Five more from the all-Giants fourth series. 1973 was the penultimate year for three core V9 Era Giants: 3B Shigeo Nagashima, C Masaaki Mori, and SS Yukinobu Kuroe. Just for fun, here is a list of the nine main V9 starters in order of years of service to the team, counting any year they played at least 1 game for the 1st team. (For players with the same number of years, the player listed higher played in more games).
Sadaharu Oh (1B, 22yrs)
Isao Shibata (OF, 20yrs)
Masaaki Mori (C, 20yrs)
Tsuneo Horiuchi (SP, 18yrs)
Shigeo Nagashima (3B, 17yrs)
Shozo Doi (2B, 14yrs)
Shigeru Takada (OF, 13yrs)
Toshimitsu Suetsugu (OF, 13yrs)
Yukinobu Kuroe (SS, 11yrs)
Of the core V9 players, all but Horiuchi and Takada played on every one of the consecutive championship teams in some capacity. (Although Horiuchi played longer than Nagashima, he was a ‘66 rookie while V9 stretched ‘65-’73). Takada was last of the V9 core to debut having done so in ‘68.
#154 Takada - Outfielder (Giants)
Ironclad Defense, Takada
Thwack! Kinugasa’s hit pokes past Nagashima at third into left field for what looks like a sure double. But wait! On his way to second, Kinugasa quickly runs back to first with a smile. Speedy Takada has already delivered the ball to Doi at second all the way from the outfield. This keen defense that turns a double into a mere single is something the pros make look easy.
#174 Suetsugu - Outfielder (Giants)#178 Yanagida - Outfielder (Giants)#182 Yoshida - Catcher (Giants)Making the Right Call, Yoshida
Against Yakult on 8/26, Horiuchi of course gave it his all, but it was Yoshida’s calls behind the plate as well that resulted in a one-hit shutout. The manager was no doubt pleased, but veteran catcher Mori—who is pulling double duty as a coach—had to have been the happiest, with a look on his face like it was he himself out there. At last, his replacement has emerged. With the team officially in first place, Yoshida himself must have been thrilled as well. Keep it up!
Takashi Yoshida served nearly 20 seasons as a backup catcher for the Giants—a notion that is nearly unfathomable today. Although he achieved a degree of success in his role, he never did fully establish himself as the everyday starter.
#184 Mori - Catcher (Giants)Eager to Guide His Understudies! Mori
Catcher Mori, who is also serving as the team’s battery coach, has put so much effort into this role that he has scarcely found the time to train himself. His understudies are developing, which has pleased him some, but as of yet no one has emerged who can readily take over the everyday role, so he may have to up the intensity of his coaching. Yoshida has been managing to fill in of late, which is some consolation.
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