Tatsuhiko Tanaka

Tatsuhiko Tanaka (田中 達彦)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lb.
• High School Choshi Shogyo High School

• Born August 27, 1945 in Chiba, Chiba Japan

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Infielder Tatsuhiko Tanaka was one of three players loaned by the Nankai Hawks to the San Francisco Giants as part of a player development agreement on February 23, 1964; the other two were P Masanori Murakami and C Hiroshi Takahashi. The three were considered to be only marginal prospects, and were initially assigned to the Magic Valley Cowboys of the Pioneer League. Everything went well until Murakami had an unexpectedly excellent season, and was called up to San Francisco by the end of the year, before spending the 1965 season with the Giants as well. That soured what was at first a positive relationship, since Murakami came under enormous pressure to return to Japan, even though he would have preferred to continue playing in the U.S., and the Giants would have liked to keep his as well. In the end, he returned to Japan.

In the case of Tanaka and Takahashi, there was no such heartbreak. Neither player showed enough in the minor leagues to warrant a promotion to the big league club. In his one season in the U.S., Tanaka hit .267/.407/.407, with 4 doubles and 6 homers in 54 games for Magic Valley.

Tanaka played for Nankai in 1965, hitting .140 in 24 games, and went 0 for 2 in 2 games in 1966, playing mainly second base.

Related Sites

• BR Minors page