NOMURA WINS 1,500TH GAME AS MANAGER

The man generally regarded as the greatest catcher in Japanese baseball history has reached a milestone that helps establish him as one of the country’s greatest managers, too. When the Rakuten Eagles defeated the Nippon Ham Fighters, 2-1, in a recent Pacific League contest, it marked the 1,500th win in the managerial career of Rakuten skipper Katsuya Nomura. But it didn’t come easily.

The Eagles got off to a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Daisuke Kusano in the second inning and Fernando Seguignol in the sixth, but a solo homer by the Fighters’ Termel Sledge brough Nippon Ham to within one run of Rakuten. However, Eagles starter Masahiro Tanaka held on to keep the Fighters off the scoreboard the rest of the way to complete his fourth complete game in as many starts this season. Tanaka limited Nippon Ham to four hits and a walk, striking out eleven batters.

Nomura becomes the fifth manager in Japanese baseball history to reach 1,500 victories. The late Kazuto Tsuruoka tops the list with 1,773 wins. Before becoming a manager, Nomura spent over 20 seasons as a catcher in Japanese baseball, primarily with the Nankai Hawks, beginning in 1954. He retired in the 1970’s with over 600 homers and 2,500 hits in his career.