Baba, Shohei Positions Played: P
Nicknames:  High School: Sanjo Jitsugyo High School (dropped out)
Born: 1/23/1938 College: N/A
Died: 1/31/1999 Industrial League: N/A
Birthplace: Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture Team (Years and [uniform number]): Yomiuri (1957 [59])
Height: 6'6" Weight: 187 pounds
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
Year G IP W L Save SP GS RA BF PC CG SO H HR K BB HBP WP Balk R ER ERA OAVG WHIP
1957 3 7.0 0 1 0 0 1 2 26 0 0 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 1.29 .200 0.71
Totals 3 7.0 0 1 0 0 1 2 26 0 0 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 1.29 .200 0.71
Biography: Started playing baseball in junior high. Was his high school team's ace. Was scouted by Yomiuri and, in January 1955, he dropped out of school to join the team. Went 12-1 in the Eastern League and was named Pitcher of the Year in that circuit (1956). His loss came in a game against Chunichi, who had hall of famer Shigeru Sugishita on the mound (10/23/1957). Had surgery to remove a mass near his brain in 1958. He moved to Taiyo in 1960, but he fell getting out of the bathtub and severly cut up his pitching hand, ending his career. He was scouted by a pro wrestling outfit and became its biggest name under the moniker Giant Baba. He wrestled into his 60's before a form of intestinal cancer took his life. 
Career WHIP: 0.71 K/9: BB/9: 0.0 HR/9: 0.0
Debut: First Win (N/A), First Shutout (N/A)
Titles: N/A
Managerial Record: N/A
Hall of Fame Induction: N/A


Bamei, Yasusaburo Positions Played: P
Nicknames:  High School: Koryo Chugakkou
Born: 1/24/1923 College: Senshu University
Died:  Industrial League: Kahoku Den Den
Birthplace: Hiroshima Prefecture Team (Years and [uniform number]): Kokutetsu Swallows (1951 [12])
Height: 5'8" Weight: 147 pounds
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
Year G IP W L Save SP GS RA BF PC CG SO H HR K BB HBP WP Balk R ER ERA OAVG WHIP
1951 2 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 .000 3.00
Totals 2 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 .000 3.00
Biography: Signed by Kokutetsu before the 1950 season. 
Career WHIP: 3.00 K/9: 9.0 BB/9: 27.00 HR/9: 0.0
Debut: First Win (N/A), First Shutout (N/A)
Titles: N/A
Managerial Record: N/A
Hall of Fame Induction: N/A


Bando, Eiji Positions Played: P
Nicknames:  High School: Tokushima Shogyo High School
Born: 4/15/1940 College: N/A
Died:  Industrial League: N/A
Birthplace: Manchuria Team (Years and [uniform number]): Chunichi (1959-1969 [30], [14], 
Height: 5'7" Weight: 154 pounds [30])
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
Year G IP W L Save SP GS RA BF PC CG SO H HR K BB HBP WP Balk R ER ERA OAVG WHIP
1959 33 97.0 4 4 0 0 12 21 411 1 1 89 6 69 29 4 3 0 37 34 3.15 .243 1.22
1960 44 174.2 10 11 0 0 20 24 703 6 0 145 17 126 35 1 0 0 57 51 2.63 .222 1.03
1961 47 193.1 12 10 0 0 33 14 795 8 4 166 14 108 48 4 2 0 65 56 2.61 .229 1.11
1962 28 88.2 2 9 0 0 13 15 364 2 1 85 10 56 25 3 3 0 44 42 4.26 .260 1.24
1963 30 73.2 3 1 0 0 6 24 314 2 1 77 2 39 26 2 3 1 32 25 3.05 .276 1.40
1964 53 140.1 6 7 0 0 9 44 600 2 0 144 13 73 44 3 3 0 60 48 3.08 .265 1.34
1965 55 156.1 12 7 0 0 8 47 617 0 0 120 11 87 45 3 3 1 47 39 2.25 .217 1.06
1966 60 133.0 13 5 0 0 1 59 520 0 0 103 14 91 30 1 5 0 44 38 2.57 .221 1.00
1967 51 119.2 14 6 0 0 1 50 485 0 0 110 11 72 28 2 4 0 37 34 2.56 .247 1.15
1968 18 21.2 1 4 0 0 0 18 108 0 0 29 3 12 11 0 2 0 23 16 6.65 .315 1.85
1969 16 22.1 0 1 0 0 0 16 102 0 0 23 1 15 11 1 2 0 11 9 3.63 .264 1.52
Totals 435 1220.2 77 65 0 0 103 332 5019 21 7 1091 102 748 332 24 30 2 457 392 2.89 .240 1.17
Biography: Started playing baseball in eighth grade. Played in two Koshien Tournaments (summer 1956 and 1958). In the seocnd one, went all the way in an 18 inning tie. The game was replayed later. He struckout a total of 83 on that tourney, a record. Used mostly in relief with Chunichi. Had seven walkless complete games lifetime. Selected to three all star teams (1960, 1966-1967). Became a baseball commentator for CBC after retirement before opting to go the tv personality route. 
