Masao Tamura

Masao Tamura (田村 政雄)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 173 lb.

• School Chuo University
• High School Wakayama Commercial High School

• Born May 3, 1953 in Wakayama, Wakayama Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Masao Tamura pitched for five seasons in Nippon Pro Baseball. His son Ryohei Tamura pitched in the Japanese minors.

Tamura was a college star, taking part in three Japanese-US college matchups. He was 39-33 with a 2.35 ERA overall at Chuo, winning two MVP awards. He fell two wins shy of Hiroaki Shibaike's Tohto University Base Ball League record. The Taiyo Whales took him in the first round of the 1975 NPB draft. He was 1-3 with a 6.25 ERA in 12 games as a rookie in 1976. In 1977, he went 3-4 with a save and a 5.81 ERA in 42 games. His 10 hit batsmen tied Hisato Aoyama for 5th in the Central League. He had his best season in 1978 (3-3, 2 Sv, 3.77).

Tamura was then dealt to the Nankai Hawks for Michiro Sato and Isao Ito. He struggled mightily in 1979 (2-4, 8.09 ERA, 1.93 WHIP) and 1980 (0-2, Sv, 8.16, 1.81 WHIP). He finished his career with a 9-16, 6.11 record and four saves in 135 NPB games (40 starts). In 322 2/3 IP, he allowed 373 hits and 153 walks while striking out 169. He was 5 for 44 with four walks, a run and 22 strikeouts offensively.

He was pitching coach of the Kochi Fighting Dogs in 2011.