Isao Harimoto, the machine with the most hits in the history of professional baseball, dies, leaving behind 3,085 hits.

There have been several batters in the history of professional baseball who have been nicknamed ``hit-making machines,'' but the most deserving big batter was Isao Harimoto, who passed away on the 9th.

Isao Harimoto’s results by year

During his 23 years as a baseball player, he recorded 3,085 hits, but when he looks back on his baseball career, he says he has only painful memories. 2nd generation Korean living in Japan. When he was young, he suffered severe burns on his right hand and was unable to use his fingers as he would like. His continued efforts and rebellious spirit to overcome discrimination and a handicap in his right hand became the driving force behind his breakthrough record.

Since turning professional, he has continued to swing the bat in a pitch-dark room every night without fail. Not only did he instill the technique of practice swing, which is the most basic of basics, but he also had a strong sense of pride in his ability to swing, saying that he had ``swung more swings than anyone else.'' Even though he continued to perform well and achieve numerous records, including being the leadoff hitter seven times, he was always worried that he would no longer be able to bat, and he couldn't help but wave.

In 1976, transferred to the Giants. He contributed to the championship by wearing the uniform he had admired since he was a boy. He thought he would retire with the Giants after reaching 3,000 hits, but he was traded to Lotte. I bit my lip and transferred.

He achieved 3,000 hits on May 28, 1980, in a game against Hankyu at Kawasaki Stadium. He achieved this feat with a crucial home run, by hitting a fastball from Takashi Yamaguchi, one of the best fastball pitchers in the history of professional baseball, into the upper right field seats. "God reached out to me. It was too good to be true." I was filled with joy as if all my hard work had paid off.

After retiring, he continued to give his frank opinions to the baseball world as a baseball pundit and TV commentator. In 2009, when Ichiro of the Mariners of the US Major League Baseball surpassed Mr. Harimoto's Japanese record with a total of 3,086 hits in Japan and the United States, he honestly praised him, saying, ``I've never seen a batter like this before. I can't match him.'' He also lamented the decline in the level of pitchers in Japan, and was also particular about the value of his 3,085 hits.

Absolute confidence and pride backed by hard work. Along with Sadaharu Oh, Shigeo Nagashima, and Katsuya Nomura, who were active in the same era, he was a big hitter who emitted intense light.