Masatoshi Kato

Masatoshi Kato (加藤 昌利)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 162 lb.

• High School Sumoto High School

• Born May 10, 1935 in Sumoto, Hyogo Japan
• Died May 9, 1985

BR register page

Biographical Information

Masatoshi Kato played in Nippon Pro Baseball for 9 years.

Kato signed with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1954, but he only got 3 at-bats in his first season. He went 10-for-56 in 1955, and he won the competition for the starting catcher spot with Katsuhiko Hara in 1956. Kato hit .202/.266/.300 in 108 games that season, then he missed the entire 1957 season due to injuries. He returned in 1958 with a .265/.312/.383 batting line in 61 games, and he batted .223/.274/.305 in 1959. He was turned into an outfielder in 1960, and he recorded a .183/.296/.237 batting line. Kato played 125 games with a .209/.304/.304 batting line as Kintetsu's starting left fielder, but he then slumped to .129/.197/.143 in 1962. He was 1-for-7 in 1963, and he announced his retirement. He later became au umpire for the Pacific League from 1964 to 1984, and he worked the 1971 NPB All-Star Game, 1973 NPB All-Star Game, 1976 NPB All-Star Game and 1981 NPB All-Star Game.

Overall, Kato hit .209/.280/.295 with 255 hits and 19 homers in 9 seasons in NPB.

Sources

• Wiki Japan