Noboru Akiyama

1.1. High School Career

Akiyama attended Okayama Higashi High School (now Okayama Prefectural Okayama Higashi Commercial High School), where he formed a battery with his lifelong teammate, Jun Doi. This partnership would endure for an exceptionally long 18 years across high school, university, and professional baseball. In 1950, during his second year, Akiyama's team reached the semifinals of the autumn Chugoku regional prefectural qualifiers, where they were narrowly defeated by Okayama Asahi High School. The following year, in 1951, as a third-year student, Akiyama avenged that loss by pitching a complete game shutout against Okayama Asahi High School in the Summer Koshien East Chugoku regional final, securing a berth in the 33rd National High School Baseball Championship. In the first round of the national tournament, his team faced Takamatsu Daiichi High School and suffered a significant 3-12 defeat, with Akiyama giving up a home run to future baseball legend Futoshi Nakanishi. Among his high school teammates, shortstop Shojiro Nakata also went on to play professionally for the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

1.2. University Career

In 1952, Akiyama enrolled at Meiji University and joined its baseball team. During his time in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League, he contributed to three league championships, including the university's first post-war title in the autumn of 1953. In 1954, as a third-year student, Meiji University secured its first All-Japan University Baseball Championship, achieving a decisive victory over Ritsumeikan University, led by their ace pitcher Jiko Nishio. The following year, in 1955, Akiyama led his team to a second consecutive championship, winning a tight 1-0 pitching duel against Nihon University's Shiro Shimazu in the final. His talent was recognized internationally when he was selected to the Japanese national team for the 2nd Asian Baseball Championship in 1955, which consisted of a Tokyo Big6 Baseball League selection team.

Throughout his university career, Akiyama made 70 appearances, recording 33 wins and 18 losses with a 1.48 ERA and 334 strikeouts. He was named to the Best Nine team once. Notably, in the spring 1954 league, he set a league record with 22 strikeouts in a single game against the University of Tokyo. Akiyama's exceptional performance ushered in the first "golden era" for Meiji University under coach Yoshio Shimaoka, a period when the team had been struggling. Shimaoka famously mandated that Akiyama throw 1,000 pitches daily, a rigorous regimen that Akiyama faithfully completed, which built his robust physique and refined his pitching artistry, serving as invaluable assets in his professional career. Alongside Doi, Akiyama was part of the "Meiji Five" (明大五人衆_{Meidai Goninshū}^Japanese), a group of talented players from Meiji University who also joined Taiyo Whales, including first baseman Hirosada Kuroki, shortstop Yasuhiro Iwaoka, and outfielder Mitsutoshi Okiyama. Second baseman Hiroteru Tsuchiya later joined the Chunichi Dragons.

2.1. Rookie Season and Early Success (1956-1959)

Noboru Akiyama joined the Taiyo Whales in 1956 alongside his long-time battery mate, Jun Doi. He was immediately inserted into the starting rotation, pitching from the second game of the season. In his rookie year, Akiyama led the league in innings pitched and finished with a record of 25 wins and 25 losses, alongside a 2.39 ERA, ranking 11th in the league. His outstanding debut earned him the Rookie of the Year award.

Following his successful rookie season, Akiyama solidified his position as the team's ace pitcher, achieving double-digit wins for nine consecutive years. However, a distinctive and somewhat paradoxical aspect of his early career was leading the league in losses for four consecutive years from 1956 to 1959, an unprecedented and unmatched record in NPB history, encompassing both single and two-league systems. Furthermore, he pitched in 50 or more games for nine consecutive years, a record at the time. In 1957, despite compiling a 24 wins and 27 losses record, he led the league with 312 strikeouts.

2.2. MVP Season and Japan Series Championship (1960-1964)

The 1960 season marked the pinnacle of Noboru Akiyama's playing career. Despite a challenging start, including being hit in the forehead by a Masao Makino coach's fungo bat during warmups before the opening game against the Chunichi Dragons at Nagoya Stadium, Akiyama went on to have a stellar year. He finished with 21 wins and 10 losses and an outstanding 1.75 ERA, playing a crucial role in the Taiyo Whales' historic first-ever Central League championship.

In the subsequent 1960 Japan Series against the Daimai Orions, Akiyama made a significant impact by appearing in all four games in relief. He pitched 16.1 innings and allowed only one earned run, posting an exceptional 0.53 ERA. He earned the win in Game 1, relieving Takashi Suzuki, and in Game 4, relieving Gentaro Shimada. Although he narrowly missed the Japan Series Most Valuable Player award, Akiyama was recognized for his exceptional season by receiving the league MVP award, the Best Earned Run Average title, and a selection to the Best Nine team. The Japan Series also recognized his contributions with the Japan Series Most Valuable Pitcher award.

