First American Baseball Star in Japan, Wally Kaname Yonamine, Dies at 85

Wally Yonamine, 1951.

First American Baseball Star in Japan, Wally Kaname Yonamine, Dies at 85
Wednesday, 2 March 2011

The first American to play professional baseball in Japan after World War Two and changed Japanese baseball forever, has died.

Wally Kaname Yonamine was 85 when he died of prostate cancer earlier this week in his native Hawaii.

Yonamine played professional football for the San Francisco 49rs when an injury forced him to give up the game and turn his talents to baseball.

After several years in the U.S. Pacific Coast League, Yonamine moved to Japan in 1951 and signed with the Yomiuri Giants, the premier Japanese team.

Yonamine shocked the Japanese by introducing the aggressive American-style of play to the more genteel and sedate Japanese game. Fans reacted with boos and rocks and also resented his U.S. heritage.

Yonamine helped lead the Giants to the 1951 championship and other players adopted the American style while teams signed more and more Americans.

Yonamine later became a coach and manager and a member of the Japanese baseball hall of fame.