Junzo Sekine

Junzo Sekine (関根 潤三, Sekine Junzō, March 15, 1927 – April 9, 2020) was a Japanese professional baseball player who played as two ways as a pitcher and outfielder. He spent the majority of this career with the Kintetsu Pearls/Kintetsu Buffalo/Kintetsu Buffaloes.

Junzo Sekine 関根 潤三
Sekine in 1959
Pitcher / Outfielder / Manager
Born: (1927-03-15)March 15, 1927 Tokyo, Japan
Died: April 9, 2020(2020-04-09) (aged 93) Tokyo, Japan
Batted: Left Threw: Left
NPB debut
March 15, 1950, for the Kintetsu Pearls
Last appearance
November 55, 1965, for the Yomiuri Giants
NPB statistics (through 1965)
Win–loss record	65-94
Earned run average	3.43
Strikeouts	645
Batting average	.279
Home runs	59
Runs batted in	424
Teams
As player Kintetsu Pearls/Kintetsu Buffalo/Kintetsu Buffaloes (1950 – 1964) Yomiuri Giants (1965) As coach Hiroshima Toyo Carp (1970) Yomiuri Giants (1975 – 1976) As manager Yokohama Taiyo Whales (1982 – 1984) Yakult Swallows (1987 – 1989)
Career highlights and awards
5× NPB All-Star (1953, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963)
Member of the Japanese
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2003

As a rookie in 1950, Sekine attracted attention by batting 3rd, 4th, or 5th in the Kintetsu Pearls' lineup while pitching in the game. Sekine focused on pitching from 1950 to 1957, but spent the latter half of his career (1958 to 1965) as a position player. His best year as a pitcher was 1954, when he went 16–12 with a 2.44 earned run average and 118 strikeouts. His best years as a hitter were in 1962–1963, when he hit and .301 and .296 respectively, with a total of 21 home runs and 115 RBI.

Sekine was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Sekine died on April 9, 2020, in Tokyo, at the age of 93.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)