Yoshiyuki Iwamoto
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
baseball player and manager. He was born in Miyoshi
, Hiroshima Prefecture
.
in 1931, but his team was defeated by a team of Masao Yoshida
, who was also inducted to Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
. He joined Nankai in 1938, but he was forced to take part in the war, so his debut was in 1940. The quality of balls was low due to the war so it was difficult for hitters to hit home runs, but he hit three home runs in one game on July 11, 1942. It was the Japanese record at that time. He retired once in 1942 and went to the war again.
Iwamoto returned to baseball in 1949, joining Taiyo Robins. On March 11, 1950, he hit the first home run in the history of Central League
. The home run was a grand slam homer. On August 1, 1951, he hit four home runs. In Japan, he became the first hitter to hit four home runs in one game. He retired again in 1953. He signed with Toei Flyers and returned to the field again as a playing manager in 1956. On August 18, 1957, he hit the last home run at the age of 45, which is the Japanese age record. He was inducted to Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.
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...
baseball player and manager. He was born in Miyoshi
Miyoshi, Hiroshima
is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954.On April 1, 2004, Miyoshi City absorbed the towns of Kisa, Mirasaka and Miwa, the villages of Funo, Kimita and Sakugi, all from Futami District, and the town of Kōnu, from Kōnu District, to form the new city of...
, Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded...
.
Biography
Iwamoto took part in the National High School Baseball ChampionshipNational High School Baseball Championship
The National High School Baseball Championship of Japan, commonly known as "Summer Kōshien" , is an annual nationwide high school baseball tournament...
in 1931, but his team was defeated by a team of Masao Yoshida
Masao Yoshida
was a Japanese amateur pitcher originally from Ichinomiya, Aichi. He had 23 wins at Spring and Summer Koshien. In the National High School Baseball Championship between 1931 and 1933, he won 14 consecutive games at Koshien Stadium and he became the only pitcher to win three consecutive...
, who was also inducted to 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 ....
. He joined Nankai in 1938, but he was forced to take part in the war, so his debut was in 1940. The quality of balls was low due to the war so it was difficult for hitters to hit home runs, but he hit three home runs in one game on July 11, 1942. It was the Japanese record at that time. He retired once in 1942 and went to the war again.
Iwamoto returned to baseball in 1949, joining Taiyo Robins. On March 11, 1950, he hit the first home run in the history of 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...
. The home run was a grand slam homer. On August 1, 1951, he hit four home runs. In Japan, he became the first hitter to hit four home runs in one game. He retired again in 1953. He signed with Toei Flyers and returned to the field again as a playing manager in 1956. On August 18, 1957, he hit the last home run at the age of 45, which is the Japanese age record. He was inducted to Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.