Isao Harimoto, a Korean-Japanese baseball player who became the first in Japanese professional baseball history to achieve 3,000 career hits, has passed away at the age of 86.
On September 10, Japanese broadcaster TBS reported, citing sources, that Harimoto died at around 5 p.m. the previous day at a hospital in Tokyo.
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture, Harimoto began his professional career in 1959 with the Toei Flyers. He later played for the team that became known as Nittaku Nippon Ham, as well as the Yomiuri Giants and the Lotte Orions.
As one of the most prominent sluggers in Japanese baseball, he won the batting title seven times and was the first player in the league's history to reach the milestone of 3,000 hits.
After retiring from professional play, he transitioned to a career as a baseball commentator. According to Fuji TV's FNN, he was known for his sharp critiques of younger players, often calling out their performance and attitudes with a commanding presence. His straightforward style made him a familiar figure among fans.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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