Akiyama continued his dominant performance into 1962, where he made a career-high 72 appearances and recorded 26 wins. In a remarkable feat, he pitched two consecutive complete game shutouts against the Hanshin Tigers on September 25 and 26 at Kawasaki Stadium, a unique achievement in NPB since the adoption of the two-league system. Furthermore, Akiyama achieved "two wins in a single day" five times throughout his career, an NPB record that stands to this day. In 1963, he began serving as a player-coach, balancing his on-field duties with coaching responsibilities. In 1964, he once again recorded 21 wins, a key factor in the Taiyo Whales' pennant race against the Hanshin Tigers. During this period, Akiyama formed a powerful pitching staff with talented teammates such as Gentaro Shimada, Takashi Suzuki, Masatoshi Gondo, and Makoto Inagawa.

2.3. Later Playing Career and Retirement (1965-1967)

Starting from 1965, Noboru Akiyama's performance began to decline, primarily due to the extensive workload and overuse he had endured throughout his career. This period marked a gradual transition towards the end of his playing days. He eventually retired from professional baseball in 1967.

Akiyama finished his career with a total of 193 wins, all achieved with the Taiyo Whales. While this was seven wins short of the 200-win milestone typically associated with entry into the Golden Players Club (though the club itself was founded later in 1978), his accomplishments were highly regarded. Playing for a team that frequently struggled, including four consecutive last-place finishes and only three A-class finishes during his 12-year tenure, Akiyama consistently served as the team's ace, pitching extensively as both a starter and reliever. Many in the baseball community consider his 193 wins in such challenging circumstances to be more valuable than 200 wins achieved on a stronger team.

Coincidentally, in 1967, Masaaki Hiramatsu, Akiyama's junior from high school, joined the Taiyo Whales. Hiramatsu effectively took over Akiyama's role as the team's ace and also earned the nickname "razor sharp shoot" (カミソリシュート_{Kamisori Shūto}^Japanese), which had originally been attributed to Akiyama for his distinctive pitch.

2.4. Pitching Style and Characteristics

Noboru Akiyama was one of the extremely rare "sidearm/underhand fastball pitchers" in Japanese professional baseball history. His distinctive delivery allowed him to dominate batters primarily with his fastball. Unlike pitchers such as Tadashi Sugiura or Isao Katsuya, who employed a "vertical wrist sidearm" style and relied on a combination of fastballs, curveballs, and sliders, Akiyama utilized a "horizontal wrist, complete underhand" form. This unique style enabled him to deliver a powerful fastball complemented by his famous "razor sharp shoot" (カミソリシュート_{Kamisori Shūto}^Japanese), a pitch renowned for its sharp, late movement that baffled opposing hitters.

3.1. As a Coach

Following his retirement as a player in 1967, Akiyama immediately took on a coaching role within the Taiyo Whales organization. From 1968 to 1973, he served as the first team pitching coach, working to develop the team's pitching staff. In 1974, he was promoted to head coach, demonstrating his continued influence and commitment to the team's strategy and player development.

3.2. As a Manager

In 1975, Noboru Akiyama was appointed manager of the Taiyo Whales, becoming the first homegrown pitcher in the team's history to assume the top leadership role, a distinction that would last until Daisuke Miura's appointment in 2021. During his tenure, Akiyama brought in Motoshi Fujita as the first team pitching coach. In his first year, the team showed promise, even taking the lead in April. However, as the season progressed into June, the Taiyo Whales struggled to keep pace with the leading four teams (Hiroshima, Chunichi, Hanshin, and Yakult), ultimately finishing 5th with a record of 51 wins, 69 losses, and 10 ties. This marked the fourth consecutive 5th place finish for the team, continuing a trend that began in 1972, the final year under former manager Kaoru Betto. While the pitching staff, led by ace Masaaki Hiramatsu, and including Ritsuo Yamashita, Masaji Sakai, and Masamitsu Mashiba, delivered respectable performances, the team's relief pitching was largely ineffective. The batting lineup, featuring seasoned veterans like Makoto Matsubara, Ryo Ejiri, and John Sipin, was potent and comparable to that of the champion Hiroshima Carp.

