| Takehiko Bessho 別所 毅彦 | |
|---|---|
 Bessho in 1955 | |
| Pitcher /Manager | |
| Born:(1922-10-01)October 1, 1922 Kobe,Hyōgo | |
| Died: June 24, 1999(1999-06-24) (aged 76) | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| JBL debut | |
| 1942, for the Nankai Hawks | |
| Last NPB appearance | |
| 1960, for the Yomiuri Giants | |
| JBL/NPB statistics | |
| Win–loss | 310–178 |
| Earned run average | 2.18 |
| Shutouts | 72 |
| Innings pitched | 4,350.2 |
| Strikeouts | 1,934 |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .254 |
| Hits | 500 |
| Home runs | 35 |
| Run batted in | 248 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
As player
As coach
As manager
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the Japanese | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1979 |
| Election method | Selection Committee for Players |
Takehiko Bessho (別所 毅彦,Bessho Takehiko; October 1, 1922 – June 24, 1999), bornAkira Bessho (別所 昭,Bessho Akira), was a Japanesebaseball player whose professional career as a player lasted from 1942 until 1960.[1] Bessho first achieved fame as apitcher inJapanese professional baseball; later, he served as aNippon Professional Baseball (NPB)manager.
Bessho spent his first fiveseasons in theJapanese Baseball League (the predecessor of NPB) with theNankai franchise (1942–43, 1946–48) and his final 12 seasons with theYomiuri Giants (1949–1960).[2] He quickly established himself as a top pitcher and went on to earn twoSawamura Awards, the Japanese equivalent of theCy Young Award, and sixBest Nine Awards. In 1947, Bessho set the JBL record for mostcomplete games in a single season (47).[3] In addition, Bessho earned the NPBMost Valuable Player Award in 1952 and 1956.[1] Besshoretired after the 1960 season with 310 wins, a 2.18earned run average, and 1,932strikeouts. Up until 2019, he was also the only Hawk to ever throw a no-hitter.
After he retired from the sport as a player and a manager, Bessho became a sportsbroadcaster.[1] In recognition of his accomplishments, theJapanese Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Bessho in 1979.[1]
Raised solely by his mother, Besho grew up inKobe, Hyōgo, Japan[4] and went by the name Akira Bessho. Bessho started his athletic career by playingnanshiki (rubber baseball) while he was in thefifth grade in elementary school.[4] By the time he started his high school career at Takikawa Junior High School, Bessho had transitioned from nanshiki to baseball.
In 1940 and 1941, Bessho appeared in theKoshien tournament. During the 1941 spring edition, he pitched all fourteen innings of a game despite hisbroken arm; unfortunately, he also lost the decision.[4] After his graduation, Bessho took the entrance exam forKeio University but ultimately enrolled in vocational classes atNihon University.[4]
In 1942, Bessho joined the Nankaifranchise, an Osaka-based team in theJapanese Baseball League (JBL). Bessho quickly established himself as a quality player, both as a pitcher and a hitter. In fact, he was so good at batting that the manager had him play in the field (either atfirst base or theoutfield) when he didn't pitch. On May 26, 1943, Bessho pitched ano-hitter against theYamato team.[4]
In December of that year, the Japanese armyconscripted Bessho and sent him toManchuria because of World War II. However, in 1944, Bessho moved to the officer's school inMatsudo, Chiba before the army finally moved him to theKōchi Prefecture.[4] After the war had ended, Bessho rejoined Nankai in 1946.
In 1947 he won and completed 47 games, still a Nippon Pro Baseball record, of which he was proud for many years. For his efforts, Bessho became the inaugural winner of theEiji Sawamura Award. He would win the award again in 1955.
In the late part of 1948 he moved to theYomiuri Giants. This became a big scandal in Japanese sports journalism, known as theBessho head-hunting Incident (ja:別所引き抜き事件) which led the league to put sanctions on him which prohibit him playing for two months. For the Yomiuri Giants, he was still a star.
In 1956, theLos Angeles Dodgers, aMajor League Baseball franchise, decided to play a series of games in Japan. On October 23, 1956, the Dodgers faced the Yomiuri Giants atMaruyama Stadium inSapporo.Carl Erskine started for the Dodgers, andSho Horiuchi started for the Giants. In the seventh inning, Bessho replaced Horiuchi and pitched the rest of the game. Unfortunately, Bessho surrendered a solo-home run toDuke Snider in the top of the ninth inning; it was the only run of the game.[5]
In 1960 he was a player and pitching coach for the Yomiuri Giants. At the end of season he retired and remained on the team as coach. His 310 victories were the NPB all-time record when he retired. During his career, Bessho won six Best Nine Awards, starting in 1947. He tied for the honor in 1948 withHiroshi Nakao andJuzo Sanada. It is currently the only time multiple pitchers were named to the Best Nine in a single season and the only time there was a positional tie for nearly six decades; he has the most Best Nine Awards for all pitchers in NPB history.[3] In addition, he won two MVP awards, led the league in strikeouts from 1950 until 1952, and won 20 or more games eight different seasons. He led the NPB in ivcotires three times and in ERA, strikeouts, andwinning percentage once each.[3] With 72 careershutouts, he ranks fourth all-time in Japanese professional baseball.[6]
From 1964 unti 1966, Bessho served as the pitching coach of theTaiyō Whales. He managed theSankei Atoms from 1968 until mid-1970.
Afterwards, he gave commentaries atFuji TV,Bunka Hōsō andNikkan Sports. As a commentator, he was known for his cheerful loud laughter, grayed hair, and apparent but innocent favoritism toward theYomiuri Giants (he often couldn't remember the names of non-Giants players).
In 1979 he was nominated toJapanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1992 he surmounted to the presidency of the Yomiuri Giants Old Boy Club, succeedingTetsuharu Kawakami.
In 1999, he died at his home at the age of 76.
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