Hiroshi Katayama (01)

Hiroshi Katayama (片山 博)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 6", Weight 140 lb.

• High School Wakamatsu High School

• Born November 12, 1923 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Hiroshi Katayama pitched for 8 season in Nippon Pro Baseball. He began his career with Moji Tetsudo Kanrikyoku in the industrial leagues. In 1948, he joined the Kyuei Flyers and was 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 7 games. In 1949, he pitched 291 2/3 IP and went 16-15 with a 3.70 ERA as a workhorse. Moving to the Taiyo Whales in 1950, he allowed 250 hits in 210 1/3 IP and was 14-8 with a 4.54 ERA.

The left-hander fell to 3-13 with a 5.51 ERA in 1951 and allowed a .333 average. Katayama was 7-15 with a 3.45 ERA for the Shochiku Robins in 1952. Hiroshi then joined the Hiroshima Carp and went 6-9 with a 4.47 ERA in 1953. He did not walk anyone in a 50-inning stretch from September 8 through October 13; through 2009, it was the second-best stretch in the history of the Central League.

Katayama was 3-7 with a 4.72 ERA in 1954 then 1-5 with a 4.76 ERA and .327 opponent average in 1955. After 246 games in Nippon Pro Baseball, Hiroshi was 52-72 with a 4.20 ERA, allowing 1,359 hits in 1,196 1/3 IP. He later managed high school and industrial league ball.

Source: Japan Baseball Daily