Yutaka Fukumoto

2.1. Birth and Childhood

Fukumoto was born on November 7, 1947, in Fukami-cho, Ikuno-ku, Osaka City, Japan. When he was in the third grade, he first encountered baseball through "triangle baseball," played with a rubber ball and a piece of wood. At the age of five, his family relocated to Fuse City (now Higashiosaka), where his father opened a ramen shop and his mother started a futon repair business. Fukumoto often helped with deliveries. He recalled being a fan of the Yomiuri Giants during his childhood. In middle school, at Fuse City Fuse Third Middle School (now Higashiosaka City Kanaoka Middle School), he played on the semi-hardball baseball team. For his first two years, he was a substitute, often chasing balls into the river during practice. In his third year, he became the starting first baseman and participated in the Osaka Middle School Championship.

2.2. High School Baseball

Fukumoto attended Daitetsu High School (now Hannan University High School) due to a family connection; his mother's cousin was the sumo club's coach. Despite many first-year players leaving due to strict upperclassmen, Fukumoto was noticed by the coach during a morning free batting session for his ability to make contact. During defensive practice as a right fielder, he consistently covered first base on infield ground balls, anticipating errant throws. This impressed his coach, who praised his baseball IQ, leading to him becoming the starting right fielder as a first-year student in the summer district qualifiers. By the autumn of his second year, he had moved to center field and became the team's leadoff hitter.

In the summer of 1965, during his third year of high school, Daitetsu High made its first appearance in the Koshien Tournament (47th edition). In the first round, they faced Akita High School, which would go on to reach the semifinals. In the bottom of the 13th inning, Fukumoto and the second baseman miscommunicated on a hit, resulting in a walk-off loss. Fukumoto acknowledged it as his mistake, noting that as the center fielder, he should have advanced to catch the ball rather than the second baseman retreating. He described it as a valuable learning experience. His teammate, one year his junior, was Tsuguo Takahashi, who later played for Nishitetsu and Lotte.

2.3. Amateur Baseball Career

After graduating from high school, Fukumoto joined the industrial league team Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic). He had received offers from several universities but chose Matsushita to avoid the strict, often violent, atmosphere of college baseball. His speed was a key asset, and his coach encouraged him to emulate the fast superstar Yoshinori Hirose, even giving him Hirose's jersey number, 12. Fukumoto frequently attended Hirose's games, later calling him "a god."

He became a regular outfielder in his first year, 1966, and played in the Intercity Baseball Tournament. In 1968, his third year in amateur baseball, he participated in the 39th Intercity Baseball Tournament as a reinforcement player for Fuji Iron & Steel Hirohata, alongside future professional players Hideji Kato and Mitsuo Okada. Their strong pitching led the team to the finals, where they defeated Kawai Musical Instruments to win the championship. In August of the same year, he played in a Japan-US Goodwill Baseball series against the Alaska Goldpanners, a semi-pro team primarily composed of college students. That year, he was named to the Amateur Best Nine. Despite these achievements, Fukumoto himself stated that he was not a highly-regarded player during his amateur career.

3.1. Draft and Entry into NPB

In the autumn of 1968, Fukumoto was selected in the NPB draft as the seventh-round pick by the Hankyu Braves (currently the Orix Buffaloes). This draft class was notably strong, often referred to as "the most bountiful draft in history," with Hankyu alone acquiring three future Meikyukai (Golden Players Club) members: Hisashi Yamada, Hideji Kato, and Fukumoto himself.

The Nankai Hawks had also shown early interest in Fukumoto's speed, but their manager, Kazuhiro Tsuruoka, ultimately rejected him due to his small stature, standing at only 66 in ^{(168 cm)}. Fukumoto's opportunity arose when scouts came to Matsushita Electric to observe his teammate, Hideji Kato, who was already an amateur star. Fukumoto's performance in games, including hitting a home run and making a strong throw to home plate during the Intercity Baseball Tournament (a play that first brought him to Yamada's attention), caught the scouts' eyes. Fukumoto humbly attributed these moments to "just happening to make the best plays at that time." He later learned that a Hankyu team manager, Katsunori Yagata, and scout Michio Fujii had "casually" listed him when visiting to scout Kato. Other professional teams, like the Kintetsu Buffaloes and Yomiuri Giants, had only made brief, non-committal inquiries, with a Giants scout famously telling him, "You're a good player, but it's a shame. If only you were 2.0 in ^{(5 cm)} taller..."

Fukumoto was completely unaware of his draft selection until a company senior, reading a sports newspaper the next morning, informed him. Days passed without contact from Hankyu, leading him and his colleagues to suspect a mistake. The truth was that Matsushita Electric, unwilling to lose Fukumoto, had repeatedly refused Hankyu's requests for a meeting, while simultaneously advising Fukumoto that his small size made professional baseball unfeasible. Only after Fukumoto's earnest plea to Matsushita did a meeting with Hankyu materialize.

During this meeting, Hankyu officials treated him to meat dishes, which impressed him, making him think, "If I go pro, I can eat delicious meat like this!" Despite his initial hesitation, repeated invitations for meals made it difficult to decline. He finally decided to join Hankyu after the fourth meal. The initial offer was a 5.00 M JPY signing bonus and an annual salary of 1.50 M JPY. However, after his Matsushita colleagues deemed it too low (his monthly salary there was 28.00 K JPY and rising annually), he negotiated for a 7.50 M JPY signing bonus and 1.80 M JPY annual salary, which was accepted. Fukumoto later stated in his book that he became a Hankyu Brave thanks to Kato's presence at Matsushita Electric.

