Tadashi Kameda

Tadashi Kameda (亀田 忠)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 182 lb.
• School Hawaii University
• High School Andrews High School (?)

• Born September 8, 1912 in Waialua, HI USA
• Died September 22, 1976

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Tadashi Kameda was a pitcher and third baseman for the Eagles for four years. He had a 65-78 record. Plagued by bad control, he walked over six batters per nine innings and led the league in walks almost every season.

Kameda debuted in the spring of 1938 with a 12-9, 2.06 record. He allowed only 105 hits in 187 2/3 IP but walked 143. He led the Japanese Professional Baseball League in games pitched (29), complete games (17), innings, walks, wild pitches (5) and strikeouts (137). He was sixth in the JPBL in ERA and tied Victor Starffin for the lead with five shutouts. In addition, he hit .238/.289/.357. In the fall campaign, Kameda fell to 7-10, 2.54 with 127 BB in 169 2/3 IP (109 hits allowed). He again led the JPBL in free passes issued. He was 9th in ERA. He batted .229/.267/.271.

In 1939, the Nisei hurler had a 14-27, 3.08 record in 55 games and 371 innings. He completed 30 starts, walked 280 and struck out 208. He led the league in losses, walks, runs (184) and earned runs allowed (127). He batted .277/.347/.410 with 5 HR in 195 AB.

Kameda bounced back in 1940. In a whopping 456 2/3 innings over 56 games (43 complete games), he went 26-23, allowed just 247 hits, struck out 297 and walked 273, His ERA was 1.77. He led the JPBL in innings, batters faced (1,837), strikeouts, complete games, wild pitches (6) and walks. On March 18, he no-hit Lion despite issuing nine walks. He failed to make the JPBL's top 10 in ERA. That year, he hit .230/.278/.263.

In 1941, he faded to 6-9, 3.11 with 75 walks in 113 innings and hit .109/.196/.109. On April 14, he no-hit Hanshin in a 1-0 victory. Kameda returned to the USA when relations between the USA and Japan broke down early in World War II.

Kameda's career ERA was 2.40. He walked 898 in 1,298 innings, allowed 849 hits and struck out 827. He completed 113 starts in his 179 games. He had batted .237/.294/.311 overall.

Source: Japanbaseballdaily.com by Gary Garland