Katsumi Hirosawa

Now playing for the Yomiuri Giants, slugger Katsumi Hirosawa was one Yakult's most productive hitters from 1985 to 1996.

Except for 1988 when he hit 30 home runs, in his first five years he averaged between 16 and 19 roundtrippers a year, and during his last five years with Yakult he always hit between 25 and 27. And while he batted .317 in 1990, his average for most other years fell between .270 and .290. From year to year, Swallows fans always knew what to expect from their first baseman.

In both 1991 and '93, Hirosawa led the Central League in RBIs, collecting 99 and 94 ribbies respectively. In his ten years with the Swallows, the right-handed slugger hit .279 in 1301 games while compiling 228 home runs and 719 RBIs.

Joining the Giants in 1995 was probably not a great career move. First, Yakult manager Katsuya Nomura bid farewell to Hirosawa, saying he was glad to be rid of the lazy slow-running first baseman. Since the Giants already had Hiromitsu Ochiai (and later Kazuhiro Kiyohara) playing first base, Hirosawa got stuck playing left field in 1995.

Injured most of the following year, he moved to right field in 1997 and hit reasonably well. However, Giants owner Tsuneo Watanabe, for whatever reasons, identified Hirosawa as one of the reasons the Giants were doing so poorly that year (actually he recovered and with a .280 average and 22 homers) and declared that he wanted the right fielder released.

Despite all the flack, Hirosawa remains a relatively smart, calm and good-humored player. In a segment aired on several Japanese blooper programs, the slugger was seen standing in the Giants dugout at Hiroshima stadium while rain poured heavily on the field. Several groundskeepers tried to keep the infield dry, but Hirosawa, who is married, motioned them to stop. "Please stop!" he gestured. "Me . . . go drinking . . . with girlfriend . . ."With clasped hands and a deep bow, "Please!"