Victor Starffin

1.1. Birth and Early Childhood

Viktor Starukhin was born on May 1, 1916, in Nizhny Tagil, a city in the Ural Mountains region of what was then the Russian Empire. He was the only son of Konstantin Starukhin, a former officer in the Imperial Russian Army who had royalist sympathies, and his mother, Evdokia. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, his family faced persecution from the new Bolshevik government. They were forced to flee, traversing the vast Siberian plains and eventually reaching Harbin, Manchuria, which was then under Japanese control. In 1925, the family managed to pay a substantial sum, reportedly with hidden jewels his mother possessed, to gain entry into Japan, settling in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. There, they became stateless "White Russians."

During his childhood in Asahikawa, Starukhin, known by the nickname "Wija," often faced bullying due to his non-Japanese appearance. Despite this, he excelled academically and possessed exceptional athletic abilities. He was so fast that he could win a 100-meter dash even if his classmates were given a 66 ft ^{(20 m)} head start. His height was also remarkable; by the fifth grade of elementary school, he already stood over 71 in ^{(180 cm)} tall, leading him to play baseball with older students rather than his peers. Baseball became a crucial outlet for Starukhin, allowing him to connect with classmates and providing a distraction from his family's struggles, including his father's increasing alcohol consumption.

1.2. School Days and Introduction to Baseball

Starukhin enrolled in the old-system Asahikawa Middle School (now Hokkaido Asahikawa Higashi High School) and joined its baseball team. His first words upon joining were reportedly, "Can I really play baseball with everyone?" He quickly became known as a formidable fastball pitcher, leading his team to the finals of the Hokkaido tournament for the Japanese High School Baseball Championship for two consecutive years, in 1933 and 1934. However, both times, they narrowly lost due to defensive errors, preventing them from reaching the prestigious Summer Koshien tournament.

In 1932, when Starukhin was invited to join the baseball team of Koyo Gakuin High School in Nishinomiya, his family relocated to Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, and operated a bakery with financial assistance from the school. However, the transfer was met with strong opposition from other schools in the prefecture, leading to the collapse of the deal and the family's return to Asahikawa.

A significant personal tragedy struck during his first year of middle school when his father, Konstantin, was involved in a murder. Konstantin had stabbed an employee of his coffee shop, "Baikal," to death due to a personal dispute. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. Although labeled "the son of a murderer," Starukhin, already a well-known pitcher, garnered public sympathy. This incident, combined with his family's stateless status, plunged them into severe economic hardship, forcing Starukhin to rely on donations from classmates to cover his tuition and living expenses. This financial distress also became a barrier to his hopes of acquiring Japanese citizenship and pursuing higher education at Waseda University.

In the autumn of 1934, while still in middle school, Starukhin was scouted by Matsutaro Shoriki, the influential owner of the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper. Shoriki was organizing an exhibition game between an All-Japan team and a touring Major League Baseball selection from the United States. Due to a Ministry of Education regulation prohibiting high school players from competing professionally, Shoriki formed a professional team, the "Dai-Nippon Tokyo Yakyu Club" (which would later become the Yomiuri Giants). Shoriki employed aggressive tactics to recruit Starukhin, similar to how he had convinced Eiji Sawamura to drop out of school. Despite resistance from Asahikawa citizens and his school, who wanted their local star to lead them to Koshien, Starukhin faced immense pressure. Given his family's dire financial situation and his stateless status, Shoriki effectively blackmailed him, threatening to use his connections with the Yomiuri Shimbun to publicize the details of Konstantin Starukhin's murder case. This would likely lead to the deportation of Viktor and his mother back to the Soviet Union, where they faced potential arrest by the NKVD due to his father's political alignment. Under such duress, Starukhin made the agonizing decision to leave Asahikawa Middle School. He reportedly left secretly by train with his mother, without informing his classmates, later telling his wife that the train's whistle sounded like his friends crying out, "Don't go!"