Upon Fukumoto's decision to join Hankyu, his father, who worked at a cafeteria for Kintetsu Railway (a rival company), resigned out of a sense of obligation to Kintetsu. He then opened a ramen shop near Shonai Station on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line.

3.2. Debut and Early Years

Upon entering professional baseball, Fukumoto was met with low expectations from his Hankyu seniors, who commented on his small stature and lack of power. Despite this, he made his first team debut in his rookie year, 1969. His first appearance was on April 12, 1969, the opening day game against the Toei Flyers, where he entered as a pinch runner for Tokuji Nagaike but was caught stealing. The following day, in the second game of a doubleheader against the same team, he recorded his first professional stolen base against pitcher Ken Sakurai and catcher Masayuki Tanemo. His professional debut thus predated those of his draft classmates Yamada and Kato, who spent more time in the minor leagues or recovering from injuries.

However, before the 1969 All-Star break, manager Yukio Nishimoto sent him to the farm team (ni-gun) to specifically practice stolen bases. While in ni-gun, he diligently focused on batting practice, even swinging his bat at tree leaves in the dormitory. Fukumoto initially considered giving up professional baseball after three years if he didn't achieve significant results, feeling he was not highly anticipated as a seventh-round pick. In October 1969, he was moved to center field as a successor to Tadayoshi Okuma, who shifted to left field, and he participated in the 1969 Japan Series.

In 1970, his second season, Fukumoto became the team's regular leadoff hitter. He reached the plate appearance requirement, finishing 12th in batting average at .274. He recorded 75 stolen bases, earning his first stolen base title. He also hit 8 home runs, demonstrating improved power. Nishimoto praised his transformed swing during spring training that year.

3.3. Peak Performance and Record Breaking

In 1972, Fukumoto changed his jersey number to 7, a number that would become synonymous with his legacy. That year, he achieved his first .300 batting average, hitting .301 (5th in the league). He set a new Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) single-season record with an astounding 106 stolen bases, becoming the first player in NPB history to reach triple digits in steals. This mark also surpassed the then-MLB record of 104 stolen bases held by Maury Wills, making it a world record at the time. This record stood until Rickey Henderson broke it in 1982. Fukumoto's exceptional performance in 1972 earned him the Pacific League MVP award, making him the first player in NPB history to win both the MVP and stolen base title in the same season.

In 1974, he contended for the batting title, finishing third in the league with a .327 average. In 1975, Fukumoto played a crucial role as the Hankyu Braves won the playoffs and secured their first-ever Japan Series championship, defeating the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. On May 15, 1977, he achieved his 1000th career hit against Masumi Moriguchi of the Nankai Hawks. Just over a month later, on July 6, 1977, at Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium, he broke Yoshinori Hirose's long-standing NPB career stolen base record (596) by stealing his 597th base against the Nankai Hawks. Hirose, playing center field for Nankai, witnessed the historic moment from the field.

From the time he won his first stolen base title, Fukumoto was granted a "green light" by his managers, allowing him to attempt steals based on his own judgment, without specific signs from the bench. His ability to get on base and then steal meant that his presence on first base was often considered equivalent to a two-base hit. Hideji Kato famously remarked that if Fukumoto reached base, he could score from third on almost any type of hit, even an infield fly. Fukumoto himself recalled a game in 1976 where he scored twice from first base on a walk, a stolen base, and an infield fly.

Fukumoto was a cornerstone of the Hankyu Braves' "Golden Era" in the 1970s, contributing to six league championships and three consecutive Japan Series titles from 1975 to 1977. In the 1976 Japan Series, where Hankyu defeated the Giants for the first time, he batted an impressive .407 with 11 hits and 2 home runs, earning the Series MVP award. In Game 2 of the 1977 Japan Series, he scored a run without a hit, reaching base via a walk, then stealing second, and advancing to home on two infield groundouts, which he described as "our everyday baseball." In 1978, he recorded a .325 batting average, finishing second in the league. In 1980, he set a Pacific League record with 112 runs scored.

3.4. Major Records and Achievements

Yutaka Fukumoto holds numerous significant records in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and the Pacific League, solidifying his status as one of the sport's all-time greats.

