Harimoto, whose record ۳,۰۸۵ career hits still stands, was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in ۱۹۹۰.
Published On ۱۰ Sep ۲۰۲۶
Japanese baseball legend Isao Harimoto, who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and became the first player from his country to reach ۳,۰۰۰ hits, has died aged ۸۶, reports said.
Born to Korean parents in Japan, Harimoto learned to play left-handed when an accident at the age of four left him with severe burns and limited mobility in his right hand.
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He survived the atomic bombing as a five-year-old, his mother jumping in front of him and his sister to shield them from the blast.
He went on to rack up ۳,۰۸۵ career hits, which still stand as a record in Nippon Professional Baseball.
He played for several teams in Japan, including the all-powerful Yomiuri Giants, and earned himself the nickname “Hit Machine” for his batting prowess.
He retired in ۱۹۸۱ after ۲۳ professional seasons and worked as a TV commentator.
Harimoto was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in ۱۹۹۰.
