| Kenjiro Tamiya | |
|---|---|
Tamiya in 1959
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| P/1B/OF | |
| Born: (1928-02-11)February 11, 1928 Shimodate, Ibaraki, Japan | |
| Died: May 5, 2010(2010-05-05) (aged 82) Ibaraki, Japan | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .298 |
| Home runs | 105 |
| Hits | 1,415 |
| RBIs | 591 |
| Stolen bases | 190 |
| Win–loss record | 1–5 |
| ERA | 5.83 |
| Former teams | |
As player
As manager
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Member of the Japanese | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2002 |
Kenjiro Tamiya (田宮 健次郎, Tamiya Kenjiro, February 11, 1928 – May 5, 2010) was a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball player and manager. In his first few years as a major league player, Tamiya was utilized as a pitcher and first baseman, but in the prime of his career, he was an outfielder.[1] He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.[2]
Tamiya was born in Shimodate, Ibaraki and attended Shimodate Shogyo High School. Tamiya also attended Nihon University, where he won a Tokyo Metropolitan University League batting title in 1947, before dropping out.[citation needed]
Tamiya first started for the Osaka Tigers of the Japanese Baseball League, as a pitcher and, occasionally, a first baseman. On March 16, 1950, he almost threw the first perfect gameinNippon Professional Baseball history, coming within one out, before Sakae Nakamura got a hit that ended the bid. A shoulder injury in 1952 would see him move to the outfield, where he spent the rest of his career. As a Tiger, Tamiya won the Best Nine Award 3 times, in 1956, 1957, and 1958. He also led the league in slugging percentage and triples in 1957, as well as batting average and triples in 1958. Tamiya would sign with the Daimai Orions in 1959 and immediately tied as league leader in doubles with Kazuhiro Yamauchi. He would win the Best Nine Award two more times, in 1960 and 1961. He retired in 1963. He is one of only six NPB players who have hit 100 homers and pitched a win.[citation needed]
In 1969, Tamiya became a hitting coach for the Chunichi Dragons, but, in the next year, he became the manager of the Toei Flyers, and led for three years, finishing with a record of 155–209–21 as the Flyer's skipper. In 1994 and 1995, he was the manager for the Chinese Professional Baseball League team Wei Chuan Dragons and finished with a record of 83–104–3.[citation needed]
Tamiya would serve as a council member for his hometown, Shimodate.[citation needed] He died on May 5, 2010, at the age of 82 due to brain hemorrhage.[3]
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