Meikyukai
Encyclopedia
is one of the two Japanese baseball halls of fame
(the other is Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
; Yakyu Dendo 野球殿堂). The Meikyukai is a company ltd. for public benefit.
It was founded on July 24, 1978, to honor players
born during the Shōwa period
(1926–1988). Players are automatically inducted if they reach a career total of 2,000 hits or 200 wins in the Japanese professional leagues
, or the same number playing in Japan and the American major leagues
. Two hundred fifty saves were added as a qualification for relief pitchers in December 2003. Inductees are awarded a special jacket, and participate in various baseball-related events during the off-season.
Though other records such as home runs, stolen bases, and strikeouts are not officially included in the qualifications, Yutaka Fukumoto
was specially inducted when he reached 800 career stolen bases (he would later mark 2,000 career hits). Nationality is not officially regarded as a qualification, but foreign players who have either 2,000 hits or 200 wins in their entire American and Japanese careers (including Warren Cromartie
, Larry Parrish
, and Julio Franco
) will never be considered for membership. Hideo Nomo
has not requested membership after reaching 200 career wins, while Yutaka Enatsu
gave up his membership after his drug scandal. Hiromitsu Ochiai
reached 2,000 hits in 1995, but declined membership because Kaneda and other members had repeatedly criticized him during his career. Kihachi Enomoto has not declined membership, but has never participated in any of the club's meetings or events, and is not recognized as a member.
The founding members of the club limited membership to players born after 1926, partly because they only wanted members that had begun their career after the two league system of Japanese baseball was established (the Showa Era), but mostly because Kaneda did not want to include qualified members, such as Tetsuharu Kawakami
, that were older than he was. According to current regulations, only players born between 1926 and 1988 can join, but the rules will probably be changed for younger players to be inducted in the near future.
The club was created by Masaichi Kaneda
in 1978, who currently serves as the head of the club. Shigeo Nagashima
and Sadaharu Oh
, who were among the initial 18 inductees, serve as assistant heads. The Meikyukai mostly makes appearances in charity and volunteer events, and holds annual meetings and a golf
tournament, which is often broadcast on television. All of the money raised from the golf tournament is donated to the Red Cross.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
(the other is Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
The Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a Museum which includes a library, reference rooms and Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame ....
; Yakyu Dendo 野球殿堂). The Meikyukai is a company ltd. for public benefit.
It was founded on July 24, 1978, to honor players
Baseball positions
There are 9 fielding positions in baseball. Each position conventionally has an associated number which is used to score putouts...
born during the Shōwa period
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
(1926–1988). Players are automatically inducted if they reach a career total of 2,000 hits or 200 wins in the Japanese professional leagues
Professional baseball in Japan
Professional baseball in Japan first started in the 1920s, but it was not until the was established in 1934 that the modern professional game had continued success.-History:...
, or the same number playing in Japan and the American major leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Two hundred fifty saves were added as a qualification for relief pitchers in December 2003. Inductees are awarded a special jacket, and participate in various baseball-related events during the off-season.
Though other records such as home runs, stolen bases, and strikeouts are not officially included in the qualifications, Yutaka Fukumoto
Yutaka Fukumoto
Yutaka Fukumoto is a retired Japanese professional baseball player in Nippon Professional Baseball born in Osaka, Osaka.After a brief career at the company team of Matsushita, he was drafted seventh overall by the Hankyu Braves in 1968. In only his second season, he stole 75 bases, setting the...
was specially inducted when he reached 800 career stolen bases (he would later mark 2,000 career hits). Nationality is not officially regarded as a qualification, but foreign players who have either 2,000 hits or 200 wins in their entire American and Japanese careers (including Warren Cromartie
Warren Cromartie
Warren Livingston Cromartie is a retired American baseball player.-Baseball career:Warren Cromartie debuted with the Montreal Expos of the Major Leagues on September 6, 1974 after being picked 6th in the 1973 amateur draft...
, Larry Parrish
Larry Parrish
Larry Alton Parrish is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed batter who played with the Montreal Expos , Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox...
, and Julio Franco
Julio Franco
Julio César Robles Franco is a former Major League Baseball infielder and designated hitter. In , Franco was the oldest active player in the major leagues at the age of 49....
) will never be considered for membership. Hideo Nomo
Hideo Nomo
is a former right-handed pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball from Japan. He achieved early success in Japan, where he played with the Kintetsu Buffaloes from to...
has not requested membership after reaching 200 career wins, while 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....
gave up his membership after his drug scandal. 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...
reached 2,000 hits in 1995, but declined membership because Kaneda and other members had repeatedly criticized him during his career. Kihachi Enomoto has not declined membership, but has never participated in any of the club's meetings or events, and is not recognized as a member.
The founding members of the club limited membership to players born after 1926, partly because they only wanted members that had begun their career after the two league system of Japanese baseball was established (the Showa Era), but mostly because Kaneda did not want to include qualified members, such as Tetsuharu Kawakami
Tetsuharu Kawakami
is a former Japanese baseball player and manager. Born in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto, he was nicknamed "God of batting" as a player. In 1951, he had whiffed only 6 times, which is the Japanese single-season tie record. He was ruthless as a manager, but it made his team strong...
, that were older than he was. According to current regulations, only players born between 1926 and 1988 can join, but the rules will probably be changed for younger players to be inducted in the near future.
The club was created by Masaichi Kaneda
Masaichi Kaneda
is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He is one of the best known pitchers in Japanese baseball history, and is the only Japanese pitcher to have won 400 games. He was inducted in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988....
in 1978, who currently serves as the head of the club. Shigeo Nagashima
Shigeo Nagashima
is a Japanese former professional baseball player and manager.Nagashima was by far the most popular figure in Japanese baseball during his career. His contributions to the development of the sport in Japan are immeasurable.-Biography:...
and 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...
, who were among the initial 18 inductees, serve as assistant heads. The Meikyukai mostly makes appearances in charity and volunteer events, and holds annual meetings and a golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournament, which is often broadcast on television. All of the money raised from the golf tournament is donated to the Red Cross.
Members
The founding members of the club were: Kaneda, Inao, Koyama, Keiji Suzuki, Yoneda, Etou, Oh, Takagi, Doi, Nagashima, Nomura, Harimoto, Hirose, Yamauchi, Kajimoto, Minagawa and Murayama. The most recent inductee is Masahiro Yamamoto.- Active players are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- Deceased players are indicated in plain italics.
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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... Shigeo Nagashima is a Japanese former professional baseball player and manager.Nagashima was by far the most popular figure in Japanese baseball during his career. His contributions to the development of the sport in Japan are immeasurable.-Biography:... 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:... Kenjiro Nomura , is a retired Japanese baseball player. He was with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League.He was born in Saiki, Ōita.He led his team into League Champion .... 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... Kazuhiro Sasaki Kazuhiro "Daimajin" Sasaki is a former Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He played his entire NPB career with the Yokohama Taiyo Whales / Yokohama BayStars... |
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