Motohiko Sato

Motohiko Sato (佐藤 元彦)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 154 lb.

• School Keio University
• High School Kumamoto High School

• Born January 1, 1943 in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Motohiko Sato pitched for seven years in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Sato played for Sapporo Beer in the industrial leagues before being picked in the 7th round of the 1965 NPB draft by the Tokyo Orions. He was 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two starts and eight relief appearances as a rookie in 1966. In his best season, 1967, he was 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA and .223 opponent average. He made his only Pacific League All-Star team in 1968 and finished the year with a 12-13, 3.70 record.

Sato collapsed (0-2, 8.31, .351 opponent average) in 1969 but rebounded to 5-5, 3.39 in 1970. In the 1970 Japan Series, he was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA and 1 for 2 at the plate as the Orions fell in five games to the Yomiuri Giants; Sato got the lone Orions win (in relief of Fumio Narita in game four).

In 1971, the Keio alumnus was 3-4 with a 5.87 ERA. Moving to the Taiyo Whales, he was only 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA and .348 opponent average to end his career in 1972. Overall, he had gone 30-35 with a 3.86 ERA in 179 games (68 starts).

Source: Japan Baseball Daily