Mitsuo Takeshita

Mitsuo Takeshita (竹下 光郎)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 165 lb.

• High School Oda High School

• Born June 9, 1938 in Oda, Shimane Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Mitsuo Takeshita caught in Nippon Pro Baseball for 8 years.

Takeshita was signed by the Yomiuri Giants in 1958, and he spent his first two seasons primarily in the NPB Farm Leagues, only having 15 at-bats combined with the big club. He was traded to the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1960, and he replaced Masatoshi Kato as their next starting catcher. Takeshita hit .257/.276/.400 in 122 games, and he was also selected into the 1960 NPB All-Star Games. He was the starting catcher of Game 3, and he was 1-for-2 with a single against Gentaro Shimada. He then hit .246/.262/.355 in 1961, and Koji Shimada took his spot in 1962. Takeshita slumped to .184/.238/.265 in 1962, and he only had 112 at-bats combined in the next three seasons before he announced his retirement in 1965.

Overall, Takeshita hit .241/.261/.356 with 236 hits and 17 homers in 8 seasons in the NPB.

Sources

• NPB site
• Wiki Japan
• 1960 NPB All Star Game