• NPB Career Records:**
  • Career Stolen Bases: 1,065 (NPB record, 2nd all-time worldwide).
  • Career Triples: 115 (NPB record).
  • Career Caught Stealing: 299 (NPB record).
  • Career Lead-Off Home Runs: 43 (NPB record).
  • Career Putouts by an Outfielder: 5,102 (NPB record).
  • Career Total Chances by an Outfielder: 5,272 (NPB record).
  • Most Stolen Base Titles: 13 (1970-1982, NPB record).
  • Most Consecutive Stolen Base Titles: 13 (1970-1982, NPB record).
  • Most Diamond Glove Awards (now Golden Glove Award): 12 (1972-1983, NPB record).
  • Most Consecutive Diamond Glove Awards: 12 (1972-1983, NPB record).
  • Most Seasons with 50+ Stolen Bases: 14 (1970-1983, NPB record).
  • Most Consecutive Seasons with 50+ Stolen Bases: 14 (1970-1983, NPB record).
  • Most Seasons Leading League in Triples: 8 (1971, 1973, 1974, 1977-1979, 1982, 1983).
  • Most Seasons with 20+ Doubles: 14 (tied NPB record).
  • Most Combined Doubles and Triples: 564 (NPB record).
  • Most Multi-Hit Games: 178 (5th all-time NPB).
  • Most Consecutive Games with a Stolen Base: 11 (twice, 1971 and 1974, NPB record until 2020).
  • Most Caught Stealing in a Single Game: 3 (June 19, 1980, tied NPB record).
  • Pacific League Records:**
    • Career Runs Scored: 1,656 (1969-1988, PL record).
    • Career Doubles: 449 (1969-1988, PL record).
    • Most Seasons Leading League in Runs: 10 (1972-1980, 1982, PL record).
    • Most Seasons Leading League in Walks: 6 (1976, 1978-1980, 1982, 1983, PL record).
    • Most Seasons with 100+ Runs: 4 (1973, 1978-1980, tied PL record).
    • Most Seasons with 100+ Hits: 18 (1970-1987, tied PL record).
    • Most Seasons Playing in All Games: 8 (1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983-1986, tied PL record).
    • Most Single-Season Lead-Off Home Runs: 8 (1972, tied PL record).
    • Most Stolen Bases in a Single Game: 5 (May 3, 1972, PL record).
    • Most Consecutive Seasons Reaching Prescribed Plate Appearances: 17 (1970-1986, tied PL record).
    • Most Consecutive Seasons with 100+ Hits: 18 (1970-1987, PL record).
    • Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League in Runs: 9 (1972-1980, PL record).
    • Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League in Walks: 3 (1978-1980, tied PL record).
    • Other Notable Records:**
      • Career Hits: 2,543.
      • Career Home Runs: 208.
      • Career Batting Average: .291 (4th all-time for players with 8,000+ at-bats).
      • Cycle Hitting: 1 time (May 21, 1981, vs. Seibu Lions).
      • Consecutive Game Hitting Streak: 30 games (May 18 - July 10, 1977).
      • Consecutive Lead-Off Home Runs: 2 games (August 9-10, 1980).
      • Career Stolen Bases in Japan Series: 14 (NPB record).
      • Consecutive Games with a Stolen Base in Japan Series: 3 (tied series record).
      • All-Star Game Appearances: 17 (1970, 1972-1987).
      • Career Stolen Bases in All-Star Game: 17 (NPB record).
      • Career Runs Scored in All-Star Game: 26 (tied NPB record).
      • Consecutive Stolen Base Successes in All-Star Game: 9 (1976 Game 2 - 1979 Game 1).

3.5. Awards and Honors

Yutaka Fukumoto received numerous awards and honors throughout his illustrious career, recognizing his exceptional talent and contributions to Japanese baseball.

• Most Valuable Player (MVP):** 1 time (1972).
• Best Nine Award:** 10 times (1972-1974, 1976-1982). He is tied for second most Best Nine selections as an outfielder in the Pacific League.
• Diamond Glove Award** (now Golden Glove Award): 12 times (1972-1983). This is an NPB record for most awards and most consecutive awards. In 1972, he was among the first outfielders in the Pacific League to receive this award, alongside Iwao Ikebe and Yoshinori Hirose.
• Japan Series MVP:** 1 time (1976).
• Japan Series Excellent Player Award:** 2 times (1977, 1984).
• Japan Series Batting Award:** 1 time (1976).
• Japan Series Skill Award:** 1 time (1975).
• All-Star Game MVP:** 3 times (1973 Game 2, 1974 Game 2, 1982 Game 1). He is the third player in NPB history to win MVP in the regular season, All-Star Game, and Japan Series, following Tetsuharu Kawakami and Hiroshi Oshita.
• Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame:** Inducted in 2002.
• Hyogo Prefecture Sports Excellence Special Award:** 1 time (1988), in recognition of his 1065 career stolen bases.

3.6. Career Milestones

Yutaka Fukumoto achieved several significant personal milestones during his career, further cementing his place in baseball history.

On June 3, 1983, in a game against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Seibu Dome, Fukumoto stole his 939th career base in the 9th inning, surpassing Lou Brock's then-MLB career stolen base record. Fukumoto had planned to achieve this milestone at his home stadium, Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium, during a close game. However, during the Seibu game, he unexpectedly stole the base out of frustration after Seibu's shortstop, Hironori Ishige, repeatedly covered the base during pick-off attempts. Fukumoto later described it as a "somewhat heavy world record." Fireworks were launched at Seibu Lions Stadium to celebrate, a first for a non-Seibu player.

Following this record-breaking achievement, Fukumoto was offered the People's Honour Award by then-Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone. However, he famously declined the award, reportedly stating that it would make him unable to "even pee standing up." He later clarified that this comment was made in jest during a casual conversation with reporters. His true reasons for declining were his humility and belief that he could not be a "role model" like the first recipient, Sadaharu Oh, and that his personal habits, such as playing mahjong and smoking, might cause inconvenience to other recipients. He maintains that declining the award was the right decision for him. Despite this, he did accept the Osaka Prefectural Governor's Commendation, becoming its first recipient.

Fukumoto also initially declined special entry into the Meikyukai (Golden Players Club) after breaking the stolen base record. Instead, he chose to formally qualify by achieving 2,000 career hits. On September 1, 1983, he reached this milestone with a single off Isao Tamura of the Lotte Orions at Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium, becoming the 17th player in NPB history to do so.

