Masao Fujii

Masao Fujii (藤井 将雄, Fujii Masao, October 16, 1968 – October 13, 2000) was a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was born in Nishi-ku, Fukuoka and raised in Karatsu, Saga.[1]

Masao Fujii
藤井 将雄
Pitcher
Born: (1968-10-16)October 16, 1968
Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
Died: October 13, 2000(2000-10-13) (aged 31)
Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
NPB debut
1995, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
Last appearance
October 28, 1999, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
NPB statistics
Win–loss13–8
ERA3.90
Strikeouts203
Teams
Career highlights and awards

His uniform number 15 is honored by the Hawks.[1]

Professional career

On November 18, 1994, Fujii was drafted fourth overall by the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in the 1994 1994 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]

He was 4-4 Win–loss record with a 4.39 ERA in 20 starts during his rookie season in 1995, and 1-3 Win–loss record with 5.18 ERA in 11 starts during the 1996 season.[2]

Fujii switched to relief pitching in the 1997 season after a lack of results as a starter. He then developed his talent as a relief pitcher with his all-out fastball and a variety of breaking pitches, and in 1999 season, he was part of the winning formula, a powerful setup man who, along with closer Rod Pedraza and left-handed pitchers Shuji Yoshida and Takayuki Shinohara.[3] The presence of these four "winning formula" players led to a 27-14 record in close games played by a single goal margin.[4]

Fujii was called the Flame Relief Pitcher (炎の中継ぎ投手) and in 59 games pitched in the 1999 season, he posted a 3-1 Win-loss record, 2.89 ERA, 3 Saves, and a then new record of 26 Holds, helping the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks to their first league championship. He also won the Pacific League's Best Relief Pitcher Award.[1][2]

However, illness struck him and he was hospitalized shortly after the 1999 Japan Series against the Chunichi Dragons.[1] He had terminal lung cancer, but he was never informed. (This was because it was not common in Japan at that time to notify patients with terminal cancer that they had cancer.) He and the public were told that he had Interstitial lung disease.[4]

In the 2000 season, he had pitched in six games in the Western League since May and was determined to make a comeback, but was hospitalized again in June and died on October 13, six days after watching his team win its second consecutive Pacific League title on October 7. He was 31 years old.[4]

Fujii's overall record was 13-8 Win–loss record , 3 saves, 30 holds, and a 3.90 earned-run average in 153 games.

Uniform number 15

The Hawks have not officially set it as a retired number, but even as of the 2022 season, there are no players with uniform number 15 after Fujii, and it is treated as an important number. Expressions such as quasi-retired numbers are also used.[1]

Hawks teammate Kenichi Wakatabe was a close friend of Fujii's, and on October 7,2000, the game that decided the league championship against the Orix Blue Wave, Wakatabe joined the team in celebrating the victory, holding up a stuffed Harry Hawk, the team mascot, wearing Fujii's uniform number 15, for Fujii, who was fighting an illness.[5]

The mascot doll, named Fujii Harry, was displayed in a locker for Fujii in the players' salon of the Fukuoka PayPay Dome at the home stadium, along with a uniform bearing Fujii's name and uniform number 15 of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, even after the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks became the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.[6] Kazumi Saito, who adored Fujii, performed his retirement ceremony with Fujii Harry.[7] Fujii Harry is now with Fujii's bereaved family and Fujii's uniform is on display.[8]

Aisle 15 of the Fukuoka PayPay Dome has been designated as Fujii Gate since 2001 in honor of Fujii's uniform number 15, and a commemorative plaque describing his career and Fujii's last message (beginning with "To everyone" on his personal website) are displayed at the entrance.[6][9]

Close relationship person

Kudo was a senior pitcher whom Fujii adored. When Kudo became manager of the Hawks and they became Japan Series champions in the 2015, he reported to Fujii's grave.[10][11]

Wakatabe was Fujii's best friend On October 21, 2000 Wakatabe pitched the first game of the 2000 Japan Series along with Kimiyasu Kudo, who had moved from the Hawks to the Yomiuri Giants the previous year. They pitched with the bones of the deceased Fujii tucked into their uniforms.[12]

One of the junior pitchers who admired Fujii, Fujii supported Saito when he was a young pitcher. He later received the Eiji Sawamura Award.[13]

One of the fielders who adored Fujii. He later served as captain of the Hawks.[14]

References
  1. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 天国から20年ぶりの着信か 炎の中継ぎエース・藤井将雄さんが死去直前に残した言葉". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). May 13, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  2. "Weekly Baseball online player data 藤井将雄(ふじいまさお)". Weekly Baseball online (in Japanese). Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  3. "Weekly Baseball online Baseball News & Column ペドラザ、藤井将雄、吉田修司、篠原貴行＆渡辺正和「王ダイエー"勝利の方程式"」/プロ野球20世紀の男たち" (in Japanese). Weekly Baseball online. December 18, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  4. "Weekly Baseball online Baseball News & Column 南海からダイエーへ、ホークスが経験した悲しみと再生/プロ野球20世紀・不屈の物語【1985～2000年】" (in Japanese). Weekly Baseball online. April 30, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  5. "Weekly Baseball online ＜2000-2021 PHOTO GALLERY＞パ・リーグ「優勝シーン」イッキ！【前編】". Weekly Baseball online (in Japanese). October 9, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  6. "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks WE=KYUSHU COLUMN 佐賀県". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  7. "Sports Nippon baseball news 斉藤和巳氏 引退セレモニーで現役振り返り「正直ケガして良かった」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  8. "HAWKS_official tweeted on October 3, 2014". HAWKS_official Twitter (in Japanese). October 3, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  9. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news Message left by Masao Fujii to his fans and teammates shortly before his death". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). May 13, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  10. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトＢ工藤監督、天国の弟分に大きな1勝 「炎の中継ぎエース」藤井将雄さん命日". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). October 14, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  11. "Nikkansports Sports baseball news 工藤監督、元鷹戦士藤井将雄さんの墓に日本一報告". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 16, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  12. "SLUGGER baseball news まだその雄姿を見たかった。現役中に志半ばで倒れたプロ野球選手たち＜SLUGGER＞". ThE DIGEST (in Japanese). August 7, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  13. "Toyo Keizai Sports 斉藤和巳を支えた亡き先輩のまっすぐな生き様". Toyo Keizai Online (in Japanese). June 30, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  14. "Nikkansports Sports baseball news ソフト小久保が藤井さん墓前に日本一誓う". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 3, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2022.


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