Starukhin made his professional debut on November 29, 1934, in the 17th game of the Japan-U.S. series at Omiya Park Baseball Stadium. He pitched two innings in relief, allowing no hits, though the game's outcome was already decided. In 1935, he joined the Dai-Nippon Tokyo Yakyu Club for a tour of North America. This trip was fraught with difficulties, including interference from Toyama Mitsuru of the right-wing political organization Genyosha. Lacking a passport or visa as a stateless person, Starukhin faced challenges entering the United States and was nearly sent to an internment camp. He was only able to enter thanks to the persistent efforts of Shoriki and Lefty O'Doul. Starukhin's naivety about the United States was evident when he reportedly remarked to his teammate Shigeru Mizuhara, "America is full of foreigners, aren't they?" and "Foreigners don't speak Japanese at all."

1.3. Early Professional Career

In 1936, Starukhin officially joined the Tokyo Kyojingun (later the Yomiuri Giants), the successor to the Dai-Nippon Tokyo Yakyu Club. On July 3, he made a relief appearance against the Dai-Tokyo team, pitching three scoreless innings and contributing to the Giants' first official victory.

Initially, Starukhin's powerful fastball was offset by poor control, leading to many walks. Veteran teammates, including Mizuhara, would often shout at him, calling him "amateur" or "idiot" and asking, "Where are you looking when you throw?" Starukhin, described as sensitive, would often be hurt and discouraged, sometimes crying while pleading with his manager, "I'm too scared to pitch like this." However, under the encouragement of manager Fujimoto Sadayoshi, he persevered, honing his control through rigorous practice.

His dedication paid off quickly. In the 1937 spring league, he achieved a no-hitter against the Korakuen Eagles on July 3, becoming the second pitcher in Japanese professional baseball history to do so. He finished the spring season with 13 wins. In the autumn league, he recorded 15 wins, earning his first Most Wins title and establishing himself as the Giants' ace, succeeding Sawamura. He continued his dominance in 1938, winning 14 games in the spring. In the autumn season, he achieved a remarkable 19 wins, a Japanese Baseball League record 1.05 ERA, 146 strikeouts, a .905 winning percentage, and 7 shutouts, earning him the pitcher's "five crowns."

The 1939 season was a career highlight for Starukhin. By June 20, the team's 41st game, he had already reached 20 wins. He concluded the season with an astounding 42 wins, an NPB record that still stands as a tie. This total accounted for two-thirds of the Giants' 66 victories that year, earning him his first MVP award. He also became the first pitcher in professional baseball history to reach 100 career wins, achieving this milestone in just 165 games, the fastest ever. Furthermore, he hit four walk-off hits that season, a record that stood for 30 years until 1969. In 1940, he followed up with another dominant performance, securing 38 wins and earning his second consecutive MVP award and Most Wins title. His streak of five consecutive Most Wins titles remains the longest in Japanese professional baseball history.

2.1. Wartime Challenges and Name Change

The escalating tensions between Japan and the Soviet Union, particularly after the Nomonhan Incident in 1939, led to a surge in xenophobia across Japan. As a Russian-born, stateless individual, Starukhin became a target of suspicion from the Japanese military. He was reportedly summoned by military authorities and given strict instructions: he would not be granted Japanese citizenship, he was forbidden from looking at the Kanda River from the Suidobashi bridge (as military supplies were transported by boat on the river), and he was not allowed to look at flags in the outfield stands of baseball stadiums (out of concern he might use them to discern wind conditions and relay information to the Soviet Union).

Concerned that the military might target and "crush" the professional baseball ace, Akamine Masashi, a representative of the Nagoya Kinshachi team, advised Starukhin to change his name. Consequently, in September 1940, Starukhin was forced to adopt the Japanese name Suda Hiroshi. Despite this, his stateless status ironically spared him from military conscription.

The war continued to impact his health and career. In 1941, while pitching with a high fever exceeding 104 °F ^{(40 °C)}, he secured his 15th win on July 14 against Nankai. Immediately after the game, he was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with pleurisy. He nearly died, and doctors initially doubted he would ever return to baseball. However, he made a remarkable recovery, returning to the mound in late April 1942 and winning 26 games. In 1943, he started strong with six wins by mid-May but suffered a relapse of pleurisy, forcing him off the field again. He returned in October, managing to reach 10 wins for the season. In 1944, he began the season with an undefeated 6-0 record through June, but from July onwards, he was barred from playing due to his nationality.

