Yoshio Yoshida

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Yoshio Yoshida (吉田 義男, Yoshida Yoshio^?, born July 26, 1933 in Kyoto) was a professional baseball player for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. His number 23, is retired with the Hanshin Tigers. He belongs to Asahi Broadcasting Corporation as a commentator in baseball live on radio and TV.

[edit] Career

He was famous for steady batting and defence in shortstop, and got Best Nine Award of NPB in nine times, in 1955-60, 1962, 1964-65. This is the best record till now. He was often compared with the famous general in 12 century, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, and they called Yoshida "Ushiwakamaru", as the name in Yoshitune's young ages.

After retirement, he became the manager of Hanshin Tigers three times, in 1975-77, 1985-87, 1997-98. Especially, the 1985 season was the best for him, Hanshin Tigers got the Central League's championship in the first since 1964, and broke Seibu Lions in the Japan Series. This is the only once Hanshin Tigers won the series. Yoshida was a winner of the Matsutaro Shoriki Award in this year.

In 1989-95, Yoshida lived in Paris, and managed the French national baseball team, but his team was failed twice in Olympic Games Qualifying, for 1992 Summer Olympics at Barcelona and 1996 Summer Olympics at Atlanta. After that, Yoshida has had new nickname, "Monsieur". He was selected an awarded player of Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.