Career WHIP: 1.17 K/9: 5.5 BB/9: 2.4 HR/9: 0.8
Debut: First Win (), First Shutout ()
Titles: N/A
Managerial Record: N/A
Hall of Fame Induction: N/A


Bando, Satomi Positions Played: P
Nicknames:  High School: Naruto High School
Born: 1/1/1942 College: N/A
Died: 10/7/1999 Industrial League: N/A
Birthplace: Itano-gun, Tokushima Prefecture Team (Years and [uniform number]): Kintetsu Buffaloes (1960-1979 [17])
Height: 5'11" Weight: 184 pounds
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
Year G IP W L Save SP GS RA BF PC CG SO H HR K BB HBP WP Balk R ER ERA OAVG WHIP
1960 2 3.0 0 0 0 0 0 2 17 0 0 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 4 12.00 .471 2.67
1961 16 27.1 0 0 0 0 0 16 121 0 0 34 4 8 7 2 0 0 17 12 3.95 .306 1.50
1962 37 84.1 2 4 0 0 14 23 361 0 0 89 9 49 30 2 0 0 53 45 4.80 .276 1.41
1963 33 58.2 4 1 0 0 5 28 238 0 0 59 7 19 15 1 0 0 29 25 3.84 .273 1.26
1964 34 69.1 1 2 0 0 5 29 292 0 0 78 7 23 17 1 0 0 40 37 4.80 .297 1.37
1965 27 69.2 0 4 0 0 5 22 286 0 0 67 11 24 22 2 0 0 33 32 4.13 .261 1.28
1966 5 6.0 0 0 0 0 0 5 37 0 0 16 1 2 2 0 0 0 13 13 19.50 .457 3.00
1967 46 164.2 8 15 0 0 21 25 669 1 0 150 20 96 38 6 2 0 73 59 3.22 .245 1.14
1968 55 213.2 12 14 0 0 29 26 888 5 1 185 25 126 78 2 3 0 104 96 4.04 .237 1.23
1969 34 116.0 5 6 0 0 12 22 479 1 1 92 15 77 35 6 1 0 53 42 3.26 .216 1.09
1970 39 103.0 3 5 0 0 10 29 398 1 0 82 14 64 15 3 1 0 43 37 3.23 .221 0.94
1971 31 73.0 3 5 0 0 7 24 316 0 0 78 10 46 29 2 2 1 45 42 5.18 .289 1.47
1972 40 93.0 2 1 0 0 6 34 387 1 0 83 4 68 36 4 1 0 29 26 2.52 .245 1.28
1973 40 115.0 4 9 0 0 11 29 475 3 1 109 9 47 34 3 1 2 48 36 2.82 .259 1.24
1974 36 162.1 10 10 3 0 22 14 656 6 0 148 16 64 40 3 5 0 66 64 3.55 .249 1.16
1975 20 98.2 5 10 0 0 16 4 425 4 3 115 13 33 28 5 1 0 50 48 4.38 .299 1.45
1976 18 99.2 7 6 2 0 13 5 400 2 1 83 6 38 22 7 0 0 30 23 2.08 .231 1.05
1977 18 59.1 3 5 1 1 11 7 258 0 0 73 6 24 11 4 1 2 31 26 3.94 .309 1.42
1978 32 93.2 7 1 4 9 6 26 391 0 0 101 8 29 18 3 1 0 29 26 2.50 .279 1.27
1979 16 36.0 3 0 1 4 3 13 158 0 0 43 12 19 9 2 0 0 23 23 5.75 .299 1.44
Totals 579 1746.1 79 98 11 14 196 383 7252 24 7 1693 197 857 486 58 19 5 813 716 3.69 .260 1.25
Biography: Had two walkless complete games lifetime. Coached, managed in the minors and scouted for Kintetsu after retirement. 
