. This incident led to the introduction of ear-flapped helmet
in Japan. The following year, Tabuchi was for the second time hospitalized for a period over a month, this time shortly before the season and suffering from nephritis that allowed him join the team only in June. In 1973, Tabuchi marked the league's highest throw-out rate for the second time. In 1974, he carried more than 40 shots over the fence, but ending up at 45 homers, he was yet 4 behind of Oh Sadaharu. Tabuchi was crowned to home run king in 1975 for the only time in his career. During the last seasons with the Tigers, he was found confused with directions as he was chasing after foul flies.
two years in a row, in 1982 and 1983.
and coached the Tigers.
From 1985 to 1989, again from 1993 to 2001, and again beginning in 2004 he has been a commentator for Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS)
. Tabuchi is the head batting coach of the Japan national baseball team
.
Although his career total of 474 home run
s is far below Sadaharu Oh
's 868, his frequency nearly matched Oh's. Tabuchi hit a home run once every 12.41 at-bats, while Oh did once every 10.66. In this statistic he is second only to Oh among sluggers who have logged 300 or more home runs.
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 professional baseball
Baseball in Japan
Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan. It was introduced to Japan in 1872 by Horace Wilson, who taught at the Kaisei School in Tokyo. The first baseball team was called the Shimbashi Athletic Club and was established in 1878. Baseball has been a popular sport ever since...
player, manager, and commentator.
Tabuchi played for the 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...
as catcher between 1969 and 1978, where his combination with pitcher Yutaka Enatsu
Yutaka Enatsu
is a former Japanese pitcher regarded as one of best Japanese pitchers of all-time. In , he recorded 401 strikeouts, which is still the world record. He recorded 9 consecutive strikeouts in one of the All-Star games, and 15 consecutive strikeouts in three of the All-Star games between and 1971....
was called the "Golden Battery". In 1975, he was crowned home run king of 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...
with 43 homers, putting a brief halt on Sadaharu Oh's
Sadaharu Oh
Sadaharu Oh, or Wang Chenchih , is a retired Japanese-Taiwanese baseball player and manager. He batted and threw left-handed and primarily played first base. Oh, who was born in Sumida, Tokyo the son of a Taiwanese father and a Japanese mother, had originally signed with the powerhouse Yomiuri...
winning another title after his thirteen-year consecutive since 1962. After 1978 season he was traded to the Seibu Lions and continued to play until 1984. All the time a long range hitter, Tabuchi was nicknamed home run artist because of the high-in-the-sky, long trajectory of his home runs. He is also called Mr. Tigers, along with Fumio Fujimura
Fumio Fujimura
was a Japanese right-handed pitcher for the Osaka Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.In the 1933 National High School Baseball Championship, Fujimura's team reached the quarterfinals but his opponent Masao Yoshida pitched a shutout in the game. In the final of 1934 National High School...
, Minoru Murayama
Minoru Murayama
was a professional baseball player for the Osaka Tigers in Nippon Professional Baseball. His number 11 is retired with the Tigers. A pitcher with Hanshin from 1959 to 1972, he recorded a career 2.09 ERA and 192 career complete games to go with 222 wins. Hall of Famer.-Early life:He was born on...
and Masayuki Kakefu.
Tabuchi currently serves the chairman of Hanshin Tigers Old Boys' Committee since November 2009.
Career at Hanshin
Dubbed the "Hosei Trio" of Hosei UniversityHosei University
is a private university based in Tokyo, Japan.The university originated in a school of law, Tōkyō Hōgakusha , established in 1880, and the following year renamed Tōkyō Hōgakkō . This was from 1883 headed by Dr. Gustave Emile Boissonade, and was heavily influenced by the French legal tradition...
baseball team together with team mates Masaru Tomita and Koji Yamamoto
Koji Yamamoto (baseball)
is a former Japanese baseball player and manager of the Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Central League. A four-time home run king having played for Hiroshima Carp throughout his career, Yamamoto contributed to the team winning five league championships including its first-ever in 1975, and three titles...
, Tabuchi was named the first draft
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
choice in 1968 by the Tigers, although he had commented earlier he would not join any other team than 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...
. Having joined the Tigers after all, he appeared in 81 games during the first season, delivering 22 homers, and marked the highest throw-out rate of attempted steals of the year, which enabled him win the Central League's Rookie of the Year
Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award
The Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award is given to one player in each league of Central League and Pacific League.-Central League:-Pacific League:-See also:*Nippon Professional Baseball#Awards*Baseball awards#Japan...
.
In a game against Hiroshima Carp on August 26, 1970, Tabuchi was hit in his head and directly onto his left ear at bat. He was badly bleeding from his ear, and was carried to a hospital immediately where he stayed unconscious for two days. He was oblidged to be hospitalized for three months with his left eardrum found severely damaged, missing out the rest of the season. This incident led to the introduction of ear-flapped helmet
Batting helmet
A batting helmet is the protective headgear worn by batters in the game of baseball or softball. It is meant to protect the batter's head from errant pitches thrown by the pitcher...
in Japan. The following year, Tabuchi was for the second time hospitalized for a period over a month, this time shortly before the season and suffering from nephritis that allowed him join the team only in June. In 1973, Tabuchi marked the league's highest throw-out rate for the second time. In 1974, he carried more than 40 shots over the fence, but ending up at 45 homers, he was yet 4 behind of Oh Sadaharu. Tabuchi was crowned to home run king in 1975 for the only time in his career. During the last seasons with the Tigers, he was found confused with directions as he was chasing after foul flies.
Career at Seibu
After the season of 1978, Tabuchi was traded to the Seibu Lions. With the Lions he won the Japan SeriesJapan Series
, or is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a seven-game series between the winning clubs of the league's two circuits, the Central League and the Pacific League....
two years in a row, in 1982 and 1983.
Post-player Career
After his 1984 retirement, he managed the Daiei HawksFukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
and coached the Tigers.
From 1985 to 1989, again from 1993 to 2001, and again beginning in 2004 he has been a commentator for Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS)
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
. Tabuchi is the head batting coach of the Japan national baseball team
Japan national baseball team
The Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team representing Japan in international competitions. They are one of the more successful baseball teams in the world, having won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009...
.
Although his career total of 474 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s is far below Sadaharu Oh
Sadaharu Oh
Sadaharu Oh, or Wang Chenchih , is a retired Japanese-Taiwanese baseball player and manager. He batted and threw left-handed and primarily played first base. Oh, who was born in Sumida, Tokyo the son of a Taiwanese father and a Japanese mother, had originally signed with the powerhouse Yomiuri...
's 868, his frequency nearly matched Oh's. Tabuchi hit a home run once every 12.41 at-bats, while Oh did once every 10.66. In this statistic he is second only to Oh among sluggers who have logged 300 or more home runs.
Awards and honors
- Rookie of the yearNippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year AwardThe Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award is given to one player in each league of Central League and Pacific League.-Central League:-Pacific League:-See also:*Nippon Professional Baseball#Awards*Baseball awards#Japan...
, Central LeagueCentral LeagueThe 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...
, 1969 - Home run king, Central League, 1975
- Matsutaro Shoriki Award, 1983