Yoshimasa Takesue

Yoshimasa Takesue (武末 悉昌)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7", Weight 143 lbs.

• High School Tairen Shogyo High School, Chikushigaoka High School

• Born October 4, 1922 in Nakagawa, Fukuoka, Japan
• Died June 2, 1998 in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Yoshimasa Takesue played in Nippon Pro Baseball for 7 years.

Takesue was signed by the Nankai Hawks in 1949, and he soon became one of the most outstanding starting pitchers in the Japanese Professional Baseball League. He was believed to be the first regular submarine pitcher in NPB (though some had been around in partial roles before, such as Jimmy Bonner when the league first started), and he was 21-17 with a 3.13 ERA in his rookie year with his unique under-hand throwing. He led the JPBL with 183 strikeouts, ranked 5th in wins (6 behind Victor Starffin) and 7th in ERA (1.17 behind Hideo Fujimoto). However, Takesue was stabbed by his girlfriend after this season, and it was even reported that his baseball career would end.

The Fukuoka native miraculously recovered, and he was 12-6 with a solid 3.09 ERA after he jumped to the Nishitetsu Lions when the two leagues were split in 1950. He still went 11-7 with a 2.96 ERA in 1951, and allowed an unearned run in three innings in 1951 NPB All-Star Game 2. However, he slumped to 2-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 1952, and he even allowed 32 runs in 30 1/3 innings in 1953. The Takahashi Unions still selected him when they were founded, and Takesue came back as he was 3-4 with a 2.95 ERA. However, he allowed 14 runs in 6 innings in 1955, then he announced his retirement. After retiring, he was the pitching coach for the Lions from 1962 to 1969, and managed their minor league team from 1970 to 1971.

Overall, Takesue was 49-46 with a 3.38 ERA, struck out 473 and pitched 938 1/3 innings in 7 years in the NPB.

Related Sites

• Wiki Japan
• NPB.com Bio