Career WHIP: 1.25 K/9: 4.4 BB/9: 2.5 HR/9: 1.0
Debut: First Win (), First Shutout ()
Titles: N/A
Managerial Record: N/A
Hall of Fame Induction: N/A


Bessho, Takehiko Positions Played: P, 1B
Nicknames:  High School: Takikawa Chugakkou
Born: 10/1/1922 College: Nihon University
Died: 6/24/1999 Industrial League: N/A
Birthplace: Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture Team (Years and [uniform number]):  Nankai/Kinki Nihon (1942-1948
Height: 5'11" Weight: 187 pounds [22], [12]), Yomiuri (1949-1960 [29], [11])
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
Year G IP W L Save SP GS RA BF PC CG SO H HR K BB HBP WP Balk R ER ERA OAVG WHIP
1942 2 13.0 0 1 0 0 1 1 59 1 0 11 0 8 6 0 0 0 7 3 2.08 .216 1.31
1943 45 319.1 14 23 0 0 37 8 1333 28 8 210 0 128 193 3 3 1 106 80 2.25 .190 1.26
1946 42 325.0 19 13 0 0 35 7 1381 28 5 292 4 115 136 5 3 2 127 89 2.46 .237 1.32
1947 55 448.1 30 19 0 0 50 5 1791 47 7 376 6 191 135 5 1 0 125 93 1.87 .231 1.14
1948 42 319.1 26 10 0 0 37 5 1272 31 3 270 10 120 76 6 2 0 93 73 2.06 .230 1.08
1949 25 180.0 14 9 0 0 21 4 720 14 2 144 11 91 50 2 1 0 58 47 2.35 .218 1.08
1950 43 314.0 22 11 0 0 32 11 1287 27 8 273 24 157 93 4 1 1 114 89 2.55 .231 1.17
1951 47 301.1 21 9 0 0 30 17 1222 25 4 252 15 131 88 1 3 0 112 82 2.45 .227 1.13
1952 52 371.1 33 13 0 0 41 11 1473 28 7 299 13 153 93 6 5 1 107 80 1.93 .221 1.06
1953 32 191.1 16 8 0 0 23 9 781 16 4 179 10 75 43 5 3 0 70 56 2.63 .250 1.16
1954 50 330.0 26 12 0 0 34 16 1279 23 6 269 13 158 50 6 0 0 84 66 1.80 .223 0.97
1955 50 312.0 23 8 0 0 27 23 1197 17 7 241 12 152 45 2 1 0 65 46 1.33 .214 0.92
1956 54 340.1 27 15 0 0 35 19 1327 26 5 282 11 185 60 5 0 0 90 73 1.93 .230 1.00
1957 40 219.2 14 11 0 0 31 9 885 13 4 205 9 100 45 8 5 0 81 61 2.50 .252 1.14
1958 26 126.1 9 5 0 0 20 6 508 5 1 111 8 42 33 1 0 0 47 36 2.56 .240 1.14
1959 22 110.0 7 7 0 0 13 9 449 3 0 98 8 45 23 3 1 0 41 35 2.86 .238 1.10
1960 35 129.1 9 4 0 0 16 19 536 3 1 117 11 72 37 7 1 0 52 44 3.06 .243 1.19
Totals 662 4350.2 310 178 0 0 483 179 17500 335 72 3629 165 1934 1206 69 30 5 1379 1053 2.18 .228 1.11
Biography: Raised solely by his mother. Started out playing nanshiki ball in fifth grade. Played in two Koshien Tournaments (1940-1941). In the second one, he pitched a 14 inning complete game with a broken arm in a losing effort. Failed his entrance exam at Keio University, so to avoid being drafted into the military, he enrolled in vocational classes at Nihon University. No hitter (5/26/1943 against Yamato). Drafted in December, 1943 and sent to Manchura. However, only a few months later, he was sent to officer's school in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture and then was stationed in Kochi Prefecture. He rejoined Nankai in 1946. Threw hard enough to where his catchers used a sponge to pad their mits when he pitched. That heater was also reportedly heavy. Following a salary dispute, he was signed by Yomiuri in 1949 and was suspended for two months, but nonetheless was still allowed to join the Giants. Had a perfect game going with two gone in the ninth before it was ruined by a pinch hit knock from backup catcher Yasutaka Kanzaki, which would prove to be Kanzaki's only career basehit (6/15/1952 against Shochiku). Won three games during the 1955 Japan Series and was given a car. Took him five starts to get from 299 lifetime victories to 300. Set a then record for most victories ever with 302 (4/29/1959 against Osaka). His 31 homers as a pitcher is third all time. His six Best Nine nominations are the most for any hurler in Japanese history. His 47 complete games in a season is a Japan record (1947). Made a player-coach in 1961, but didn't appear in any games. Coached under Tetsuharu Kawakami after retirement at Yomiuri, resigning after it came to light that he beat up one of the players for having a beer in his hotel room. Also coached with Taiyo. His 335 complete games is fourth all time, as are his 72 shutouts. Had 43 walkless complete games, fifth all time. Selected to six all star teams (1951-1956). Had a 49.1 inning scorless streak (7/9-7/31/1955). Retired after the 1961 season. 
