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Tetsuharu Kawakami (川上 哲治, Kawakami Tetsuharu, March 23, 1920 – October 28, 2013) was a Japanese baseball player and manager, known for his red bat, and his nickname dageki no kamisama (打撃の神様, "the God of Batting/Hitting").
- Early Life
- Kawakami The Player
- Kawakami The Manager
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Kawakami was born on March 23, 1920 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto. His early life saw many struggles. His father went bankrupt due to gambling, and when he was five, Kawakami slipped on a gravel road and severely injured his right arm. Due to the pain and slow progress he made in healing, he eventually learned to do everything from his left side… an event...
Fate, however, once again came through for Kawakami, as he was thrown a first baseman’s glove when the regular went down with an injury in 1938. It didn’t take long for Kawakami to shine in his new role, as he followed his rookie campaign with some of the best hitting the young Japanese Professional Baseball League (JPBL) had ever seen, leading the...
When Kawakami took over as kantoku of the Giants, the Japanese game was in the middle of a professional revolution. Nine years after the first arrival of foreign players like John Britton and Jimmie Newberry, the impact of the American game was being seen across NPB. Expatriates were helping their teammates pick up a new perspective on the game. Fo...
Learn about the life and career of Tetsuharu Kawakami, who played and managed for the Yomiuri Giants in NPB. Discover how he overcame injuries, war, and challenges to become a legendary hitter and coach.
Aug 23, 2023 · Tetsuharu Kawakami played and coached for more than 30 years and won 15 Nippon Series titles in Nippon Pro Baseball (and 8 more titles prior to the Nippon Series's creation). He was called "The God of Batting" for his incredible hitting skill.
Most foreign fans of baseball in Japan may not know the name Tetsuharu Kawakami, who passed away recently at the age of 93, but perhaps it's time they did.
Oct 30, 2013 · Former Yomiuri Giants manager Tetsuharu Kawakami, who led the famed club to nine consecutive championships from 1965 to 1973, has died of natural causes. He was 93.
Oct 28, 2013 · Tetsuharu Kawakami (川上 哲治, Kawakami Tetsuharu, March 23, 1920 – October 28, 2013) was a Japanese baseball player and manager, known for his red bat, and his nickname 打撃の神様 (dageki no kamisama,, "the God of Batting/Hitting").
Kawakami was a star hitter and manager of the Yomiuri Giants, leading the team to nine consecutive Japan Series titles. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and had his number retired by the Giants.
