Akira Takahashi (takahak02)

Akira Takahashi (高橋 明)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 162 lb.

• High School Hofu High School

• Born May 29, 1942 in Hofu, Yamaguchi Japan
• Died July 31, 2006

BR register page

Biographical Information

Akira Takahashi began his professional baseball career with the 1961 Yomiuri Giants, allowing 5 runs in three innings. In '62, the right-hander was 0-2 with a 5.63 ERA. The next year, Takahashi went 14-13 with a 2.80 ERA in arguably his finest season. He shone in the 1963 Japan Series, winning games five and seven (both complete games) with a 2.25 ERA in these two fine starts and one relief appearance. At the plate, he even went 2 for 6 with 2 runs and an RBI.

He was 12-14, 3.03 the next year, with only 27 walks allowed in 181 innings. On Opening Day, he beat Masaichi Kaneda 3-1. He was 4-7 with a 3.11 ERA in 32 outings in 1965. He was 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in limited action in '66, but allowed two runs in two innings in the 1966 Japan Series. In 1967, Akira went 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA with only 8 walks in 55 2/3 innings.

Returning to regular duty in 1968, Takahashi had a 9-8, 2.90 campaign. In the 1968 Japan Series, he made three relief appearances, allowing 4 runs in 6 1/3 IP. In '69, the Yomiuri hurler went 10-5 with a 3.54 ERA. He won game one of the 1969 Japan Series in relief and started games three and five, getting two no-decisions; overall, he was 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in the Series that year. His last year with the Giants was in 1970 when his line read 3-2, 2.12 in 19 games (33 2/3 IP).

In 1971, Takahashi went to the Nishitetsu Lions and had his busiest year, making 43 appearances and getting 27 decisions (14-13). His ERA was 3.73 and he was the only pitcher on the team to post a winning record; that was when the Black Mist Scandal was decimating Nishitetsu. The next season, he slipped to 1-8, 6.72 in his final campaign to fall to 71-72, 3.43 on his career. He walked only 242 batters in 1,224 2/3 career innings.

He died of stomach cancer in July 2006.

Source: Japanbaseballdaily.com by Gary Garland