Books and articles about Masanori Murakami

Murakami is the only native product of the Japanese leagues to play in the major leagues. He was successful in limited use as a reliever for the Giants, but his U.S. career was cut short when the Japanese government, afraid that its country's teams would be decimated should others follow Murakami's path, demanded that he be returned. Since then, only a few veterans whose Japanese careers were nearly over have been allowed to try out for American teams. None have made it to the majors.

RELATED LINKS Book Excerpts » Baby Bull, by Orlando Cepeda Around the Web » Masanori Murakami from mlb.com (12/21/01) » S.F.'s rich Japanese baseball history - Shinjo's signing continues a tradition that goes back nearly a century from sfgate.com (4/14/02) Jump directly to Library content from any website!

His unique status made Murakami the focus of outlandish expectations on the resumption of his Japanese career. The tremendous pressure affected his performance at first. Although he eventually settled down, he never became the superstar that the public expected. (JFC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » February 23, 1964: The San Francisco Giants sign P Masanori Murakami, 3B Tatsuhico Tanaka, and C Hiroshi Takahashi -- the first Japanese ever to play for American teams. All three are assigned to the Magic Valley Cowboys (Pioneer League). » September 1, 1964: Southpaw relief P Masanori Murakami becomes the first ML player from Japan. He debuts in a 4–1 San Francisco loss at New York. His first 11 innings will be scoreless ones. » January 31, 1965: Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player in the major leagues, says he will not return to the Giants in 1965. » February 17, 1965: Commissioner Ford Frick suspends U.S.-Japan baseball relations until the dispute over Masanori Murakami's contract with the Giants is resolved. » April 29, 1965: Masanori Murakami agrees to stay with the Giants in 1965 if he can return to Japan in 1966. » May 4, 1965: Masanori Murakami arrives in San Francisco from Japan to rejoin the Giants as a relief pitcher, ending a bitter contract dispute between the Giants and his home team, the Nankai Hawks. Murakami will have a good season; appearing in 45 games, he wins four and loses one, saves 8, gives up 57 hits in 74 innings, fans 85, and walks only 22 while posting an ERA of 3.50. » December 4, 1965: Masanori Murakami, 4-1 this year, does not renew his contract with the Giants, signing instead with the Nankai Hawks of Osaka for $40,000.