His remarkable streak of 13 consecutive stolen base titles concluded in 1983, when he recorded 55 stolen bases, falling short of Daichiro Oishi's 60. Fukumoto stated that he was "tired" before achieving his 939th stolen base and had willingly conceded the title to Oishi, whom he considered a similar type of player and a former pupil of his manager, Nishimoto. He claimed he had no strong attachment to the consecutive record but might have pursued a 14th title if his competitor had been someone other than Oishi.

On August 7, 1984, Fukumoto reached 1,000 career stolen bases. He continued to extend his record, eventually finishing with 1,065. His personal goal was to reach 1,107 stolen bases, a number derived from his birthday (November 7). On April 8, 1988, he recorded his 2,500th career hit with a triple off Hideyuki Awano of the Kintetsu Buffaloes, becoming the fifth player in NPB history to achieve this feat.

3.7. Retirement

Yutaka Fukumoto's illustrious playing career came to an abrupt and unexpected end after the 1988 season. The Hankyu Braves, his long-time team, were sold to Orix and rebranded as the Orix BlueWave. Fukumoto intended to continue playing for at least another year.

However, at the final game of the year at Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium on October 23, 1988, manager Toshiharu Ueda made a significant verbal error during his post-game farewell address to the fans. Ueda intended to say, "We bid farewell to Hisashi Yamada and will have Fukumoto (for the new team)..." but instead mistakenly announced, "We bid farewell to Yamada, and Fukumoto..." This misstatement caused a major stir among the team, fans, and media. Fukumoto, caught completely by surprise, responded to the swarming reporters by shrugging and stating, "Ueda said so, I'm retiring." With that, he ended his 20-year professional career at the age of 40.

Despite the surprising nature of his retirement, Fukumoto held no ill will towards Ueda. He later reflected that he thought Ueda, being a very intelligent person, would not make such a mistake. He also expressed a desire to have played until he was "worn out," similar to Katsuya Nomura. He humorously stated that cancelling his retirement would have been "too much trouble" and that he physically "could have played for another three years." Some media reports suggested that he had been offered a coaching position the day before and decided to retire due to the team's sale. He initially hoped for free agency or a player-coach role, but both requests were denied. He even considered a move to the Hanshin Tigers. A contributing factor to his decision was the significant reduction in his stolen base attempts during his final seasons, as he was frequently given a "wait" sign, which he felt was a blow to his pride.

His retirement game was held on March 12, 1989, during an exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants at Nishinomiya Stadium. Fukumoto appeared in a Hankyu uniform alongside Yamada, took an at-bat against Kazuo Koda, and then changed into an Orix Braves uniform to serve as a base coach. He retired with career totals of 2,543 hits, 208 home runs, 449 doubles (2nd all-time in NPB, 1st in Pacific League), 115 triples, 884 runs batted in, 1,065 stolen bases, and a .291 batting average in 2,401 games.

4.1. Base Stealing Prowess

Fukumoto's base-stealing prowess was legendary, built on a foundation of rigorous training and astute observation. As a rookie, he received guidance from Jo Asai, a former 400-meter relay Olympian who served as a training coach for Hankyu. Asai taught Fukumoto a running form that emphasized keeping his elbows steady. While not the absolute fastest runner on his team, Fukumoto's consistent stride, akin to an ideal short-distance runner, was key to his efficiency. He humorously noted that his first stolen base title was "just due to momentum."

Initially, despite his speed, Fukumoto struggled with stolen base timing, frequently being picked off or caught. He began filming games with an 8mm camera, provided by a high school friend, to study pitchers. Instead of looking for obvious "habits," he focused on discerning the pitcher's "rhythm" by fast-forwarding the footage at home. This breakthrough allowed him to identify the precise moment to initiate his steal. The team later took over the filming.

He found particular difficulty in reading Toshio Kanbe and Keishi Suzuki of Kintetsu. Through extensive film review, he discovered that Kanbe's heel would lift a few millimeters before pitching, and Suzuki's jaw would drop for a pick-off throw, but if he looked at the runner once, he would pitch. He also noticed Osamu Higashio's left shoulder moving towards home plate during his delivery. Fukumoto shared this "habit" with Higashio, who not only corrected it but also began intentionally moving his shoulder to deceive runners with pick-off throws. This led to a cat-and-mouse game where Fukumoto would ask umpires to watch Higashio's shoulder, and Higashio would argue that his shoulder was not entering the pitching motion.

Of the three key elements of stealing-start, speed, and sliding-Fukumoto perfected his start through meticulous study of pitchers' rhythms and refined his speed through natural talent and early form correction. For sliding, he independently developed a unique toe-first technique that gently touched the base, preserving speed and minimizing strain on his feet. He strongly disliked and mostly avoided head-first slides due to their injury risk, often speaking against them in commentary. He had experienced an ankle sprain in high school trying to evade a fielder during a slide, so he always slid straight into the base, extending his left leg and folding his right, without trying to avoid the catcher's throw.

Fukumoto used custom-made, lightweight spikes (under 14 oz ^{(400 g)}) that were half a size smaller than his usual shoe size (9.6 in ^{(24.5 cm)} vs 9.8 in ^{(25 cm)}). According to teammate Hiromi Matsunaga, he carried multiple pairs with different cleat configurations to adapt to varying field conditions.

