Koji Yamamoto (baseball, born 1946)

Koji Yamamoto
Yamamoto as manager for the Japan national team in 2013 World Baseball Classic
Center fielder / Manager
Born: (1946-10-25) October 25, 1946 (age 78) Saeki, Hiroshima, Japan
Batted: Right Threw: Right
NPB debut
April 12, 1969, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Last appearance
1986, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
NBP statistics
Hits	2,339
Home runs	536
Base on balls	1,168
Runs batted in	1,475
Stolen Bases	231
Batting average	.290
Slugging percentage	.5416
NBP All-Star Game statistics
Batting average	.316
Home runs	14
Runs batted in	27
Managerial statistics
Wins	League Champion (1991)
Teams
As player Hiroshima Toyo Carp (1969–1986) As manager Hiroshima Toyo Carp (1989–1993, 2001–2005) Japan national team (2013)
Career highlights and awards
Regular season 2x Central League MVP (1975, 1980) NPB Batting Champion (1975) 4x NPB Home Run Champion (1978, 1980, 1981, 1983) 3x NPB RBI Champion (1979–1981) 3x NPB On-bases Champion (1979, 1980, 1983) 10x NPB Best Nine Award (1975, 1977–1984, 1986) 10x NPB Golden Glove Award (1972–1981) 14x NPB All-Star Selections (1973–1986) 2x NPB All-Star Game MVP (1975, 1983) Hiroshima Toyo Carp #8 retired Records 5x Over 40 Home runs (1977–1981) 9x Over 30 Home runs (1975, 1977–1984) 6x Over 100 Runs batted in (1977–1981, 1983) 5-years consecutive seasons over 40 Home Runs (1977–1981) 8-years consecutive seasons over 30 Home Runs (1977–1984) 13-years consecutive seasons over 20 Home Runs (1974–1986) 5-years consecutive seasons over 100 Runs batted in (1977–1981) 17-years consecutive seasons over 100 Hits (1970–1986) Hitting for the cycle (April 30, 1983) 9-Consecutive Hits (July 6–8, 1972) 302-Consecutive Plays with No error (1975) 872-Consecutive Games (1976–1983) 11x Grand Slams (1972,1977,1978,1980–1984)
Member of the Japanese
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2008

Kōji Yamamoto (山本 浩二, Yamamoto Kōji, born October 25, 1946) is a Japanese former baseball player and manager of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League. A four-time home run king having played for Hiroshima Carp throughout his career, Yamamoto contributed to the team winning five league championships including its first-ever in 1975, and three titles of Japan Series in 1979, 1980 and 1984. He recorded over 40 home runs for five years in a row from 1977. With 536 home runs, he is fourth on the NPB career list. He is known as the Mr. Red Helmet (ミスター赤ヘル, Misutā Akaheru), nicknamed after Hiroshima Carp's symbolic red colored helmet.

Yamamoto managed Hiroshima Carp twice, between 1989 and 1993, and later between 2001 and 2005. He led the team to win Central League championship in 1991. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008, and is a member of the Meikyukai, or the "Golden Players Club."