Junro Anan

Junro Anan (阿南 準郎)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 145 lbs.
• High School Saiki Kakujo High School
• Born September 2, 1937 in Saeki, Oita Japan
• Died July 30, 2024

BR register page

Biographical Information

Junro Anan played and managed in the Nippon Pro Baseball for more than 30 years.

Anan was signed by the Hiroshima Carp in 1956. Since the Carp lacked infielders, he played 34 games as a rookie with a .195/.222/.299 batting line. Anan had 89 appearances in 1957, but he still struggled on offense, only hitting .180/.262/.217 with a homer. Due to his weak batting, Anan only played 37 and 38 games respectively in the next two seasons. When Tatsuo Okitsu was moved to first base in 1960, Anan took his spot at third base with his elite defense and hit .228/.279/.346. His batting line declined to .199/.243/.260 the next season in a career-high 117 games, and he improved to .246/.304/.307 in 110 games in 1962.

When Okitsu came back to third base in 1962, Anan was often used as utility man in 1962 and 1963. He hit .229/.265/.291 in 99 games in 1963. Because Yoshitaka Kosaka struggled in 1964, Anan was named the starting second baseman and recorded a .246/.287/.325 batting line in a career-high 468 at-bats. He was moved back to the utility spot for the next three seasons, and he only hit .208/.269/.255, .218/.258/.249 and .179/.220/.231 respectively. His poor batting was the main reason that he couldn't get a stable starting spot most of his career.

Anan transferred to the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1968 and replaced Akitoshi Kodama as their main third baseman. He hit .244/.279/.322 in 1968, then recorded a .232/.277/.338 batting line in 1969. Anan slumped to .182/.236/.188 in 1970, then he announced his retirement after that season. He was the fielding coach of the Buffaloes' minor league team in 1971, and coached their big club from 1972 to 1973. Anan came back to the Carp in 1974, with the same position until 1985. The Hyogo native succeeded his old teammate Takeshi Koba to became the Carp's new manager in 1986. Anan led the Carp to the Central League pennant in that season, but lost to the Seibu Lions in eight games (Game 1 was tied, the only 8-game series in NPB history) in the 1986 Japan Series. He managed the Carp for the next two seasons, and they ranked 3rd in both seasons. Anan was replaced by Koji Yamamoto after the 1988 season.

Overall, Anan had hit .218/.267/.283 in 15 seasons in NPB. He was 203-163-24 as a manager in 3 seasons.

Related Sites

• Stats at japanesebaseball.com
• NPB site
• Wiki Japan