Sadaharu Oh

Played for the Tokyo Giants in the Central League for 22 seasons (1959-1980). Among his other feats are hitting homeruns in 7 straight games and having 4 Koshien appearances (National High School Baseball Championship Tournament). After retirement, managed the Tokyo Giants for 5 seasons (1984-1988) and is now the current manager of the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (1995 - present).

Birthdate:  May 20, 1940
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Bats:       Left
Throws:     Left

Honors include:
15 Homerun titles (1962 - 1974, (yes, that is 13 straight years) 1976, 1977)
13 RBI titles (1962, 1964 - 1967, 1971 - 1978)
5 Batting titles (1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974)
2 Triple Crowns (1973 and 1974)
9 Gold Glove Awards (1972 - 1980)
9 MVP awards (1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977)
2000 Hits on August 4th, 1974
11 Japan Series Titles as a Player for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants 
          (1961, 1963, 1965 - 1973)
1 Japan Series Title as manager of the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants (1987)
1 Central League Titles as manager of the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants (1987)
1 Japan Series Title as manager of the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (1999)
2 Pacific League Titles as manager of the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (2000, 1999)


Lifetime Statistics 

Batting Average         .301
Games                   2831
At Bats	               9250
Hits                    2786
Home Runs               868
RBI                     2170
Runs                    1967
Walks                   2390
Strike Outs             1319
Errors	               165
Hit by pitch            114
Stolen Bases            84


Information from various sources.  

No one can stop a home run. No one can understand what it really is, unless you have felt it with your own hands and body. . . as the ball makes its high, long arc beyond the playing field, the diamond and the stands suddenly belong to one man. In that brief, brief time, you are free of all demands and complications.

-- Sadaharu Oh, Tokyo Giants Outfielder