Hiromori Kawashima

Hiromori Kawashima (川島 廣守)

• School Chuo University
• High School Aizu High School

• Born February 27, 1922 in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Japan
• Died December 9, 2012

Biographical Information

Hiromori Kawashima is the former commissioner of Nippon Pro Baseball. At age 76, he became commish in 1998, replacing Ichiro Yoshikuni. He was the 10th man to hold the post and had previously been chairman of the Central League. He was vocal in his criticism of the Daiei Hawks' refusal to pitch to Tuffy Rhodes when Tuffy was chasing Sadaharu Oh's home run record in 1999. Defending equality for gaijin and taking a stand against a Japanese legend was rare for any NPB commissioner. Kawashima stepped down in 2004 and was replaced by Yasuchika Negoro. In 2006 he was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.