On This Date in Sports September 1, 1964: From Japan to the Majors
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
Masanori Murakami makes his debut with the San Francisco Giants, becoming the first Japanese born player to play in the Major Leagues. Murakami pitches the eighth inning of a 4-1 loss to the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, allowing one hit, while striking out two. Pitching out of the bullpen, Masanori Murakami would make 54 appearances with the Giants, before returning to Japan after the 1965 season.
Masanori Murakami was born on May 6, 1944, in Otsuki, Japan. He was still in High School when he signed with Nanaki Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League in 1962. A year later, he made his debut with the Hawks. After the 1963 season, he was sent to the United States with two other young players as part of a cultural exchange. Pitching with the Fresno Grizzlies, a Single A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, Murakami was initially had been scheduled to return to Japan in June. When his stay was extended, the Giants decided to bring the side arming left-handed pitcher to the big leagues as a September call up.
When Masanori Murakami took the mound at Shea Stadium, he already made history as the first Japanese born player in the history of Major League Baseball. Previously the only Asian born player in the majors was Chinese Born Harry Kingman who had a cup of coffee with the New York Yankees in 1914. Pitching with the Giants down 4-0, Murakami came into the pitch in the eighth inning and struck out the first batter he faced, Charley Smith. After a base hit by Chris Canizarro, Murakami struck out Ed Kranepool and got ground out from Roy McMillian. The Mets would win the game 4-1. Murakami would make nine appearances with the Giants in 1964, earning a win on September 29th as the Giants beat the Houston Colt .45s in 11 innings, 5-4.
Masanori Murakami continued to pitch for the Giants in 1965, pitching in 45 games with the Giants, all but one of them was a relief pitcher. Murakami would post a solid 4-1 record out of the pen and appeared to have a bright future in the majors ahead of him. However, the Nanki Hawks, his Japanese Club, maintained his right and wanted him to return to Japan. In 54 games with the Giants, Murakami posted a 5-1 record, with a 3.43 ERA and 100 strikeouts.
Masanori Murakami would pitch another 17 years in Japan, most of that with Nanaki Hawks. With teams in Japan holding a tight grip on their top players, it would take three decades for another Japanese player to appear in the majors. Hideo Nomo became an overnight sensation with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995, winning National League Rookie of the Year honors.