Newsletter

The identity of the “mysterious Japanese team” who fought in the World Professional Baseball League 53 years ago | Professional Baseball | Shueisha’s sports magazine Sportiva official website web Sportiva

“Showa Professional Baseball Workers Talking to Reiwa” 25th Toru Mori, Part 2 (Read from the first part >>)

A serialization project that explores the essence of past interview materials of “Showa professional baseball players” known to those in the know. Toru Mori, who joined the Chunichi Dragons from Waseda University in 1958, became the double-crowned king of home runs and RBIs in the second year, and Wataru Nōnin took office in 1961. The team is chased in conflict with the manager.

In 1968, Mori retired from active duty at the age of 33, which is too early for his ability, and the following year, he unexpectedly returned to the ball world. He was appointed as a player-coach of a Japanese team participating in the “Global League” established in North and Central and South America as a “global professional baseball league”. Calling people, Tokyo Dragons ── According to Mr. Mori, what kind of existence was the team that was officially named “Hapon de Tokio”?

In 1969, Toru Mori (right) of In 1969, Toru Mori (right) of “Tokyo Dragons” returned from Venezuela with a tired expression (photo = Kyodo News).

* * *

It was in the middle of the ’67 season that Mori-san, who was playing in Tokyo (now Lotte) after going through the ocean (now DeNA), was hit by bad luck. Director Wataru Nōnin, who had a terrible relationship during the Chunichi era, was newly appointed to replace Katsuki Tokura, who had poor results, and will meet again.

In 1968, Mori, who had lost the opportunity to participate due to being thoroughly dried up by his “fateful opponent,” retired from active duty after the end of the season with almost no appearance in the game.

“So, after I quit, I started doing other work, but the following year, in February 1969, Kaiser Tanaka (former Hanshin Tigers, a catcher from Hawaii who was active before the war) started working globally. I’ve talked about the league. I don’t know why I came here. But ok, I thought this was it! I didn’t like baseball and I quit because I didn’t like it, but the Global League once again quit me. He turned to baseball.

So, eight years after the Yanagikawa incident, professional amateurs were still in a state of discontinuity. As I said earlier, it was my responsibility, so I thought I should create a place for rebirth for my juniors. I took it with that feeling. “

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending