Masayuki Tanemo

Masayuki Tanemo (種茂 雅之)

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

• School Rikkyo University
• High School Shizuoka High School

• Born February 13, 1938 in Shizuoka, Shizuoka Japan

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Masayuki Tanemo played for fourteen seasons in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Tanemo began his NPB career with the Toei Flyers in 1961, striking out in his only at-bat. He hit .254/.292/.331 in 85 games in 1962. He was 5 for 14 with two doubles, a walk and five RBI in five games in the 1962 Japan Series; the catcher helped Toei win its only Japan Series ever. He split Japan Series MVP honors with another Masayuki, Masayuki Dobashi (the only time through 2010 that the Series MVP was split). Tanemo's postseason success did not carry over to the regular season in 1963 as he batted .221/.280/.301. He was .227/.236/.284 in 1964 in a backup role and hit .215/.225/.297 as a part-timer the next year. Tanemo then broke out in 1966 with a .291/.337/.372 batting line and his only Pacific League All-Star team selection. He finished 5th in the PL in average behind four bigger names - Kihachi Enomoto, Isao Harimoto, Katsuya Nomura and Shoichi Busujima.

In 1967, the Shizuoka native faded back to .254/.282/.337. He hit .254/.280/.289 in 1968 and only .172/.213/.250 in 1969. His batting line was .205/.247/.305 in 1970 and .202/.263/.270 in 1971. The veteran had one of his better seasons in 1972, he moved to the Hankyu Braves, producing at a .271/.311/.367 rate. He won his only Diamond Glove Award, the first year the award was given out. The backstop was 3 for 11 with two walks in the 1972 Japan Series but Hankyu lost to the Yomiuri Giants. #22 hit .276/.336/.345 in 1973 and wrapped up by going 11 for 53 with a double and four walks in 1974.

Overall, Tanemo had batted .243/.285/.320 in 1,190 games in NPB. He had 213 runs, 29 home runs and 247 RBI. He later was a Hankyu coach, Nippon Ham Fighters scout and minor league manager and Orix BlueWave front office employee.

Source: Japan Baseball Daily