Morimichi Takagi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Morimichi Takagi |
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Takagi in 2012
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: July 17, 1941 Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan |
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| Died: January 17, 2020 (aged 78) Gifu, Japan |
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| debut | |||
| May 7, 1960, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 24, 1980, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||
| NPB statistics (through 1980) |
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| Batting average | .272 | ||
| Home runs | 236 | ||
| Hits | 2274 | ||
| Stolen Bases | 369 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As manager
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2006 | ||
Morimichi Takagi (高木 守道, Takagi Morimichi, July 17, 1941 – January 17, 2020) was a famous Japanese baseball player. He was born on July 17, 1941, and passed away on January 17, 2020. He is best known for his long career with the Chunichi Dragons baseball team.
Takagi played for the Dragons from 1960 to 1980. During his time as a player, he made 2,274 hits and hit 236 Home runs. He was a very fast Second baseman and was great at stealing bases.
He won the Central League Best Nine Award seven times. He also won the Central League Golden Glove Award three times. Takagi led the Central League in stolen bases three different times. He was chosen to be an NPB All-Star four times. By the end of his playing career, he had stolen 369 bases.
Takagi also spent many years coaching and managing the Chunichi Dragons. He was a player-coach from 1978 to 1980. After he stopped playing, he continued as a coach until 1986. Later, he became the team's manager twice. He managed the Dragons from 1992 to 1995 and again from 2012 to 2013.
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Early Life and Career
Morimichi Takagi was born in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. He grew up loving baseball. He joined the Chunichi Dragons in 1960. His first game in the NPB was on May 7, 1960. He quickly became known for his speed and skill.
Playing Style and Achievements
Takagi played as a Second baseman. This position requires quick reflexes and good defense. He was also known for his strong hitting. He was a consistent player throughout his career.
His speed made him a threat on the bases. He was one of the best at stealing bases in his league. Stealing bases means running to the next base without the ball being hit.
Takagi earned many awards during his career. These awards showed how talented he was.
- The Best Nine Award is given to the best players at each position. Takagi won it seven times.
- The Golden Glove Award is for players who are excellent at defense. He won this award three times.
- He was also the Central League stolen base champion three times. This means he stole more bases than anyone else in the league.
- Being an NPB All-Star means he was one of the top players in Japan. He was selected four times.
After Playing: Coaching and Managing
After retiring as a player in 1980, Takagi stayed with the Chunichi Dragons. He became a coach, helping younger players. He shared his knowledge and experience with them.
Later, he took on the role of manager. A manager is like the head coach of the team. They make important decisions about players and game strategy. Takagi managed the Dragons for two different periods. This showed his strong connection to the team.
Legacy
Morimichi Takagi is remembered as a baseball legend in Japan. His long career with the Chunichi Dragons made him a beloved figure. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. This is a very high honor for baseball players. It means his contributions to the sport were very important. He passed away in 2020, but his legacy lives on.
