Osamu Mihara

 

(1911-1984)

Mihara's story is inextricably intertwined with that of another Hall of Famer, Shigeru Mizuhara.  Their lifelong rivalry started as schoolboys on Shikoku Island, extended through high school, college, as pro players and as managers.  Their struggles have been likened to those of the greatest Samurai warriors.

Mihara first gained prominence playing at Takamatsu Middle School and High School.  He participated at the National High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien in 1928 as a shortstop.  The 5'7", 140 lb. Mihara then attended Waseda University, converting to second base.  In 1931, facing pitcher Mizuhara and Keio University in front of 65,000 people, Mihara won a key game by stealing home.  In 1934, he played against the famed U.S. Major League All-star Team, featuring Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

With the advent of the Japan Pro Baseball League in 1936, Mihara became the first player to sign with the Giants.  He played second base for the Giants for three years before he joined the military in 1938 and served time in Burma.  By the time he returned in 1946, it was too late to continue as an active player.  However, his lifetime average of .226 with no homers probably encouraged Mihara to seek success in a non-playing baseball endeavor.  Mihara returned as the Giants' manager in mid-1947.  The Giants were in complete disarray and residing in the league basement when he took over.  He managed a 46-40 record over the rest of the season to pull the Giants up to 5th place.  In 1948, the Giants finished second, and won the League Championship the following year.  Nevertheless, after the 1949 season, Mihara was kicked upstairs and Mizuhara was brought in as manager!   In 1951, Mihara signed to manage the Lions.

Under Mihara's leadership, the Lions, known as the "Field Samurai Army," became a powerhouse.   He made such a concentrated effort to instill his values into the players that he actually lived with them in the players' dorm.  In 1954, his Lions won the Pacific League pennant.  After a second place finish in 1955, the Lions, behind new stars Kazuhisa Inao and Futoshi Nakanishi, beat the Giants and Mizuhara in three straight Japan Series (1956-58). 

After finishing in fourth place in 1959, Mihara left the Lions and took over the Whales who had finished last for six consecutive seasons.  In his first year at the helm, Mihara's Whales surprised everybody by capturing the Japan Series.  Incredibly, Mihara had worked his magic to win titles with three different teams.  This, however, would be Mihara's last major success.  He continued to manage for thirteen more seasons, but never finished higher than second place.  Mihara ended his career in 1973 with 1687 victories, a .537 lifetime winning percentage, six pennants and four Japan Series titles. Mihara was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983.

From Japanese Baseball Superstars by Robert Fitts and Gary Engel

copyright 2001 by Robert Fitts and Gary Engel

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