In November 1944, Starukhin, despite being stateless, was classified as a "foreign national" and, like most foreign residents in the capital region, was forced to relocate to a detention camp in Karuizawa, Nagano. Officially, his absence from baseball records was attributed to "isolation due to illness." During his internment in Karuizawa, he reportedly made a living shining shoes. The situation worsened on August 9, 1945, when the Soviet Union broke its neutrality pact with Japan and invaded, leading to Starukhin's expulsion from the camp.

2.2. Post-War Career and Team Transitions

After World War II, Starukhin briefly worked as an interpreter for the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP), the U.S. occupation authorities. In 1946, he returned to professional baseball. Instead of rejoining the Giants, he signed with a new team, the Pacific Baseball Club, owned by Komajiro Tamura, after a chance reunion with his former manager, Fujimoto Sadayoshi. Pacific's aggressive recruitment of several prominent players, including Starukhin, led to a significant conflict with other teams, resulting in Pacific being forced to forfeit four games. This controversial decision ultimately cost the Giants the first post-war Japanese championship, as one of Pacific's forfeited games had been a loss to Great Ring (now the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks); the change to a win for Great Ring secured them the title over the Giants.

Starukhin remained with Pacific in 1947, when the team was renamed the Taiyo Robins. In 1948, he followed Tamura to his other team, the Kinsei Stars, which became the Daiei Stars after Tamura sold the franchise to Daiei Film following the 1948 season. Starukhin played for this franchise until 1953. By this time, his physique had changed, and his pitching style evolved from a power pitcher to a more crafty one, relying on breaking balls like drops, shoots, and sinkers, along with deceptive fakes. Despite this, he continued to perform at a high level, winning 27 games in 1949 and earning his Most Wins title again after a nine-year gap. On June 15, 1952, in a game against the Mainichi Orions, he hit two home runs and pitched a complete game but still suffered a 2-3 loss due to a lack of run support from his teammates.

In 1954, Starukhin moved to the Takahashi Unions (a forerunner of the Chiba Lotte Marines). This move was not to follow Fujimoto, but rather on Fujimoto's advice to accept a signing bonus, as his career was nearing its end. Before the season, Starukhin was significantly overweight, described as "looking like a sumo wrestler," weighing 265 lb ^{(120 kg)}. He struggled initially, with a 2-7 record by July. However, after intensive running training under temporary coach Kohei Murasha, he successfully reduced his weight to 215 lb ^{(97.5 kg)} and improved his performance, finishing the season 8-13 despite a weak team.

In 1955, his final season, Starukhin achieved his most significant career milestone. On April 13, he secured the Unions' first win of the season with his 83rd and final career complete game shutout against the Daiei Stars. On September 4, he became the first pitcher in Japanese professional baseball history to reach 300 career wins with a complete game victory against his former team, the Daiei Stars, at Nishinokyogoku Stadium in Kyoto. Due to a later re-evaluation of pre-war NPB rules regarding pitcher wins, his 300th win was officially retroactively recognized as occurring on July 28, 1955, against the Kintetsu Pearls at Kawasaki Stadium. Starukhin is the only pitcher among the six in NPB history with 300 or more wins to have achieved his 100th, 200th, and 300th victories with different teams.

After reaching 300 wins, Starukhin expressed a desire to continue playing, aiming for 2,000 career strikeouts and 100 shutouts. The Pacific League awarded him a bonus of 50.00 K JPY, but no official ceremony was held. Feeling this was unfair, team owner Ryutaro Takahashi personally hosted a celebratory party for him. Despite his wishes, Starukhin was forced to retire after the 1955 season, finishing with a 7-21 record. He was cut by the Unions, and no other team would sign him, even though he offered to pitch for free. His retirement coincided with the death of his mother, Evdokia, that same year. Friends noted that Starukhin seemed perpetually sad after leaving baseball. He retired with a career record of 303 wins and 176 losses.

2.3. 300 Wins and Key Records

Viktor Starukhin's career was defined by a series of unprecedented achievements and records in Japanese professional baseball.

He was the first pitcher in Japanese professional baseball history to reach 300 career wins. His final career record stood at 303 wins and 176 losses, which was the NPB record at the time of his retirement in 1955, later surpassed by Takehiko Bessho in 1960.

Starukhin holds the NPB record for most career shutouts with 83.

