Yoshida Yoshio

Yoshida Yoshio was a renowned Japanese professional baseball player and manager, celebrated for his contributions to the Hanshin Tigers. Born in Kyoto, he made his mark as a skilled shortstop, earning the nickname 'Now Uruwakamaru' due to his agile and graceful playing style. Over a 17-year playing career, he participated in 2,007 games, achieving 1,864 hits and a batting average of .267. He won the stolen base title twice and was named to the Best Nine on nine occasions. As a manager, he led the Hanshin Tigers to their first Japan Series championship in 1985, marking a historic achievement for the franchise. He also served as the coach for the French national baseball team, promoting the sport internationally. Yoshida was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992, and his former number 23 jersey was retired by the team. He passed away at the age of 91 due to a stroke.