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extra=August 14, 1916 – May 28, 1992 was a Japanese baseball infielder and pitcher who played 22 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 1936 to 1958. He began his career as a stellar right-handed pitcher for the Osaka Tigers, but achieved his greatest fame as a hitter.
A superstitious player, Fujimura never hurt insects or shaved before games, although hot-tempered, as he was once suspended for physically abusing an umpire.Albright, Jim. "Japan's Top Players," BabseballGuru.com. Accessed March 31, 2015. In 1950, Fujimura set the single-season record with 191 base hits. This record remained unbroken for 44 years, until Ichiro Suzuki surpassed it in 1994. Fujimura was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. His number "10" has been Retired number by the Hanshin Tigers.
In the finale of the 1934 National High School Baseball Championship, Fujimura faced Tetsuharu Kawakami and struck him out three times in three at-bats. Fujimura's team won the championship.
Fujimura acted as the Tigers' player-manager in 1946, leading them to a 59–46 record. That was also the last year he spent significant time pitching, going 13–2 with a 2.44 ERA.
With a stat line of 46 home runs, 142 RBI, and a .332 average, Fujimura was the Most Valuable Player in 1949, the last season before the JBL reorganized into Nippon Professional Baseball.
In 1950 Fujimura led the Central League with a .362 batting average (and setting the single-season hits record), and was a Best Nine Award-winner at third base. In 1953 Fujimura led the Central League in home runs and RBI, with 27 and 98 respectively.
As a pitcher, Fujimura compiled an astounding winning percentage of .756. He hit for the cycle twice, once during the single-league era (in 1948) and once in the current dual-league era, the only player to do that. As a hitter, Fujimura finished his career with 1,694 hits, 224 home runs, and 1,126 RBI, with a lifetime .300 batting average. He was selected a Best Nine Award-winner three times at third base.
After his playing career, Fujimura returned to manage the Tigers in 1955–1957.
Fujimura was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
Jim Albright, an expert on Japanese professional baseball, ranks Fujimura as among the top players in NPB history and possibly worthy of induction to Cooperstown.Albright, Jim. "Who Else From NPB Might Be Worthy of Cooperstown?," BaseballGuru.com. Accessed March 31, 2015.
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