His 1939 season was particularly dominant, as he recorded 42 wins. This stands as an NPB tie record, matched only by Kazuhisa Inao in 1961. The exact count of his 1939 wins was a subject of controversy. Post-war, NPB record keepers, including Ikushi Yamauchi, reviewed pre-war scorebooks and initially reduced his 1939 win total to 40, citing two games (May 9 vs. Nagoya, July 15 vs. Senators) where Teruzo Nakao had started and pitched five or more innings with a lead before Starukhin entered in relief and secured the win. Pre-war rules for crediting wins were ambiguous and often subjective. However, after Inao tied the 42-win mark in 1961, a commissioner's ruling on March 30, 1962, reinstated Starukhin's 42 wins, stating that "even if it seems strange in retrospect, the judgment of the official record keeper at the time should be respected."

Other significant records and achievements include:

• Most Wins Leader: 6 times (1937 Autumn, 1938 Spring, 1938 Autumn, 1939, 1940, 1949). This is an NPB record for most titles. His five consecutive titles (1937 Autumn to 1940) are also the longest streak. His 1949 title came after a nine-year gap, the longest in the award's history.
• Best Earned Run Average: 1 time (1938 Autumn, 1.05 ERA).
• Most Strikeouts Leader: 2 times (1938 Autumn, 1939), though this was not an officially recognized league title at the time.
• Best Winning Percentage: 2 times (1938 Autumn, 1940).
• Most Valuable Player (MVP): 2 times (1939, 1940). He was the first player in NPB history to win consecutive MVP awards.
• Best Nine Award: 1 time (Pitcher: 1940).
• First to reach 100 wins: Achieved on November 1, 1939, in 165 games, the fastest in NPB history.
• First to reach 200 wins: Achieved on October 20, 1946, in 313 games.
• First to achieve wins leader title with multiple teams.
• Only pitcher to record 35 or more wins in consecutive seasons (1939-1940).
• Season Start Wins: 32 wins in 1940, an NPB tie record.
• Career Complete Games: 350, which was the NPB record at his retirement, later surpassed by Masaichi Kaneda in 1965.
• Career Innings Pitched: 4175.1 IP, which was the NPB record at his retirement, later surpassed by Bessho Takehiko in 1959.
• Season Win Streak: 18 consecutive wins in 1940, a record for the one-league era.
• Consecutive Wins vs. Same Team: 17 consecutive wins against the Hankyu Braves (1940-1943), a one-league era record.
• Pitcher Triple Crown: 1 time (1938 Autumn), becoming the second pitcher in NPB history to achieve this.
• No-hitter: 1 time (July 3, 1937, against the Eagles at Suzaki Stadium), the second in NPB history.
• All-Star Game: 1 appearance (1952).

3.1. Pitching Style and Repertoire

Standing at 75 in ^{(191 cm)} (6 feet 3 inches), Starukhin's tall stature was a significant advantage in his pitching. Batters often described his pitches as "dropping from a second-story roof," making them exceptionally difficult to hit due to the steep downward angle. While his fastball was powerful, often compared in speed to that of Eiji Sawamura, some players noted that Sawamura's pitches seemed to "extend more" at the plate, giving the impression of greater velocity.

Starukhin's pitching repertoire included a fastball, drop ball (curveball), shoot (sinker), and sinker. He was known for being a crafty pitcher, skillfully engaging in mind games with batters. He primarily relied on his powerful fastball, but effectively used his shoot and curve to change speeds and keep hitters off balance. His sinker was particularly effective for inducing ground balls. Occasionally, he would surprise batters by throwing with a quick motion or from a sidearm delivery. In his later career, he also developed a pitch described as an "avec ball," which reportedly had a wobbling, falling motion, similar to a forkball or knuckleball.

3.2. Batting Ability and Athleticism

Beyond his pitching prowess, Starukhin was also a capable hitter and an exceptional athlete. His general athleticism was evident from his childhood, where he could win a 100-meter dash even with a significant handicap.

As a batter, he displayed notable skills at the plate. In 1939, he hit four walk-off hits, a record that stood for three decades. In 1940, he recorded an impressive five hits in a single game. Even in his final season in 1955, he notably received an intentional walk as a pinch-hitter. Starukhin was known for his tendency to swing at the first pitch. Despite this, his tall frame and strong arms allowed him to forcefully pull even slightly outside pitches for hits, demonstrating his raw power and hitting ability.

