Hiromitsu Ochiai
Hiromitsu Ochiai Lạc hợp bác mãn | |
---|---|
Born: Wakami, Akita,Japan | December 9, 1953|
Batted:Right Threw:Right | |
NPB debut | |
May 29, 1979, for the Lotte Orions | |
Last appearance | |
October 7, 1998, for the Nippon Ham Fighters | |
NPB statistics | |
Batting average | .311 |
Hits | 2371 |
HRs | 510 |
RBIs | 1564 |
Teams | |
As player
As manager As general manager | |
Career highlights and awards | |
Member of the Japanese | |
Baseball Hall of Fame | |
Induction | 2011 |
Hiromitsu Ochiai(Lạc hợp bác mãn,Ochiai Hiromitsu,born December 9, 1953)is a Japanese formerprofessional baseballmanager and player. He is former manager of theChunichi Dragonsin Japan'sNippon Professional Baseball.He is considered to be one of the most important players in the history ofJapanese baseball,winning numerous batting awards and being the only player to receive the prestigioustriple crownbatting award three times. With 510 career home runs, Ochiai is sixth on theall-time NPB list.Ochiai's style is calledOreryu(オレ lưu ).Oreryumeans "to do with only my style." The word described how he acted according to his personal philosophies.
Biography
[edit]Ochiai was born in the town ofWakamiinAkita,Japan, a rice-farming area of northernHonshū.Ochiai was the youngest of seven children and grew up enjoying spending time in the cinema rather than on the baseball field. During high school at Akita Tech, he did not like Japanese high school baseball's nature, even dropping out ofToyo Universitywhen he found out he was going to endure something similar. He joined Toshiba Fuchu, a team in the Japanese industrial league, after leaving Toyo University and went back to his home town and spent some years as a professionalbowler.
In 1978, at 25 years old, the third baseman joined theLotte Orionsafter being selected in the third round of thedraft.The Lotte manager did not care for his unorthodox right-handed batting style andMasaichi Kanedacriticized Ochiai, butIsao Harimotosupported Ochiai and Ochiai did not quit.[1]From 1981, Ochiai played a regular role for his team, and in 1982 he won his first triple crown batting title. He also won the Triple Crown in 1985 and 1986, and continued winning titles through 1991. The 1985 one was notable, as it wasn't an all-NPB one, asHanshin TigersplayerRandy Bassalso put a Triple Crown season of his own. Because of that, Japanese media completely changed their stance on Ochiai. Instead of heavily disliking him due to his attitude about the tradition of Japanese baseball, he was instead seen as being "Japan's answer to Bass", and attempted to paint both as bitter rivals. However, they actually both respected each other.
In 1987, Ochiai was traded to theChunichi Dragonsby theLotte Orions.During the 1994 season, theYomiuri Giantspicked up Ochiai as a free agent. After the Giants signedKazuhiro Kiyoharain 1997, Ochiai joined theNippon-Ham Fightersat the age of 43. At the conclusion of the 1998 season, Ochiai retired.
Hiromitsu Ochiai was the manager of the Chunichi Dragons from 2004 to 2011. He led the Dragons to theJapan Seriesduring his inaugural year as manager in 2004, again in 2006, and led them to victory on the third try in 2007. His contract was not renewed after leading the Dragons to within a game of winning the 2011 Japan Series.[2]He was often criticized for his decision-making, such as removing starting pitcherDaisuke Yamaito start the ninth inning of game five of the 2007 Japan Series. Yamai had been pitching aperfect game.CloserHitoki Iwasefinished off the ninth for a rare combined perfect game to clinch the championship for the Dragons.[3]
Ochiai was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. The Hiromitsu Ochiai Baseball Hall opened inTaiji, Wakayamain 1993 starting a trend of museums dedicated to famous ballplayers.[4]
On October 9, 2013, Ochiai was appointed general manager of theChunichi Dragons.[5]On December 20, 2016 it was announced that Ochiai would step down from his role as general manager at the end of his contract in January 2017.[6]
Awards and accomplishments
[edit]- MVP (1982, 1985)
- Triple Crown (1982, 1985, 1986)
- Batting Title (1981~1983, 1985, 1986)
- Home run Title (1982, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991)
- Run batted in Title (1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990)
- On-base percentage Title (1982, 1985~1988, 1990, 1991)
- Best Nine Award (1981~1986, 1988~1991)
- Matsutaro Shoriki Award(2007)
Career batting statistics
[edit]YEAR | Team | Number | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | SB | SF | BB | HBP | K | DP | ERR | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1979 | Lotte Orions | 6 | 36 | 69 | 64 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 1 | .234 | .290 | .406 | .696 |
