Mamoru Otsu

Mamoru Otsu (大津 守)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 160 lbs.

• High School Meizen High School

• Born March 5, 1931 in Kurume, Fukuoka Japan
• Died October 2, 2007 in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Mamoru Otsu pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball for 13 years.

Otsu was signed by the Nishitetsu Lions in 1951, and he had a 1.80 ERA in 7 games in his rookie year. He broke out in 1952, having a 18-8 record with a 2.73 ERA, and he also led the Pacific League with 46 appearances. He was 3rd in wins (4 behind Masaaki Noguchi), 3rd in ERA (between Noguchi and Tokuji Kawasaki), 4th in complete games (tied with Victor Starffin, Seiichi Tarui and Kawasaki) and 3rd in innings (between Noguchi and Koji Himeno). Otsu was selected into the 1953 NPB All-Star Games, but he didn't pitch in either of the games. He was 6-11 with a 3.67 ERA in 1953.

The Fukuoka native bounced back in 1954, having a 18-11 record with a 1.78 ERA. He was 8th in wins (between Takao Kajimoto and Eiji Shibata) and 3rd in ERA (between Sadao Nishimura and Hisafumi Kawamura). Otsu then attended 1955 NPB All-Star Game 2, and he pitched a shutout inning with a strikeout against Wally Yonamine in the 8th inning. He completed a no-hitter against the Kintetsu Pearls in June 4, 1955. Otsu ended up 21-10 with a 2.50 ERA in 1955, and he led the league with 6 shutouts. He ranked 4th in wins (tied with Kawamura) and 8th in complete games (tied with Atsushi Aramaki). However, Otsu's ERA rose to 7.07 in 1956, and the Lions released him as he only pitched two games in 1957.

The Pearls picked him up, and Otsu bounced back in 1958. He was 10-22 with a 2.99 ERA, and he led the league in losses. Otsu then had a 11-20 record with a 3.17 ERA in 1959, leading the league in runs allowed and ranking 2nd in losses (4 behind Tetsuya Yoneda). He slumped to 0-11 with a 6.59 ERA in 1960, and he was 4-13 with a 4.04 ERA in 1961. The 1962 season was his last productive season, and he had a 2.93 ERA in 46 relief outings. He only pitched 10 games in 1963, then he announced his retirement. He coached the Lions from 1965 to 1967.

Overall, Otsu was 96-112 with a 3.08 ERA, struck out 673 and pitched 1,675 1/3 innings in 13 years in NPB.

Sources

• Wiki Japan
• NPB.com Bio
• 1955 NPB All-Star Game