4.1. Family Background and Relationships

Starukhin was fluent in Japanese and was often described as "more Japanese than Japanese" due to his deep respect for Japanese customs and his in-laws. Despite this, he reportedly harbored a persistent sadness, feeling that his Japanese friends would never fully accept him beyond the labels of "foreigner" and "exile." To find a sense of community and connection, he frequently visited the Nikolai-do (Orthodox church) in Ochanomizu, Tokyo, where other Russian emigrants gathered. It was there that he sought friends and even found his first bride. He was also known to be a heavy drinker, capable of consuming over 24 large bottles of beer in a single night.

His father, Konstantin Starukhin, born in Nizhny Tagil, was a Tsarist officer who lost his military position after the Russian Revolution. He briefly joined the White Army before fleeing to Siberia and eventually to a refugee camp in Harbin. After immigrating to Japan with his wife Evdokia and son Viktor, Konstantin engaged in wool trading and ran a milk hall in Asahikawa, while Evdokia contributed to the family income by baking bread. In 1932, when Viktor was invited to play for Koyo Gakuin, the family moved to Kobe, where they ran a bakery with school support, but later returned to Asahikawa. In Kobe, Konstantin became involved with another Russian emigrant, Maria. He later opened a coffee shop called "Baikal" in Asahikawa, employing Maria as a waitress. In 1933, due to Maria's changing affections, Konstantin broke into her home and fatally stabbed her. Although he initially admitted to the murder out of jealousy, he later changed his testimony, claiming she was a spy. He was sentenced to eight years in prison but was released in 1938 and lived to see his son's baseball success. Konstantin died in Tokyo in 1943 and is buried alongside his wife Evdokia in Tama Cemetery in Tokyo.

In 1938, Viktor married his first wife, Elena (also known as Lena), a Russian emigrant and hairdresser whom he had met at Nikolai-do. Their son, George (Георгий^Russian), was born in 1941. After Starukhin's internment in Karuizawa during the war, Elena filed for divorce. Their relationship had deteriorated due to her husband's illness and the family's financial struggles. She became involved with Alexander Boloviyov, a U.S. occupation officer who was also a former Russian immigrant and had even played against Starukhin in high school. Elena divorced Viktor in 1948, leaving their seven-year-old son, and moved to the United States with Alexander.

Starukhin's second wife was Takahashi Kunie, a Japanese woman of Russian-Japanese heritage, whose Russian name was Tanya. She was a graduate of Akita Prefectural Akita Girls' High School and Japan Women's University. They met in 1948 at the Russian Club in Tokyo and married in 1950. Kunie raised George, Starukhin's son from his first marriage, and together they had two daughters. From 1956, Kunie took over the management of Starukhin's beauty salon in Aoyama, which he had opened in 1948, helping to support the family as he struggled with depression and excessive drinking. She also managed a pharmacy and a Russian restaurant called "Leka." Later, she received a substantial relocation fee due to urban redevelopment in Aoyama. However, a younger lover used this money and the business rights as collateral for a failed golf course development, leading Kunie to lose all her assets. After separating from him, she worked at Seibu Department Stores and other jobs. Her drinking increased, and she developed liver disease. In 1971, at the age of 49, she died by jumping from her apartment. She is buried with Viktor at Sounenji Temple in Omonogawa, Yokote, Akita Prefecture, which is her family temple. Her father, Takahashi Yoshio (born 1887), was a notable figure who had traveled to the Asian continent in 1910, experienced the Russian Revolution in Moscow, and later served as an interpreter for the Akita Infantry 17th Regiment during the Siberian Intervention. He also directed the "Volga Entertainment Troupe," composed of Russian exiles. His life story was published in the book "Man Who Ran Across Eurasia."

Starukhin's eldest son, George Starukhin (born 1941), frequently appeared in magazines and on television with his father. After his father's death, George became a television and radio personality, making his acting debut in the 1960 TV drama Chikyu wa Hikiuketa (NTV). His elder daughter, Natasha Starukhin (born 1951), worked as a flight attendant for Japan Airlines before marrying a colleague and founding Japan's first tanning salon. She later became a holistic nutritionist, giving lectures and appearing on health-themed television programs. She has thrown the ceremonial first pitch at Asahikawa Starffin Stadium on multiple occasions, wearing her father's number 17 jersey. She is also the author of books on diet and a memoir about her father. Actress Mari Tanaka is Kunie's niece, and electone player Takahashi Rena is Kunie's sister.

