Yukinori Miyata

Yukinori Miyata (宮田 征典) (The 8:30 Man)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 154 lb.

• School Nihon University
• High School Maebashi High School

• Born November 4, 1939 in Maebashi, Gumma Japan
• Died July 13, 2006

BR register page

Biographical Information

Yukinori Miyata was a pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants from 1962-69. He debuted with a 2-3, 2.52 season; the most notable feature was that he only issued 11 walks in 74 2/3 innings, a sign of the control he would have throughout his career. Miyata went 6-4 in 1963 with a 1.88 ERA in 47 outings. He pitched in games one and four of the 1963 Japan Series and was 0-1 with two runs allowed (both unearned) in 5 2/3 IP. In '64, Yukinori went 7-5 with a 2.32 ERA.

Miyata's best season was at age 25 in 1965 when he had a 20-5 record and 2.07 ERA. He threw in a Central League-leading 69 games, hurled 169 2/3 innings, walked 25 and struck out 145. He made his only All-Star roster. 19 of his 20 victories came as a relief pitcher and he became the first 20-game winner in Nippon Pro Baseball history who had primarily been used out of the bullpen. He won two games in the 1965 Japan Series, including the finale, and allowed only two baserunners in 8 innings in the Series, fanning 9.

1966 was a bad year for Yukinori, as he suffered through liver problems and injured his right elbow. He only appeared in 15 games, going 5-3 with a 2.12 ERA. He fell to 2-5, 5.21 the next year, then was 3-2, 3.38 in 1968. The sinker specialist was 0-3, 6.86 in his final season. Overall, his record was 45-30, 2.63. Save totals were not tracked in NPB in that era so it is unknown how many he accumulated.

After finishing his pitching career, Miyata coached with the Nippon Ham Fighters, Seibu Lions, Yomiuri Giants and Chunichi Dragons. He died of liver failure in 2006.

Source: Japanbaseballdaily.com by Gary Garland