Kenjiro Tamiya

Kenjiro Tamiya
Tamiya in 1959
Pitcher / First baseman / Outfielder
Born: (1928-02-11)February 11, 1928 Shimodate, Ibaraki, Japan
Died: May 5, 2010(2010-05-05) (aged 82) Ibaraki, Japan
Batted: Left Threw: Left
NPB statistics
Batting average	.298
Home runs	105
Hits	1,415
RBIs	591
Stolen bases	190
Win–loss record	1–5
ERA	5.83
Former teams
As player Osaka Tigers (1949–1958) Daimai Orions (1959–1963) As manager Toei Flyers (1970–1973) Nittaku Home Flyers (1974) Wei Chuan Dragons (1994–1995)
Career highlights and awards
5× Best Nine Award winner (1956–1958, 1960–1961) Fighting Spirit Award winner (1960)
Member of the Japanese
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2002

Kenjiro Tamiya (田宮 健次郎, Tamiya Kenjiro, February 11, 1928 – May 5, 2010) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player and manager. In his early years as a professional player, Tamiya was utilized as a pitcher and first baseman, but during the prime of his career, he transitioned to playing as an outfielder. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Early life

Tamiya was born in Shimodate, Ibaraki and attended Shimodate Shogyo High School. He later attended Nihon University, where he won a Tokyo Metropolitan University League batting title in 1947, before dropping out.

Professional career

Tamiya first played for the Osaka Tigers of the Japanese Baseball League, initially as a pitcher and occasionally as a first baseman. On March 16, 1950, he came within one out of throwing the first perfect game in Nippon Professional Baseball history, before Sakae Nakamura got a hit that ended the bid. A shoulder injury in 1952 forced him to move to the outfield, where he spent the remainder of his career. As a Tiger, Tamiya won the Best Nine Award three times, in 1956, 1957, and 1958. He also led the league in slugging percentage and triples in 1957, as well as batting average and triples in 1958. Tamiya signed with the Daimai Orions in 1959 and immediately tied for the league lead in doubles with Kazuhiro Yamauchi. He won the Best Nine Award two more times, in 1960 and 1961. He retired in 1963. Tamiya is one of only six NPB players who have both hit 100 home runs and earned a pitching win.

Managerial career

In 1969, Tamiya became a hitting coach for the Chunichi Dragons. The following year, he became the manager of the Toei Flyers, where he managed for three years, finishing with a record of 155–209–21 as the Flyers' skipper. In 1994 and 1995, he managed the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League, finishing with a record of 83–104–3.

Later life and death

Tamiya served as a council member for his hometown, Shimodate. He died on May 5, 2010, at the age of 82 due to a brain hemorrhage.