Yoshio Inoue

Yoshio Inoue (井上 善夫)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 187 lbs.

• High School The Second High School of Nihon University

• Born September 27, 1941 in Uenohara, Yamanashi, Japan
• Died December 31, 2019 in Tokyo Prefecture, Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Yoshio Inoue pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball for 12 years.

Inoue was signed by the Nishitetsu Lions in 1960, and he had a 3.16 ERA in 22 relief outings in his rookie year. He was 1-7 with a 3.75 ERA in 1961, then he pitched 52 games with a 3.78 ERA in 1962. Inoue had a 6-4 record with a 3.15 ERA in 1963, and he started in 1963 Nippon Series Game 5. However, he allowed 2 solo shots - to Shigeo Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh - in 4 innings, and Akira Takahashi outdueled him with a complete game. The Yomiuri Giants beat the Lions in 7 games.

The Yamanashi native broke out in 1964, having a 17-11 record with a 3.23 ERA. He ranked 10th in wins in the Pacific League, 13 behind Masaaki Koyama. He threw a no-hitter against the Hankyu Braves, facing one more than the minimum. Inoue was also selected into the 1964 NPB All-Star Game, and he pitched a shutout inning in Game 3. He was 11-15 with a 3.52 ERA in 1965, and he ranked 9th in losses (5 behind Koichiro Sasaki and Koyama). His ERA was 2.84 in 29 games in 1966, then he recorded a 2.49 ERA in 35 games in 1967. The Lions then traded him to the Giants for Akio Masuda and Katsutoyo Yoshida. However, Inoue only played 5 games in 1968 then he was released. The Hiroshima Carp picked him up, and he had a 5.79 ERA in 7 games in 1969. He pitched 27 games with a 4.08 ERA in 1970, then his ERA was 2.92 in 29 relief outings in 1971. Inoue announced his retirement after the 1971 season.

Overall, Inoue was 47-58 with a 3.39 ERA, struck out 612 and pitched 1,080 2/3 innings in 12 years in NPB.

Sources

• Wiki Japan
• Bio
• 1964 NPB All-Star Game