Yutaka Fukumoto
Encyclopedia
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 (currently the Orix Buffaloes
) in 1968. In only his second season, he stole 75 bases, setting the Japanese single-season record. In 1972 (Shōwa
47), he stole 106 bases, setting the all-world single-season modern-era record. He also led the Braves to the Japanese championship. Fukumoto was named Most Valuable Player
and became the first Japanese MVP who had also led the league in steals. In 1983, he stole his 939th career base, passing Lou Brock
and setting the all-world career steals mark (later passed by Rickey Henderson
in 1993). He also hit his 2000th career hit. He was contacted for a National Honor Award but declined.
After the 1988 season, the Braves were slated to become the Orix Blue Wave. At the last game of the year, manager Toshiharu Ueda delivered a farewell address at the post-game ceremony. Ueda made the mistake of saying, "We bid farewell to Yamada
and Fukumoto (who will leave the team) ..." instead of "We bid farewell to Yamada but will have Fukumoto (for the new team) ...". Everyone was caught by surprise, including Fukumoto himself, since he had intended to play at least another year. Fukumoto shrugged to reporters and said, "Ueda said so, I'm retiring," and ended his career. Fukumoto felt no ill-will towards Ueda and went on to coach for Orix in 1989 and 1990. From 1998 to 1999, he coached for the Hanshin Tigers
. In 2002 (Heisei 14), Fukumoto was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
.
He currently works as a baseball commentator for Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
and an independent TV station, SUN-TV
.
Throughout his career Yutaka Fukumoto was not only the league's most aggressive lead-off man but also the best defensive center fielder. Yutaka Fukumoto retired with 2543 hits, 208 home runs, 449 doubles, 115 triples, 884 runs batted in, 1065 stolen bases, .291 batting average, and 2401 games. He held the Japanese records in career doubles (later passed by Kazuyoshi Tatsunami
), holds career triples, and career stolen bases. He also hit more lead-off home runs than anyone in Japanese history with 43.
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...
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 (currently the Orix Buffaloes
Orix Buffaloes
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka and Kobe, Japan. They play in the Pacific League. The team is owned by the Orix Group, a leading diversified financial services company based in Tokyo....
) in 1968. In only his second season, he stole 75 bases, setting the Japanese single-season record. In 1972 (Shōwa
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...
47), he stole 106 bases, setting the all-world single-season modern-era record. He also led the Braves to the Japanese championship. Fukumoto was named Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and became the first Japanese MVP who had also led the league in steals. In 1983, he stole his 939th career base, passing Lou Brock
Lou Brock
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
and setting the all-world career steals mark (later passed by Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
in 1993). He also hit his 2000th career hit. He was contacted for a National Honor Award but declined.
After the 1988 season, the Braves were slated to become the Orix Blue Wave. At the last game of the year, manager Toshiharu Ueda delivered a farewell address at the post-game ceremony. Ueda made the mistake of saying, "We bid farewell to Yamada
Hisashi Yamada
was a Japanese baseball submarine pitcher. He played with the Hankyu Braves in Nippon Professional Baseball from to .Yamada won the Pacific League MVP for three years in a row , and the Japan Series MVP in 1977. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in .-External links:...
and Fukumoto (who will leave the team) ..." instead of "We bid farewell to Yamada but will have Fukumoto (for the new team) ...". Everyone was caught by surprise, including Fukumoto himself, since he had intended to play at least another year. Fukumoto shrugged to reporters and said, "Ueda said so, I'm retiring," and ended his career. Fukumoto felt no ill-will towards Ueda and went on to coach for Orix in 1989 and 1990. From 1998 to 1999, he coached 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...
. In 2002 (Heisei 14), Fukumoto was inducted into the 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 currently works as a baseball commentator for Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
is a regional radio and television broadcaster headquartered in Osaka, Japan, serving in the Kansai region.-Offices:*Headquarters: 1-30, Fukushima Itchome, Fukushima-ku, Osaka-shi, Japan...
and an independent TV station, SUN-TV
SUN-TV
is a commercial television station headquartered in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and a member of the Japanese Association of Independent Television Stations .-Office:...
.
Throughout his career Yutaka Fukumoto was not only the league's most aggressive lead-off man but also the best defensive center fielder. Yutaka Fukumoto retired with 2543 hits, 208 home runs, 449 doubles, 115 triples, 884 runs batted in, 1065 stolen bases, .291 batting average, and 2401 games. He held the Japanese records in career doubles (later passed by Kazuyoshi Tatsunami
Kazuyoshi Tatsunami
is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Nippon Professional Baseball Chunichi Dragons, having played his professional career for them since his debut in...
), holds career triples, and career stolen bases. He also hit more lead-off home runs than anyone in Japanese history with 43.