Yasuo Hayashi

Yasuo Hayashi (林 安夫)

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• High School Ichinomiya High School

• Born April 3, 1922 in Aichi Prefecture Japan
• Died 1944

BR register page

Biographical Information

Yasuo Hayashi was both a cleanup hitter and star pitcher in high school. He joined Asahi in 1942 and set the all-time Nippon Pro Baseball record for innings and starts, which has never been broken. He threw 541 1/3 innings and made 52 starts. The 71 appearances are still a rookie record. He faced 2,079 batters, hurled 44 complete games, allowed 351 hits, tossed 12 shutouts, allowed 6 homers, walked 134, fanned 145 and only threw one wild pitch. He was 32-22 with a 1.01 ERA. He led the Japanese Professional Baseball League in games pitched, batters faced, hits allowed, complete games and ERA as well. His 44 complete games are second all-time in NPB.

In 1943, the 21-year-old went 20-11 with a 0.89 ERA, threw 27 complete games and 12 shutouts in 38 appearances and only allowed 186 hits in 294 innings. He was second to only Hideo Fujimoto in ERA.

Hayashi's record after two seasons was 52-33 with a 0.97 ERA. Unfortunately, he would never pitch again. He entered the Japanese military in 1943 and died in combat a year later.

Source: Japanbaseballdaily.com by Gary Garland