Collecting and Translating the 1973 Calbee Bat-Backs (Part 5)
The Giants dynasty from 1965 to 1973, during which the club won an unfathomable 9 consecutive championships, is remembered simply as "V9." Although the whole starting lineup was essentially made up of perennial All-Stars, secondary contributors also featured. This grouping of cards highlights a backup catcher and two more hurlers who, despite relatively brief (and in one case tragic) careers, still played their part. An illustration, no doubt, of just how well-oiled a machine the team was top to bottom.
#27 Yoshida - Catcher (Giants)
Every year, Yoshida is expected to take the reins from Mori, but his passivity has proved to be a problem. Starting last year and on into this season, his composure has increased and he has displayed an assertiveness not seen before. Now Yoshida is eager to shoot for the starting role. If he works on his pitch calling a bit more, there will be no qualms about his defense. The question is batting. Some experts note that if Yoshida can hit around .280 it’s possible he will overtake Mori for the full-time job.
Takashi Yoshida never fully lived up to the expectation that he would succeed the legendary Masaaki Mori. After Mori’s retirement, Yoshida generally performed inconsistently, sharing time with Tadashi Yazawa and later Kazuhiro Yamakura, who eventually established himself as the Giants primary catcher.
#28 Kuroe - Shortstop (Giants)
Kuroe’s Fighting Spirit
Kuroe has succeeded Oh as President of the Players Association. Although small for a pro, his reputation for fighting spirit is well established. His teammates trust him so much that they nominated him unanimously for his new role. ‘O-N’ have lead the way to 8 consecutive championships, but this season Kuroe is the new team leader. That’s not to say Kuroe has all the makings of ‘O-N,’ but he will lay the foundation for tomorrow with his efforts, in every sense of the word. Reflecting on last season, during which he did not achieve the .300 average he so desired, Kuroe vowed to always strive to be a decisive hitter going forward.
Yukinobu Kuroe, the shortstop of the V9 era, served for two years as President of both the Giants and Central League Players Associations. Kuroe followed Shigeo Nagashima into retirement in 1974, hoping to land a prominent coaching role under the legend-turned-manager, but to his disappointment was only made an assistant coach. He would go on to coach and manage for several other NPB teams. Note how, like Doi, he is portrayed as the small-guy-with-grit archetype.
#29 Sekimoto - Pitcher (Giants)
At camp in Miyazaki, Sekimoto was worked hard by Coach Fujita and, much to the delight of the Giants brass, rediscovered his shootball. If his velocity and control match when he won Rookie of the Year, at least 15 wins seem assured. This year, he is showing that velocity and getting the coaches’ seal of approval for a comeback. Now Sekimoto seems like the first choice to follow Horiuchi and Takahashi in the rotation, so here’s to his success.
A ‘shoot’ or ‘shootball’ is basically a sinker with more run. Known for its bat shattering ability, the pitch is common in Japan though it has not been widely imported elsewhere.
#30 Sekimoto - Pitcher (Giants)
Sekimoto’s Pitching Record
'Eastern' refers to the Eastern League, one of two official, affiliated Japanese minor leagues. (The other being, you guessed it, the Western League). The Eastern and Western league comprise the same tier; unlike the Majors, NPB teams have one main farm team known as the ni-gun, or second team. (In reality it is actually more complicated than this). Sekimoto's minor league numbers were probably included just to fill out the card back. Totals are for his Giants numbers only.
#31 Sugawara - Pitcher (Giants)
The Giants Third Pitcher! Sugawara
Sugawara is a valuable arm for the Giants. Whether he can challenge the record for most consecutive wins in one stadium is a hot topic. With 15 straight victories at Korakuen, he has been raring to break Inao’s mark of 19 in a row (Heiwadai) since opening day. An efficient pitcher who’s once again a stranger to the loss column, he is 33-8 for his career—good for an .805 winning percentage. Especially pitching at Korakuen does Sugawara display unrivaled strength. Head over and see him when he takes the mound.
Katsuya Sugawara was a promising young pitcher whose career ended with mean abruptness after a batted ball hit him in the eye and wrecked his vision in 1972. By the time this card went to print in ‘73 his career was all but over. Of course, as even a peripheral member of the Giants V9 dynasty, he still took home more championships than most pitchers with long, illustrious careers ever will.
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