In 1976, Akiyama aimed for improved results. The team acquired Gary Jestadt from the Nippon-Ham Fighters upon the recommendation of first team infield defensive coach Cleat Boyer. With pitchers like Hiramatsu, Yamashita, Mashiba, and Tomotaka Sugiyama, and hitters such as Masayuki Nakatsuka, Matsubara, and Keiji Nagasaki still strong, expectations were high for an A-class finish. However, an imbalance between pitching and hitting emerged, with the relief pitching collapsing, causing the team to drop to last place from opening day. Despite expectations for a mid-season comeback from May onwards, the pitching staff's struggles proved insurmountable. On June 29, during an away trip to Akita, Akiyama and his team visited Akita Prison, where they faced unexpectedly harsh questions from inmates about the team's poor performance, including a 17.5 game difference from the first-place Yomiuri Giants and inquiries about Hiramatsu's "razor sharp shoot" pitch. The team then suffered a 7-game losing streak in July, followed by another 9-game losing streak after a single win. The Taiyo Whales ultimately finished last, 32 games behind the champion Giants and over 8 games behind the 5th place Yakult Swallows, marking their first last-place finish in a decade.

During this period, the team's offensive and defensive authority was held by Boyer, while pitching decisions were made jointly with Fujita, though Fujita effectively managed pitcher utilization. Akiyama effectively became a ceremonial manager, reduced to simply conveying player changes to the umpires. He was even seen smoking outside the dugout during games, not in a designated area but in the visitors' locker room or broadcasting booth. Owner Kenzo Chubu, frustrated by the team's performance, stripped Akiyama of his on-field command, suggesting he let Boyer take over for a while. Akiyama resigned on October 25, 1976. The team's year-end party on November 10 was notably subdued, with players barely touching the lavish food and the usual singing competition cancelled. Akiyama, despite his uncertain future, delivered a somber resignation speech, expressing regret for the team's lowest winning percentage in his 21 years with Taiyo. Chubu, though not well-versed in baseball specifics, deeply cared for Akiyama, whom he had cherished as the ace of the 1960 championship team. He had initially delayed Akiyama's managerial appointment, fearing he would be "crushed" by the dominant Giants under Tetsu Kawakami. Only after Kawakami's retirement did Chubu appoint Akiyama in 1975. Chubu frequently called Akiyama, but the news was consistently of losses. Akiyama's long-time high school and university teammate, Jun Doi, never served as a coach under Akiyama. This was later revealed by Doi to be due to Chubu's refusal to rehire Doi in 1975 because he had previously left the Taiyo organization.

3.3. As a Minor League Manager

Despite his challenging managerial tenure, owner Kenzo Chubu continued to hold Akiyama in high regard. In 1977, Akiyama was appointed as the Taiyo Whales' second team manager. This assignment was widely seen as a strategic move by Chubu, intending to prepare Akiyama for a future return to the first team manager position. However, these plans were tragically cut short with Chubu's death on January 14, 1977. Masaaki Hiramatsu, reflecting on Akiyama's managerial period, noted that Akiyama possessed the "dignity" of a great manager but was hampered by a lack of talent among his players. Hiramatsu expressed regret that Akiyama was "unlucky" with the timing and wished he could have managed the team again while Hiramatsu was still an active player, believing Akiyama would have become a "great manager" with a more capable roster. Tsuyoshi Tsuji, a player under Akiyama, later recalled the team's pitchers having "approximate control" and a lack of focus on combination, indicating a deficiency in both technique and awareness.

7.1. Baseball Hall of Fame Induction

Noboru Akiyama's profound impact on Japanese baseball was formally recognized in 2004 when he was posthumously inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame under the Special Commendation category. This honor cemented his place among the sport's most esteemed figures.

7.2. Historical Evaluation

Historically, Noboru Akiyama is highly evaluated for his distinctive pitching style, which was a rare combination of sidearm and underhand delivery, complemented by his formidable "razor sharp shoot." His ability to dominate batters primarily with his fastball made him a unique force. He was renowned for his exceptional resilience and durability, having made 639 appearances and pitched 2993 innings throughout his career. This remarkable longevity and consistent performance, particularly given the often-struggling nature of the Taiyo Whales team he played for, underscores his immense value. Many baseball observers often contend that his 193 career wins, achieved in a context where his team frequently finished in lower standings, hold greater historical significance than 200 wins earned by pitchers on consistently strong teams. His influence also extended to future generations, as seen with Masaaki Hiramatsu, who succeeded him as the Taiyo ace and inherited the "Kamisori Shoot" nickname, a testament to Akiyama's lasting impact on pitching technique and terminology in Japanese baseball.

8.1. Playing Statistics by Year

• Bold indicates league leader

8.2. Managerial Statistics by Year

8.3. Titles and Awards

8.4. Major Records

8.5. Uniform Numbers

• 17 (1956-1969) - As a player.
• 71 (1970-1977) - As a coach and manager.