5.1. Circumstances of Death

On January 12, 1957, at approximately 10:40 PM, Starukhin was killed in a traffic accident. He was driving his 1941 Chevrolet Deluxe 2-door coupe from his home in Minami-Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo, along National Route 246 (Tamagawa-dori) in Setagaya, Tokyo. He was on his way to a middle school reunion. Near the Tokyu Tamagawa Line's Mishuku Station (which was abolished in 1969), while attempting to overtake another car, his vehicle collided head-on with a tram bound for Futako-Tamagawaen. His car was severely damaged, and Starukhin was rushed to National Setagaya Hospital but died before arrival. He was 40 years old. The police initially reported the cause of the accident as drunk driving and excessive speeding.

However, the exact circumstances of his death remain a subject of debate and speculation. Friends provided testimonies that raised questions: Starukhin was reportedly driving in the opposite direction of the reunion venue, and he had dropped off a classmate from his car, instructing them to take the tram instead, an unexplained action. While he had consumed alcohol at a friend's bowling alley opening ceremony shortly before the accident, witnesses stated he was not heavily intoxicated.

On January 20, an unofficial "baseball funeral" was held for Starukhin, the first of its kind in professional baseball. Prior to the funeral, a memorial discussion was held, attended by prominent figures who had known and worked with him, including funeral committee chairman Ichika Tadao, his long-time manager Fujimoto Sadayoshi, Giants representatives Sotaro Suzuki, Shigeru Mizuhara, and Tetsuharu Kawakami, former Takahashi Unions manager Shinji Hamasaki, and Tokuro Konishi. Starukhin was buried in the foreign section of Tama Cemetery in Tokyo, in the grave he had built for his father, Konstantin. In 1989, on the 33rd anniversary of his death, his daughter Natasha had some of his ashes interred at Sounenji Temple in Omonogawa, Yokote, Akita Prefecture, which is the family temple and burial place of his second wife, Kunie. Viktor Starukhin remained stateless until his death.

6.1. Hall of Fame Induction

In 1960, just three years after his death, Viktor Starukhin was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He holds the distinction of being the first foreign player ever inducted and was among the first group of players selected for the "player's award" category, which was established in 1959. This induction solidified his place as one of the most significant figures in the early history of Japanese professional baseball.

6.2. Memorials and Cultural Impact

Starukhin is revered as a legendary hero by the citizens of Asahikawa, Hokkaido. In 1984, following renovation work, the municipal baseball stadium in Asahikawa was officially nicknamed Asahikawa Starffin Stadium (スタルヒン球場^Japanese). This marked the first time a baseball stadium in Japan was named after an individual player. A bronze statue of Starukhin stands proudly at the stadium's entrance, commemorating his contributions to the city and the sport.

His legacy also extends to the symbolism of his jersey number. The number 17, which Starukhin predominantly wore throughout his career (from 1936 to 1943, and 1946 to 1947, and 1949 to 1955), has since become associated with "talented pitchers" in Japanese baseball.

7.1. Yearly Pitching Statistics

• Bold indicates league leader.
• Red Bold indicates NPB record.
• Pacific changed team name to Taiyo (Taiyo Robins) in 1947.
• Kinsei (Kinsei Stars) changed team name to Daiei (Daiei Stars) in 1949.
• Takahashi (Takahashi Unions) changed team name to Tombow (Tombow Unions) in 1955.

7.2. Individual Titles and Awards

• Most Wins: 6 times (1937 Autumn, 1938 Spring, 1938 Autumn, 1939, 1940, 1949) - NPB record for most titles; 5 consecutive titles is the longest streak.
• Best Earned Run Average: 1 time (1938 Autumn).
• Most Strikeouts: 2 times (1938 Autumn, 1939) - not an official league award at the time.
• Best Winning Percentage: 2 times (1938 Autumn, 1940).
• Most Valuable Player (MVP): 2 times (1939, 1940) - first player in NPB history to win consecutive MVP awards.
• Best Nine Award: 1 time (Pitcher: 1940).
• Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame (1960) - first player induction.