Yasuhiro Takai

Yasuhiro Takai
Yasuhiro Takai
	First baseman/designated hitter
	Born: 1 February 1945; Imabari, Ehime, Japan
	Died: 13 December 2019 (aged 74); Nishinomiya, Japan
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
NPB debut
	8 June, 1966, for the Hankyu Braves
Last appearance
	3 October, 1982, for the Hankyu Braves
NPB statistics
Batting average	.269
Home runs	130
Runs batted in	446
Teams
	Hankyu Braves (1966–1982);
Career highlights and awards
	NPB record 27 career pinch-hit home runs;

Yasuhiro Takai (高井保弘, Takai Yasuhiro, 1 February 1945 – 13 December 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hankyu Braves.

Takai was born on 1 February 1945 in Imabari, Ehime. He attended Ehime Prefectural Imabari West High School [ja] and played for the Nagoya Nissan Motor Company [ja] baseball team before signing with the Hankyu Braves in 1964. Takai was originally signed to the practice squad and made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut in 1966. Over the course of his career, Takai became known for his extensive research into opposing pitchers. He set the NPB record for pinch-hit home runs, with 27. After he retired in 1982, Takai served as a broadcaster.^[1]

Takai died of kidney failure on 13 December 2019, at a hospital in Nishinomiya, aged 74.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "元阪急高井保弘さん死去代打本塁打"世界記録"" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.

External links

Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)

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[nksobit-1] "元阪急高井保弘さん死去代打本塁打"世界記録"" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.

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