The presence of a skilled second batter was also crucial to Fukumoto's stolen base success. He emphasized that "without capable supporters, not a single stolen base would succeed." Early in his career, Toshihisa Sakamoto and later Tadayoshi Okuma served in this role. Okuma was particularly adept at assisting Fukumoto by fouling off pitches or swinging and missing at the right time. An incident in 1975, where Fukumoto criticized Okuma for fouling a pitch that would have allowed an easy stolen base, led to Okuma temporarily being replaced by Barney Williams, causing Fukumoto to struggle with steals for a week until Okuma returned. Later, Koji Minoda also contributed significantly as a second batter.

While Fukumoto's stolen base technique was highly refined, he stressed that "courage" was paramount. His career stolen base success rate was .781 (and .809 in his 106-stolen base season in 1972), which was excellent but not exceptionally high. His 299 career caught stealing is an NPB record, reflecting his aggressive and frequent attempts. He also holds the Japan Series record for most caught stealing in a single series (3 in 1984). While acknowledging Yoshinori Hirose's philosophy of "stealing to win," Fukumoto firmly believed that "there is no such thing as a useless stolen base." When asked by Yoshihiko Takahashi for advice on stealing, Fukumoto famously replied, "It's all about spirit."

Katsuya Nomura famously remarked about Fukumoto: "When you think he'll run, he doesn't. When you think he won't, he runs. He trained me." Fukumoto attempted stolen bases 162 times against Nomura, succeeding 138 times (85.2%), the most against any catcher. Tsuneo Horiuchi claimed Fukumoto was skilled at close plays, reportedly kicking catchers' leg joints with his spikes to expose home plate.

In 1972, the Hankyu Electric Railway insured Fukumoto's legs for 100.00 M JPY (with a premium of 250.00 K JPY), to be paid to the team if he was injured and unable to play. This motivated Fukumoto to be extremely diligent about his physical condition and injury prevention. He never suffered a leg injury during a game, though he did miss games twice due to ankle and knee sprains outside of play. The insurance was discontinued after three years.

His 1,065 career stolen bases include 915 second base steals (265 caught), 149 third base steals (27 caught), and 1 home steal (6 caught). He considered third base steals "boring" due to less strategy, but also "easy" because they were less guarded. His only home steal was in 1972, on live television, and unusually, he used a head-first slide, explaining it was for a split-second advantage in a critical play. His single-game record is 5 stolen bases (May 3, 1972), a Pacific League record. He had 9 games with 4 or more stolen bases and 40 games with 3 or more. He also achieved two 11-game consecutive stolen base streaks (1971 and 1974), an NPB record that stood for 49 years until Ukyo Shuto broke it in 2020.

Fukumoto's aggressive base stealing is widely credited with prompting the widespread adoption of the "quick motion" by pitchers in Japan. Katsuya Nomura was a key innovator in this, developing the "suriashi quick" (sliding quick motion) for his Nankai Hawks pitchers, which minimized leg lift during delivery. Fukumoto acknowledged that Nomura's quick motion made stealing significantly harder, humorously stating that he would have had over 1,500 stolen bases if not for Nomura's innovations. Upon Nomura's passing in 2020, Fukumoto paid tribute, stating that Nomura's countermeasures pushed him to improve his own game.

• Opponent Countermeasures**

As Fukumoto's stolen base threat grew, opposing teams implemented various strategies to counter him:

• Lotte Orions:** Fukumoto noted Lotte as the team most proactive in interference. They used plastic protectors on fielders' legs to block him and even created "sand traps" by soaking the ground around first and second bases at Miyagi Stadium to make running difficult. Fukumoto countered by experimenting with running inside or outside the baseline, discovering that running inside often led to fewer pick-off throws. He also noted that these measures hindered Lotte's own fast players.
• Yomiuri Giants:** Before the 1971 Japan Series, Giants coach Shigeru Makino devised a plan to intentionally throw wild pick-off throws to first base, allowing the ball to bounce off the fence and be thrown to second for a tag-out. This was never executed. Catcher Masahiko Mori also practiced throwing directly at the second base bag to get Fukumoto out by collision rather than a tag, believing a tag would be ineffective. This strategy succeeded in Game 1 of the 1971 Japan Series, resulting in Fukumoto being picked off at second. Fukumoto attributed his struggles in the 1971 series largely to Giants ace Tsuneo Horiuchi, whom he called the "hardest pitcher to run on" due to his varied pick-off timings and lack of discernible habits. Mori's prior experience with quick-motion pitcher Ritsuo Horimoto also informed their strategy. However, in the 1977 Japan Series, under manager Shigeo Nagashima and with catcher Takuji Yoshida, Fukumoto successfully stole against Horiuchi in Game 2.
• Nankai Hawks:** Manager Katsuya Nomura considered drastic measures like intentionally walking the 9th batter to avoid facing Fukumoto as the leadoff hitter, or intentionally throwing low to hit Fukumoto's legs (though this backfired). Ultimately, Nomura developed the "suriashi quick" (sliding quick motion), a refined quick motion delivery that minimized leg lift, making it very difficult for Fukumoto to time. Fukumoto stated that this innovation "reset all his data" on pitchers and that he would have had over 1,500 stolen bases without it.
• Kintetsu Buffaloes:** Catcher Masataka Nashida aimed to shorten his throwing time to second base. He adjusted his stance, caught the ball in his palm for a quicker release, and practiced accurate throws to second even with his eyes closed. He also learned to throw based on bench signals rather than Fukumoto's start to avoid rushing.
• Nishitetsu Lions:** Manager Kazuhisa Inao ordered the area around first base to be heavily watered to make it difficult for Fukumoto to get a good start.

