Fukuzo Yanagawa

Fukuzo Yanagawa (柳川 福三)
formerly known as Shigezo Yanagawa

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 182 lb.

• School Chukyo University
• High School Chukyo Commercial High School

• Born October 17, 1936 in Nagoya, Aichi Japan
• Died June 14, 1994

BR register page

Biographical Information

Fukuzo Yanagawa played for Nippon Life Insurance after college, and the Chunichi Dragons signed him in 1961. However, signing Yanagawa in the middle of the season violated the agreement between NPB and the Japanese Amateur Baseball Association, and the JABA forbid amateur teams from signing former NPB players. Thus, several players like Shuichi Kobayashi (1st round pick in 1973 NPB draft) refused to turni pro. Yanagawa hit .204/.283/.222 in 33 games in his first season, then he went 2-for-13 in 1962. He recorded a .158/.158/.246 batting line in 1963, and he played 64 games with a .250/.307/.368 batting line in 1964. He only got one at-bat in 1965, and he announced his retirement.

Overall, Yanagawa hit .202/.251/.275 with 39 hits in 5 seasons in NPB.

Sources

• Wiki Japan