1980 | 57 | 188 | 166 | 28 | 47 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 99 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 23 | 5 | 5 | .283 | .349 | .596 | .946 | ||
1981 | 127 | 502 | 423 | 69 | 138 | 19 | 3 | 33 | 262 | 90 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 68 | 6 | 55 | 17 | 9 | .326 | .423 | .619 | 1.043 | ||
1982 | 128 | 552 | 462 | 86 | 150 | 32 | 1 | 32 | 280 | 99 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 81 | 5 | 58 | 11 | 7 | .325 | .428 | .606 | 1.034 | ||
1983 | 119 | 497 | 428 | 79 | 142 | 22 | 1 | 25 | 241 | 75 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 64 | 2 | 52 | 14 | 7 | .332 | .419 | .563 | .982 | ||
1984 | 129 | 562 | 456 | 89 | 143 | 17 | 3 | 33 | 265 | 94 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 98 | 4 | 33 | 14 | 16 | .314 | .436 | .581 | 1.017 | ||
1985 | 130 | 568 | 460 | 118 | 169 | 21 | 1 | 52 | 351 | 146 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 101 | 3 | 40 | 16 | 19 | .367 | .481 | .763 | 1.244 | ||
1986 | 123 | 522 | 417 | 98 | 150 | 11 | 0 | 50 | 311 | 116 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 101 | 3 | 59 | 15 | 10 | .360 | .487 | .746 | 1.232 | ||
1987 | Chunichi Dragons | 125 | 519 | 432 | 83 | 143 | 33 | 0 | 28 | 260 | 85 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 81 | 2 | 51 | 10 | 9 | .331 | .435 | .602 | 1.037 | |
1988 | 130 | 557 | 450 | 82 | 132 | 31 | 1 | 32 | 261 | 95 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 98 | 3 | 70 | 11 | 10 | .293 | .418 | .580 | .998 | ||
1989 | 130 | 559 | 476 | 78 | 153 | 23 | 1 | 40 | 298 | 116 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 75 | 1 | 69 | 11 | 6 | .321 | .410 | .626 | 1.036 | ||
1990 | 131 | 570 | 458 | 93 | 133 | 19 | 1 | 34 | 256 | 102 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 100 | 4 | 87 | 7 | 7 | .290 | .416 | .559 | .975 | ||
1991 | 112 | 478 | 374 | 80 | 127 | 17 | 0 | 37 | 255 | 91 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 95 | 4 | 55 | 9 | 5 | .340 | .473 | .682 | 1.155 | ||
1992 | 116 | 481 | 384 | 58 | 112 | 22 | 1 | 22 | 202 | 71 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 88 | 3 | 74 | 12 | 3 | .292 | .425 | .526 | .948 | ||
1993 | 119 | 504 | 396 | 64 | 113 | 19 | 0 | 17 | 183 | 65 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 96 | 4 | 69 | 13 | 4 | .285 | .423 | .462 | .885 | ||
1994 | Yomiuri Giants | 60 | 129 | 540 | 447 | 53 | 125 | 19 | 0 | 15 | 189 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 81 | 6 | 56 | 13 | 8 | .280 | .393 | .423 | .815 |
1995 | 6 | 117 | 483 | 399 | 64 | 124 | 15 | 1 | 17 | 192 | 65 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 73 | 3 | 87 | 17 | 5 | .311 | .414 | .481 | .895 | |
1996 | 106 | 448 | 376 | 60 | 113 | 18 | 0 | 21 | 194 | 86 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 67 | 3 | 53 | 11 | 6 | .301 | .408 | .516 | .924 | ||
1997 | Nippon Ham Fighters | 3 | 113 | 466 | 397 | 35 | 104 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 127 | 43 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 61 | 3 | 60 | 16 | 3 | .262 | .361 | .320 | .680 |
1998 | 59 | 192 | 162 | 11 | 38 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 50 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 22 | 12 | 0 | .235 | .344 | .309 | .652 | ||
Total | 2236 | 9257 | 7627 | 1335 | 2371 | 371 | 15 | 510 | 4302 | 1564 | 65 | 35 | 4 | 88 | 1475 | 63 | 1135 | 236 | 140 | .311 | .422 | .564 | .987 |
References
[edit]- ^donga [ "Korean Hitter with Odd Stance Meets Manager Who Had One Too." 02 Mar 2007, Dong-a Ilbo, The.]
- ^Coskey, Jason. "Ochiai bows out after eight years in charge of Dragons." 25 Nov 2011: Japan Times, The.[1]
- ^Coskey, Jason. "Dragons clinch Japan Series: Yamai, Iwase combine for perfect game." 02 Nov 2007: Japan Times, The.[2]
- ^Normile, Dennis. "Museum Showcases Ichiro's Baseball Career." 27 Aug 2012: New York Times, The.[3]
- ^Graczyk, Wayne."Tanishige to become rare player-manager for Dragons."19 October 2013:The Japan Times.
- ^"Dragons GM Ochiai leaving team".Japan Times.KYODO. 20 December 2016.Retrieved13 January2017.
External links
[edit]- Nippon Professional Baseball career statistics fromJapaneseBaseball
- 1953 births
- Chunichi Dragons managers
- Chunichi Dragons players
- Japanese baseball players
- Living people
- Lotte Orions players
- Managers of baseball teams in Japan
- Nippon Ham Fighters players
- Nippon Professional Baseball first basemen
- Nippon Professional Baseball MVP Award winners
- Nippon Professional Baseball second basemen
- Nippon Professional Baseball third basemen
- Baseball people from Akita Prefecture
- Yomiuri Giants players
- Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame inductees
- Nippon Professional Baseball hitting Triple Crown winners