4.2. Hitting Ability

Beyond his legendary base stealing, Fukumoto was also an accomplished hitter, as evidenced by his 178 multi-hit games, seven seasons with a batting average above .300, 2,543 career hits, and 208 career home runs. His career batting average of .291 ranks fourth all-time among players with over 8,000 at-bats.

As a rookie, Fukumoto initially struggled with the speed of professional pitching. He would often try to "bunt-and-run" to third base, telling manager Yukio Nishimoto that his speed would turn it into an infield hit. However, Nishimoto strongly reprimanded him, emphasizing the need for a full swing and developing power, stating that a professional player needed to be able to hit home runs when the opportunity arose. Nishimoto also criticized him for attempting to bunt to the shortstop as advised by Don Blasingame, insisting on a proper swing.

Fukumoto consistently used a heavy bat throughout his career, initially weighing between 34 oz ^{(960 g)} and 35 oz ^{(980 g)}. He later adopted a "tsuchinoko bat" (つちのこバット_{Tsuchinoko bat}^Japanese, named after a mythical Japanese creature, characterized by a thick barrel and short length) after seeing Mitsuru Fujiwara use one. This type of bat, initially weighing 0.0 K oz ^{(1.20 K g)} and later settling at 0.0 K oz ^{(1.08 K g)}, produced a satisfying "koon" sound and allowed him to hit strong, fast balls. This training helped him develop significant power despite his small stature, leading to 11 seasons with double-digit home runs, with a career high of 21. This bat was so effective that even pitchers like Takashi Yamaguchi and Hisashi Yamada used it to get hits in the 1976 Japan Series. The "tsuchinoko bat" influenced later speedy hitters like Tsutomu Wakamatsu and Daichiro Oishi. The bat displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is notably thicker, shorter, and heavier than those of other batters.

Despite his meticulous study of pitchers for stolen bases, Fukumoto approached hitting with a natural mindset. When asked why he didn't apply the same research to hitting, he explained that trying to read pitches would make him overthink and disrupt his batting form.

He recorded 4 inside-the-park home runs, tied for third all-time in NPB. He also won the most hits title four times (though it was not an official award at the time), a Pacific League record until Ichiro Suzuki surpassed it in 1998. He also achieved a 30-game hitting streak in 1977.

In 1985, he set the career triples record (115), and in 1988, his final year, he set the career doubles record (449), briefly holding three NPB records simultaneously (stolen bases, triples, and doubles). His 449 doubles remain a Pacific League record. His combined total of 564 doubles and triples is an NPB record. Fukumoto stated that triples were the most "thrilling and challenging" for him as a batter. He expressed disappointment that modern players, despite playing in larger stadiums, do not often aim for triples.

While he hit over 200 home runs, Fukumoto believed that a leadoff hitter's primary job is to get on base, and that intentionally trying to hit home runs is inappropriate unless in a full count situation. He criticized modern leadoff hitters who prioritize home runs. Nevertheless, he expressed pride in hitting 208 home runs despite his small frame, a feat that surprised many, including Katsuya Nomura.

Fukumoto never won a batting Triple Crown title. In 1978, he maintained the league's highest batting average for much of the season but was ultimately surpassed by Kyosuke Sasaki of Kintetsu at the end of the season.

4.3. Defensive Skills

Fukumoto's exceptional speed and keen judgment were equally evident in his defensive play. Despite a chronic elbow injury from his amateur days that somewhat hindered his throwing ability, he more than compensated with an incredibly wide defensive range. He holds the NPB record for career putouts by an outfielder (5,102) and career total chances by an outfielder (5,272).

In the 1974 All-Star Game, he made a memorable play at Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium, climbing the outfield fence to catch a potential home run hit by Koichi Tabuchi of the Hanshin Tigers. Shigeo Nagashima famously described the play as "like a monkey." Fukumoto, however, humbly stated that any outfielder could make such a play by running directly to the ball's landing spot. Seven years later, he witnessed Masafumi Yamamori perform a similar play in a regular season game, prompting Fukumoto to exclaim, "He did it!"

Despite being recognized as a "master of outfield defense" with a record 12 Diamond Glove Awards, Fukumoto initially struggled as a rookie, often misjudging balls. Manager Nishimoto assigned hitting coach Masahiro Nakata (a former home run king) to hit nearly 200 balls daily specifically for Fukumoto's defensive practice. Nakata's unique hitting style, producing fast balls that "suddenly extended or curved," helped Fukumoto learn to run in a straight line to the ball's landing spot. Nakata also required him to observe opposing teams' batting practices to understand each batter's hitting tendencies. This rigorous training and accumulated experience transformed Fukumoto into an elite outfielder. Opposing fielders found his defensive range "unbelievable," often remarking that hitting to center field would not result in a hit.

Around his tenth year in professional baseball, Fukumoto developed loose cartilage in his left elbow from excessive throwing during spring training, further limiting his arm strength. To compensate, he relied heavily on shortstop Jo Ohashi for cutoff plays. Hankyu's defensive strategy often prioritized cutoff plays over direct throws to home plate. In his later career, from 1984 onwards, he primarily played left field. He found this transition challenging, as his extensive experience as a center fielder did not always translate, causing him to feel a "fear" of the unfamiliar position. He admitted that he was "bad at other positions."

Fukumoto expressed pride in the lineage of excellent outfielders that followed him at Orix, including Masafumi Yamamori, Atsuhiro Honnishi, So Taguchi, and Ichiro Suzuki, believing that the fundamental defensive training he received was passed down through generations.

