Masanori Murakami - First Japanese pitcher in the MLB

Masanori "Mashi" Murakami

Masanori Murakami - Left-handed pitcher

Born: May 6,1944 in Otsuki, Japan

MLB Team:
Signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent in 1964.
San Franscisco Giants (1964-1965)

Position: Pitcher
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height/Weight: 6' 0", 180 lb.

On September 1, 1964, pitcher Masanori Murakami became the first Japanese man to play in U.S. baseball's major leagues (MLB). Murakami pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the San Francisco Giants in a 4-1 loss to the New York Mets.

In 1964, the Hawks sent Murakami to the United States to pitch in the minor leagues for the San Francisco Giants as part of an exchange program. Murakami’s left-handed sidearm delivery proved an asset in the United States, where deceptive pitching still isn’t as common as in Japan.

1965 - The Japanese community of San Francisco holds Masanori Murakami Day at Candlestick Park to honor the first Japanese player to have reached the American major leagues. Ordinarily a reliever, Murakami makes his first major league start as the Giants outslug the Phillies 15-9.

Sept 1, 1964 - First Japanese player make MLB debut (history.com)

Masanori Murakami - Japanese stats - JapaneseBallPlayers

Masanori Murakami Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac

Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player playing in the MLB

Masanori Murakami Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com

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Note: Masanori Murakami was left-handed, and not ambidextrous
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