Kazuhisa Inao

Kazuhisa Inao (稲尾 和久, Inao Kazuhisa, June 10, 1937 – November 13, 2007) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. In 1957, he won 20 consecutive games. In 1958 Japan Series, he pitched six games and won 4 consecutive games after his team lost 3 games. He even hit a home run in fifth game of Japan Series. He was the Pacific League's Most Valuable Player in 1957 and 1958. He had 42 wins in 1961. Fans called his great success "God, Buddha, Inao".

Kazuhisa Inao
Inao (center) with teammate Yasumitsu Toyoda(left) and manager Osamu Mihara during the 1956 Japan Series
Pitcher
Born: (1937-06-10)June 10, 1937
Beppu, Ōita, Japan
Died: November 13, 2007(2007-11-13) (aged 70)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
NPB debut
March 21, 1956, for the Nishitetsu Lions
Last appearance
1969, for the Nishitetsu Lions
NPB statistics
Win-Loss276–137
ERA1.98
Strikeouts2574
Teams
As Player

As Manager

Career highlights and awards
NPB

NPB Records

  • 42 Wins (1961) (National Record, tied)
  • 20 consecutive wins (1957) (National Record)
  • 78 Games Played (1961) (Pacific League Record)
  • 1.06 ERA (1956) (Pacific Lague Record, National Rookie-Year Record)
  • 404 inning Pitched (1961) (Pacific League Record)
  • 11 wins in single month (Aug, 1956) (National Record)
  • 4 complete game in single Japan Series (1958) (Japan Series Record, tied)
  • 4 wins in single Japan Series (1958) (Japan Series Record, tied)
  • 11 career wins in Japan Series (tied with Tsuneo Horiuchi)
Member of the Japanese
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction1993

In 1964, he injured his shoulder, and in 1965 came back to full-time pitching, mainly in relief.[1] He retired as a player in 1969, and went on to manage the Nishitetsu Lions from 1970 to 1974.[1]

He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.[2] His number 24 was retired by the Saitama Seibu Lions on April 30, 2012.[3]

Career statistics
YearTeamGCGSHOWLPCTIPHHRBBHBPSOWPRERERA
1956Nishitetsu
Lions		6163216.778262.11532738182247311.06
195768205356.854373.224314767288172571.37
1958721963310.767373.02698764334274591.42
1959752353015.667402.130014829321186741.65
196039193207.741243.021115514179080702.59
1961782574214.750404.030822726353393761.69
1962572362518.581320.228127564228198822.30
1963742422816.636386.135826701022611211092.54
196460002.00011.11829020131310.64
196538132136.684216.019116504101071572.38
196654221110.524185.213411235134045371.79
1967463189.471129.01141122587140382.65
19685621911.450195.01682232593068602.77
1969320017.12597.092927246036302.78
Career Total 75617943276137.6683599.02840199719732574129447931.98
(7th)(8th)(10th)(8th)(3rd)
  • Bolded figures are league-leading

Titles and Award
  • Rookie of the Year : (1956)[1]
  • Wins Champion : 4 times (1957,1958,1961,1963)
  • Winning Percentage Champion: 2 times (1957,1961)
  • ERA Champion : 5 times (1956–1958,1961,1966)
  • Strikeout Champion : 3 times (1958,1961,1963)
  • MVP : 2 times (1957–1958)
  • Best Nine : 5 times (1957–1958,1961–1963)

Record
  • 42 Wins (1961) (National Record, tied)
  • 20 consecutive wins (1957) (National Record)
  • 78 Games Played (1961) (Pacific League Record)
  • 1.06 ERA (1956) (Pacific Lague Record, National Rookie-Year Record)
  • 404 inning Pitched (1961) (Pacific League Record)
  • 11 wins in single month (Aug, 1956) (National Record)
  • 4 complete game in single Japan Series (1958) (Japan Series Record, tied)
  • 4 wins in single Japan Series (1958) (Japan Series Record, tied)
  • 11 career wins in Japan Series (tied with Tsuneo Horiuchi)

References
  1. Charlton, James; Shatzkin, Mike; Holtje, Stephen (1990). The Ballplayers: baseball's ultimate biographical reference. New York: Arbor House/William Morrow. pp. 509. ISBN 0-87795-984-6.
  2. "Hall of Fame pitcher Inao dead at 70". Japan Times. November 14, 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  3. "Lions to retire Inao's No. 24 jersey". Japan Times. April 29, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2015.


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