5.1. Coaching Career

In 1989, the year after his retirement, Fukumoto served as the first team hitting coach for the Orix Braves. From 1990 to 1991, he was the second team manager for the same organization. He recalled finding it difficult to coach Hakumitsu Kadota, who was his age and still an active player, as it reminded him of his own desire to continue playing.

In 1998, he joined the Hanshin Tigers as the first team hitting coach. He accepted this role under manager Yoshio Yoshida, having declined an earlier offer from the Yomiuri Giants for a defensive and base running coaching position, as his long-standing desire was to teach hitting to young players. However, in 1999, when Katsuya Nomura took over as manager, Fukumoto was reassigned to first team outfield defense and base running coach. He resigned at the end of that year, adhering to his philosophy that players must be able to hit to become starters, and only then can they get on base and steal.

In January 2006, Fukumoto became a special coach for the Hannan University baseball team. In February 2016, he returned to the Orix Buffaloes as a temporary coach during their spring training camp, where he provided guidance on batting and base running.

5.2. Baseball Commentary and Media Appearances

From 1992 to 1997, Fukumoto began his career as a baseball commentator for Asahi Broadcasting (now Asahi Broadcasting Corporation TV) and Sun Television. Since 2000, he has continued these roles, also working as a baseball critic for Sports Hochi.

Fukumoto is well-known for his distinctive and often humorous commentary style, frequently using onomatopoeic expressions like "goon," "kaan," and "byatto" to describe plays. He states that his commentary philosophy is to convey information clearly and spontaneously, using terms that anyone can understand, aiming for viewers to nod in agreement. He was notably critical of Norihiro Akahoshi, particularly regarding his head-first slides and diving catches, arguing that such plays were slower and more prone to injury than his preferred "strong leg" sliding and proper outfield positioning. Conversely, he praised Ukyo Shuto for his aggressive base running, stating that it made him "excited as if he were on the field."

Fukumoto's unique remarks have sometimes gained wider attention. During a long, low-scoring game broadcast on Sun TV Box Seat, he famously commented on the scoreboard's zeros looking like "takoyaki" (octopus balls). When the Hanshin Tigers scored a single run in the 15th inning to win, he quipped, "The takoyaki now has a toothpick," a comment that later became an internet meme, even trending on Twitter during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. A "Yutaka Fukumoto Famous Quotes" board was later created for a Sun TV Box Seat exhibition.

Currently, he appears as a sports commentator on "Ohayo Asahi Doyobidesu" (Asahi Broadcasting TV) since February 2019, and hosts "Fukumoto Yutaka no Pro Baseball Machigainai!" (Sun TV, irregular broadcasts).

5.3. Other Ventures

Beyond his traditional baseball roles, Fukumoto has also ventured into other areas. He owns a baseball bar called "G.LOVE" located near Hanshin Koshien Stadium. The bar's interior is decorated with memorabilia from his Hankyu playing days, including his uniform and seats from Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium. He now operates a total of three locations.

In recent years, Fukumoto has embraced digital media by launching his own YouTube channel, "Sekai no Tōruiō Fukumoto Yutaka Channel" (世界の盗塁王 福本豊チャンネル_{Sekai no Tōruiō Fukumoto Yutaka Channel}^Japanese). The channel was created on December 31, 2020, with its first video uploaded on January 6, 2021. As of March 27, 2024, the channel has over 15,600 subscribers and more than 1.25 million views, where he shares insights and stories about baseball.

6.1. Family and Marriage

Fukumoto's marriage involved a humorous anecdote with his manager, Yukio Nishimoto. Nishimoto typically avoided acting as a matchmaker for his players to maintain impartiality. However, Fukumoto cleverly pre-printed wedding invitations with Nishimoto's name listed as the matchmaker, then presented them to Nishimoto, saying, "I've already distributed them to everyone." Nishimoto, cornered, had no choice but to accept, a favor he later extended to other players like Yamada and Kato.

His wife initially had little interest in baseball and was unaware of Fukumoto's profession. He simply told her he was "transferring from Matsushita to Hankyu." She initially believed he had become a station attendant for Hankyu Electric Railway. It was only when she was searching for him at various stations that a station attendant asked, "Are you perhaps looking for the Stolen Base King, Fukumoto?" that she realized he was a professional baseball player.

6.2. Hobbies and Interests

Fukumoto is a passionate fan of the Takarazuka Revue, a Japanese all-female musical theater troupe. Although the Takarazuka Revue and the Hankyu Braves were both part of the Hankyu Group, he initially avoided it, considering it "something women watch." However, after attending a performance in 2006, he was captivated, describing it as an "eye-opening" experience. He now admires the "beautiful stage created by discipline and politeness." He even jokingly told people they could find him in Takarazuka on Mondays. In 2014, for the Takarazuka Revue's 100th anniversary "Grand Sports Festival," he was honored to serve as the starter for the final "Team Relay" competition.

He is also an avid fan of Rakugo, a traditional Japanese comedic storytelling art. He regularly hosts rakugo performances at his bar, inviting rakugo performers with whom he has a friendly relationship, such as Ginpei Shofukutei.

Fishing is another one of his hobbies. During his playing days, he would go fishing along the coasts of Amagasaki and Nishinomiya, as well as Port Island, as a way to "change his mood" or "distract himself." He recalled that on the night of October 19, 1988, when the sale of the Braves was announced, he went night fishing at the breakwater at the mouth of the Mukogawa River to avoid reporters, but was too preoccupied to enjoy it.

