Koji Ota
| Koji Ota | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | |||
| |||
| debut | |||
| 1970, for the Kintetsu Buffaloes | |||
| Career statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 58-85 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.05 | ||
| Innings pitched | 1331.1 | ||
| Strikeouts | 604 | ||
| Teams | |||
| |||
Koji Ota (太田 幸司 Ōta Kōji, born January 23, 1952 in Misawa, Aomori, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, and belongs to Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc. as a commentator in baseball live on radio and TV. Ota is a son of an American father and a Japanese mother, the adopted son of a Japanese step father and a Russian step mother, who emigrated to Japan because of the Russian Revolution in 1917.
High school career
He is known for pitching in the final of 1969 National High School Baseball Championship. He pitched 18 shut-out innings on one of the most-watched TV programs in Japanese history. After the game was called due to darkness, he returned the next game, but lost 4-2.[1] Before he graduated from high school, a book had been written about him and several TV documentaries had been aired. A popular figure among women due to his appearance, Ota became an instant celebrity nationwide.
Professional career
The first-round pick of the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1969, Ota went 1-4 with a 3.86 ERA yet was voted onto the Pacific League All-Star team, starting a trend. An All-Star again in 1971, he went 0-1 with a 6.84 ERA. He improved to 2-1, 3.90 in 1972 – and was an All-Star. In 1973 he made it four All-Star selections and was 6-14 with a 3.23 ERA. 10-14, 4.64 – All-Star material in 1974. He was 12-12 with a 3.71 ERA in 1975 and was picked once more to the midsummer classics. He led the league with 6 wild pitches, the only time he led the PL in anything.
In 1976 Ota finally missed an All-Star team, going 9-7 with a 3.94 ERA. He returned to the All-Star squad in 1977 and went 10-14 with one save and a 3.21 ERA. He never made another All-Star team and slid downhill to 1-9, 5.40 in 1978, 7-4, 3.31 at age 27, 0-4, 10.66 in 1980, 0-1, 18.00 in 1981 and 0-0, 4.50 in 1982. Overall in Nippon Pro Baseball the high school superstar was 58-85 with 4 saves and a 4.05 ERA.
References
- ↑ "Koshien horror stories -- stop this madness now!". The Japan Times. 2000-08-20. Retrieved 2008-04-10.