Yoshiro Sotokoba

Yoshiro Sotokoba
Yoshiro Sotokoba
	Pitcher / Coach
	Born: June 1, 1945; Izumi, Kagoshima, Japan
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
NPB debut
	April 21, 1965, for the Hiroshima Carp
Last NPB appearance
	October 14, 1979, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
NPB statistics
Win–loss record	131-138
Earned Run Average	2.88
Strikeouts	1,678
Saves	3
Teams
	As player Hiroshima Carp / Hiroshima Toyo Carp (1965–1979); As coach Hiroshima Toyo Carp (1980–1990, 1996–1999); Orix BlueWave (1991–1993);
Career highlights and awards
	1× Central League Best Nine Award (1975); 1× Eiji Sawamura Award (1975); 1× Central League wins champion (1975); 1× Central League ERA champion (1968); 1× Central League strikeout champion (1975); 6× NPB All-Star (1968–1970, 1972, 1974–1975); Pitched a perfect game (September 14, 1968); 3× Pitched a no-hitter;
Member of the Japanese
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2013
	Last updated on: 24 October 2020

Yoshiro Sotokoba (外木場義郎, Sotokoba Yoshiro; born June 1, 1945 in Izumi, Kagoshima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. ^[1] Sotokoba threw a perfect game in 1968. He was also inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013.^[2]

Playing Style

Sotokoba's primary pitches were an overhand fastball and a sharp-breaking curveball. ^[3] His curveball was noted for its distinctive characteristics, described as a "power curve" similar to those used in Major League Baseball, which differed from the curveballs thrown by contemporaries such as Tsuneo Horiuchi. According to Yoshihiko Takahashi, the effectiveness of Sotokoba's curveball was demonstrated when it reportedly caused Yomiuri Giants player Shigeru Takada to lose his balance at the plate.^[4]

Jersey Number

14 (1965-1979)
73 (1980-1993)
80 (1996-1999)

References

^ "Yoshiro Sotokoba". Baseball Reference. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
^ "【魚拓】広島で活躍の大野、外木場氏が殿堂入り - 野球 - SANSPO.COM（サンスポ）". ウェブ魚拓 (in Japanese). January 11, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
^ "カープ伝説のエース・外木場義郎が明かした「完全試合」達成の心境". 集英社スポルティーバ公式サイト web Sportiva (in Japanese). 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
^ よしひこチャンネル (2022-04-04). 【真相告白】年間被本塁打数歴代1位！池谷さん本人が納得の理由を語ってくれました【池谷公二郎】【沢村賞投手】【広島カープ】【カープOBを回る旅】. Retrieved 2025-07-01 – via YouTube.

[bbref-1] "Yoshiro Sotokoba". Baseball Reference. Retrieved 24 October 2020.

[2] "【魚拓】広島で活躍の大野、外木場氏が殿堂入り - 野球 - SANSPO.COM（サンスポ）". ウェブ魚拓 (in Japanese). January 11, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

[3] "カープ伝説のエース・外木場義郎が明かした「完全試合」達成の心境". 集英社スポルティーバ公式サイト web Sportiva (in Japanese). 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2025-07-01.

[4] よしひこチャンネル (2022-04-04). 【真相告白】年間被本塁打数歴代1位！池谷さん本人が納得の理由を語ってくれました【池谷公二郎】【沢村賞投手】【広島カープ】【カープOBを回る旅】. Retrieved 2025-07-01 – via YouTube.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]