Masayuki Nagayasu

Masayuki Nagayasu (永易 将之)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 160 lb.

• High School Osaka Osaka Institute of Technology High School

• Born January 1, 1942 in Moriguchi, Osaka Japan
• Died April 1, 2003

BR register page

Biographical Information

The number one came up frequently for pitcher Masayuki Nagayasu - born on the first day of the first month of the year, he was the first player banned from Nippon Pro Baseball.

Pitching for Den Den Kinki in the industrial leagues after high school, Nagayasu drew the attention of the Toei Flyers and signed with them for 1962, then spent a couple years in the minors. He walked four batters in three innings for Toei in 1964. The next season, he went 10-3 with a 1.93 ERA, allowing only 100 hits in 140 1/3 IP. He finished third in the 1965 Pacific League in ERA behind Kiyohiro Miura and Yukio Ozaki. In 1966, Masayuki fell to 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 43 innings and 21 games. He pitched just 4 1/3 innings for the 1967 Flyers and allowed three runs.

In 1968, Nagayasu moved to the Nishitetsu Lions and had a 4-5, 2.83 record in 35 outings. The next year, he was 2-6 with a 3.27 ERA in 88 innings over 32 games. Both of his wins came in shutouts.

On October 7, Nishitetsu officials discovered that Nagayasu had been taking bribes from figures in organized crime to throw games. On November 28, he became the first player in NPB history to be banned for life. On April 1 of the next year, Masayuki revealed to the media that other members of the Lions had been involved in the deals, which would become known as the Black Mist Scandal, the biggest scandal in the history of NPB as of 2006.

His career mark was 17-17 with a 2.81 ERA in 386 2/3 IP over 133 games. He allowed 328 hits and 111 walks while fanning 187.

Principal Source: Japanbaseballdaily.com by Gary Garland