| Yutaka Enatsu 江夏 豊 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: May 15, 1948 Nara Prefecture, Japan | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| NPB debut | |
| 1967, for the Hanshin Tigers | |
| Last appearance | |
| July 12, 1984, for the Seibu Lions | |
| NPB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 206–158 |
| Earned run average | 2.49 |
| Strikeouts | 2,987 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Yutaka Enatsu (江夏 豊, Enatsu Yutaka, born May 15, 1948) is a former Japanese pitcher regarded as one of the best Japanese strikeout pitchers of all-time. In 1968, he recorded 401 strikeouts, which is still the world record.
Enatsu was a bit player in the Black Mist Scandal which embroiled Japanese baseball from 1969 to 1971. In November 1970 he received a stern warning from the Central League president due to "involvement with persons in baseball gambling."
He recorded 9 consecutive strikeouts in one of the 1971 All-Star games,[1][2] and 15 consecutive strikeouts in three of the All-Star games between 1970 and 1971. His consecutive strikeouts were broken up by Katsuya Nomura. The two records are still unbroken.
A starting pitcher for the first part of his career, in 1977 he became a relief specialist, altogether accumulating 193 saves.
While playing with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 1979, Enatsu was the Central League MVP, as he compiled a 9–5 record with a 2.67 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 104-2/3 innings. That year the Carp won the Central League pennant and the Japan Series.
In 1981, with the Nippon-Ham Fighters, Enatsu was the Pacific League MVP, garnering 25 saves and a 2.82 ERA, as the Fighters won the Pacific League pennant.
Enatsu joined the Milwaukee Brewers for spring training in 1985 at age 36 in an attempt to play Major League Baseball. Enatsu finished spring training with a 4.91 ERA in 11 innings and was among the team's final cuts before the season.[3]
Enatsu is a major shadow-figure in Yōko Ogawa's novel The Housekeeper and the Professor (Hakase no ai shita sūshiki, 博士の愛した数式, 2003).
