- Koji Ota
Infobox NPB player
bgcolor1=#006492
bgcolor2=
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=black
name=Koji Ota
position=Pitcher
team=
number=
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutyear=1970
debutteam=Kintetsu Buffaloes
statyear=
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=58-85
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.05
stat3label=Innings pitched
stat3value=1331.1
stat4label=Strikeout s
stat4value=604
teams=
*Kintetsu Buffaloes (1970-1982)
*Yomiuri Giants (1983)
*Hanshin Tigers (1984)Koji Ota (Japanese:太田 幸司, born
January 23 ,1952 inMisawa, Aomori ,Japan ) is a Japanese former professionalbaseball pitcher in Japan'sNippon Professional Baseball , and belongs to Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc. as a commentator in baseball live on radio and TV. Ota is the son of a Japanese father and a Russian mother, who emigrated to Japan because of the Russian Revolution in 1917 like Japanese baseball legendVictor Starffin . [ [http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/feature/topics/newsx/news/20060822-OHT1T00019.htm Sports Houchi.jp] ]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. [cite web|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20000820mk.html|title=Koshien horror stories -- stop this madness now!|accessdate=2008-04-10 |author= |date=2000-08-20 |work= |publisher=The Japan Times] 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
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