Career WHIP: 1.11 K/9: 4.0 BB/9: 2.5 HR/9: 0.3 No Hitter (5/26/1943 against Yamato at Kobe 2-0)
Debut: 10/10/1942 against Yomiuri as a leftfielder; his first mound appearance was in a start on 11/10/1942 against Taiyo. First Win (4/13/1943 against Asahi), First Shutout ()
Titles: IP (1947, 1952), Wins (1947, 1952, 1956), Losses (1943),BF (1947),  CG (1947, 1951-1952, 1956), SO (1950-1952), K (1947), BB (1943), R (1943), ER (1943), ERA (1955), MVP (1952, 1956), Sawamura Award (1947, 1955), Best Nine (1947-1948, 1951-1952, 1955-1956)
Managerial Record: Sankei/Yakult (1968-1970) 143-190-9
Hall of Fame Induction: 1979


Betto, Kaoru Positions Played: P, OF
Nicknames:  High School: Koyo Chugakkou
Born: 8/23/1920 College: Keio University
Died: 4/16/1999 Industrial League: Zen-Osaka
Birthplace: Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture Team (Years and [uniform number]): Osaka Tigers (1948-1949 [25]), 
Height: 5'11" Weight: 165 Pounds Mainichi Orions (1952 [25])
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
Year G IP W L Save SP GS RA BF PC CG SO H HR K BB HBP WP Balk R ER ERA OAVG WHIP
1948 1 3.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 16 0 0 6 0 3 1 0 0 0 2 2 6.00 .400 2.33
1949 1 8.0 0 1 0 0 1 0 30 1 0 5 0 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 .185 1.00
1952 1 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 .000 1.00
Totals 3 12.0 0 1 0 0 2 1 40 1 0 11 0 5 5 0 0 0 4 2 1.50 .244 1.33
Biography: Was his high school team's ace and cleanup hitter. Played in two Koshien Tournaments (spring, summer 1938). 
Career WHIP: 1.33 K/9: 3.8 BB/9: 3.8 HR/9: 0.0
Debut: First Win (N/A), First Shutout (N/A)
Titles: N/A
Managerial Record: Mainichi/Daimai (1952,-1954-1959), Kintetsu (1962-1964), Taiyo (1967-1972, 1977-1979), Hiroshima (1973) 1237-1156-104
Hall of Fame Induction: 1988


Bizen, Yoshio Positions Played: P
Nicknames:  High School: Onomichi Nishi High School
Born: 10/9/1933 College: N/A
Died:  Industrial League: N/A
Birthplace: Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture Team (Years and [uniform number]): Hiroshima (1952-1962 [14], [16])
Height: 5'7" Weight: 140 pounds
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
Year G IP W L Save SP GS RA BF PC CG SO H HR K BB HBP WP Balk R ER ERA OAVG WHIP
1952 43 180.0 7 17 0 0 23 20 770 5 0 186 8 42 60 4 5 0 98 86 4.30 .267 1.37
1953 49 249.0 13 20 0 0 26 23 1066 3 1 282 9 82 62 6 2 1 130 105 3.80 .287 1.38
1954 30 170.1 10 10 0 0 21 9 704 9 1 198 14 54 33 2 1 1 83 73 3.86 .302 1.36
1955 45 290.0 13 18 0 0 31 14 1173 15 2 270 11 101 64 5 0 0 106 82 2.54 .251 1.15
1956 48 247.0 13 22 0 0 30 18 1006 9 3 219 18 112 61 5 4 1 110 86 3.13 .240 1.13
1957 51 258.2 20 13 0 0 34 17 1044 11 2 225 9 128 61 4 0 0 95 72 2.51 .236 1.11
1958 29 135.0 9 10 0 0 13 16 541 5 1 121 5 52 30 1 1 0 44 36 2.40 .246 1.12
1959 55 291.2 17 20 0 0 35 20 1162 18 6 259 16 153 67 5 2 0 86 71 2.19 .243 1.12
1960 33 127.0 7 8 0 0 17 16 509 2 1 106 7 45 40 1 0 0 30 22 1.56 .231 1.15
1961 40 118.2 5 8 0 0 11 29 480 0 0 101 5 42 39 3 1 0 42 35 2.65 .237 1.18
1962 23 52.0 1 3 0 0 6 17 229 1 0 69 1 24 5 2 0 0 35 30 5.19 .318 1.42
Totals 446 2119.1 115 149 0 0 247 199 8684 78 17 2036 103 835 522 38 16 3 859 698 2.96 .257 1.21
Biography: Was known for a very effective sinker. Owns the single season Central League record for most errors by a pitcher with 11 (1956). Selected to two all star teams (1956, 1959). Had 16 walkless complete games lifetime. Managed in the minors, coached and scouted for Hiroshima after retirement. 
Career WHIP: 1.21 K/9: 3.5 BB/9: 2.2 HR/9: 0.4
Debut: 3/21/1952 against Shochiku in a start. First Win (3/21/1952 against Shochiku in a complete game), First Shutout ()
Titles: H (1953), R (1953, 1955), ER (1953, 1955)
Managerial Record: N/A
Hall of Fame Induction: N/A