Katsuhiko Ishikawa

Katsuhiko Ishikawa (石川 克彦)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 156 lbs.

• High School Okazaki High School

• Born September 19, 1933 in Niwa-gun, Aichi Japan
• Died 2013

BR register page

Biographical Information

Katsuhiko Ishikawa pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball for 8 years.

Ishikawa was signed by the Chunichi Dragons in 1952, and he had a 6.50 ERA in 8 games in his rookie year. He broke out in 1953, having a 18-4 record with a 2.31 ERA and leading the Central League in winning percentage. He ranked 3rd in ERA (between Hideo Fujimoto and Masaichi Kaneda), 6th in strikeouts (88, between Ryohei Hasegawa and Takao Fujimura) and 6th in wins (between Hasegawa and Fujimoto). Ishikawa was also selected into the 1953 NPB All-Star Game, but he didn't appear in either of the games.

The Dragons then named his their opening day starter in 1954, and Ishikawa had a 21-9 record with a 2.24 ERA. He was 4th in wins (tied with Takumi Otomo), 6th in ERA (between Fujimura and Hiroshi Nakao), 6th in strikeouts (between Takehiko Bessho and Hasegawa) and 6th in complete games (19, between Bessho and Noboru Matsuyama). In the 1954 Nippon Series, he fanned 6 in 5 1/3 shutout innings in Game 2, and he outdueled Mamoru Otsu of the Nishitetsu Lions. He then allowed 4 runs in 8 innings in Game 6, and Otsu got the win over him. The Dragons still beat the Lions in 7 games, and Ishikawa won his only Nippon Series title.

Ishikawa was still a solid starter in 1955, and he was 17-9 with a 1.44 ERA. He ranked 2nd in ERA (.12 behind Bessho), 8th in strikeouts (between Toshitake Nakayama and Bessho), 8th in wins (between Shozo Watanabe and Nakao) and 6th in complete games (15, tied with Yoshio Bizen). However, he suffered from injuries, so he only pitched 16 games combined in the next three seasons. Ishikawa had a 4.05 ERA in 22 appearances in 1959, then he announced his retirement.

Overall, Ishikawa was 59-25 with a 2.31 ERA, struck out 404 and pitched 776 2/3 innings in 8 years in NPB.

Sources

• Wiki Japan
• NPB.com Bio