Former Orix player Punch Sato recounted an amusing anecdote: when Sato was a player and Fukumoto was the ni-gun manager, Fukumoto would warn players not to go swimming on their days off to avoid getting cold. However, Sato and his teammates once found Fukumoto himself sunbathing in a swimsuit and sunglasses at Suma Beach, despite his own warnings.

Fukumoto, a left-handed thrower and left-handed batter in baseball, is right-handed when writing. He uses his left hand for chopsticks.

7.1. Contribution to Japanese Baseball

Fukumoto's aggressive and strategic base running style significantly impacted the way baseball was played in Japan. His relentless pursuit of stolen bases, particularly his record-breaking 106 in a single season, forced opposing teams to develop new defensive strategies. He is widely credited with being the catalyst for the widespread adoption and refinement of the "quick motion" by pitchers in NPB, most notably by Katsuya Nomura. This innovation, designed to minimize the time between a pitcher's wind-up and release, was a direct response to Fukumoto's speed and ability to read pitchers. Fukumoto himself acknowledged that Nomura's quick motion made stealing much harder, humorously suggesting he would have had over 1,500 stolen bases without it.

His consistent excellence and record-breaking achievements inspired subsequent generations of players to focus on base running and speed. He popularized the idea that speed could be a dominant offensive weapon, not just a supplementary skill. However, he has also expressed disappointment with the current state of stolen bases in NPB, noting that winning a stolen base title with only 24 steals (as happened in 2021) is "laughable," stating he used to achieve over 100 in a month. He believes modern players should prioritize base running more.

His jersey number "7" became iconic for the Hankyu Braves. While it was unofficially treated as a quasi-retired number by the Orix BlueWave, it was never formally retired. Players like So Taguchi and Ichiro Suzuki declined to wear it out of respect. Fukumoto, along with Hisashi Yamada and Hideji Kato, has expressed a wish for their numbers (7, 17, and 10, respectively) to be officially retired by the team.

7.2. Social Contributions

Beyond the professional baseball field, Fukumoto demonstrated a deep commitment to social responsibility. From his second year as a professional player until his retirement as an Orix coach, he annually visited care facilities for individuals with disabilities for 23 consecutive years, even after it was no longer a mandatory team activity. His dedication inspired residents of these facilities to form their own baseball teams, leading to the eventual establishment of the Japan Physically Disabled Baseball Federation, for which he serves as an honorary director.

Fukumoto was also known for his dedication to fan engagement. Following the example of his idol, Shigeo Nagashima, he made an effort to sign autographs for fans at the stadium whenever possible. He also obtained unused guidebooks from the previous year from the team and distributed them for free to young baseball players practicing along the Mukogawa River.

His decision to decline the People's Honour Award in 1983, despite breaking a world record, stemmed from his humility and a principled stance. He felt he could not be a "role model" like the first recipient, Sadaharu Oh, due to his personal habits such as playing mahjong and smoking, and he did not want to cause any inconvenience to other awardees. He maintains that declining the award was the right choice for him. However, he did accept the Osaka Prefectural Governor's Commendation, becoming its first recipient, which is a local equivalent of a civilian honor. In 2007, he received the 5th Good Ager Award.

8.1. Career Statistics

• Bold indicates league leader. Bold also indicates NPB career record.
• Note: Until 1984, NPB calculated On-Base Percentage (OBP) without considering sacrifice flies. While Fukumoto was not the league leader under that old calculation method, he would be under the current calculation method.

• Fielding Statistics**

• Bold indicates league leader. Bold also indicates NPB career record for outfielders.
• Bold Year indicates Diamond Glove Award recipient.

8.2. Major Records

• NPB Records**

• Pacific League Records**

• Other Notable Records**

8.3. Awards and Honors

• Titles:**
  • Stolen Base King: 13 times (1970-1982)
  • Most Hits: 4 times (1973, 1974, 1977, 1978) - Not an official award at the time, became official in 1994.
• Awards:**
  • Most Valuable Player: 1 time (1972)
  • Best Nine: 10 times (1972-1974, 1976-1982)
  • Diamond Glove Award: 12 times (1972-1983)
  • Japan Series MVP: 1 time (1976)
  • Japan Series Excellent Player Award: 2 times (1977, 1984)
  • Japan Series Batting Award: 1 time (1976)
  • Japan Series Skill Award: 1 time (1975)
  • All-Star Game MVP: 3 times (1973 Game 2, 1974 Game 2, 1982 Game 1)
  • Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2002
  • Hyogo Prefecture Sports Excellence Special Award: 1 time (1988)

8.4. Uniform Numbers

• 40 (1969-1971)
• 7 (1972-1991)
• 87 (1998-1999)

9.1. Books and Publications

• Mōko Shūrai: Hanshin Tigers Yūshō e no 14 no Kagi (猛虎襲来：阪神タイガース優勝への14の鍵, "Tiger Attack: 14 Keys to the Hanshin Tigers' Championship"), Goma Books, May 2000.
• Hashiran Kai! (走らんかい!, "Why Don't You Run!"), Baseball Magazine Sha, May 2009.
• Hankyu Braves Hikari o Koeta Kagebōshi (阪急ブレーブス 光を超えた影法師, "Hankyu Braves: Shadows Beyond the Light"), Baseball Magazine Sha, July 2014.

• Related Publications**