Tomio Hirooka
From BR Bullpen
Tomio Hirooka
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- High School Kure Number Two Chugakkou
- Born February 20, 1928
[edit] Biographical Information
Tomio Hirooka was signed by the Hiroshima Carp in 1952, it was rumored he was signed in order to convince his brother Tatsuro Hirooka to sign with the Carp. He reached the Carp that same year, batting .033(1-30) with 0 HR and 0 RBI. He only played in 8 games in 1953, batting 1-2(.500), with 0 HR and 0 RBI. Hirooka managed to appear in 26 games in 1954, going 8-40(.200) with 0 HR and 1 RBI. He finally stuck with the Carp in 1955, batting .209/.258/.337 with 7 HR's and 30 RBI. In 1956, he improved to .214/.277/.317 with 5 HR's and 15 RBI. He had his career year in 1957, batting .220/.269/.358 with 8 HR's and 17 RBI. In 1958, he fell to .205/.250/.353 with 5 HR's and 23 RBI. In his final year, 1959, he went 10-73(.145) with 0 HR and 5 RBI. He finished his career with a .204 average, 25 HR's, and 91 RBI. Hirooka later went onto to coach in the industrial leagues following his retirement.
