Herb North Explained

Herb North
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:2 January 1908
Birth Place:Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii
Death Place:Kaneohe, Hawaii
Debutleague:JBL
Debutdate:April 29
Debutyear:1936
Debutteam:Nagoya Golden Dolphins
Finalleague:JBL
Finalyear:1936
Statleague:JBL
Stat1label:Win–loss
Stat1value:2–5
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:6.48
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:26
Teams:

Herbert Kuulei North (January 2, 1908 – April 6, 1964), nicknamed Buster, was an American baseball pitcher who played with the Nagoya Golden Dolphins in the Japanese Baseball League's inaugural 1936 season. He earned the first win in Japanese professional baseball history, an 8–5 opening day victory against the Dai Tokyo on April 29, 1936.[1] [2] [3] [4] North was referred to as one of the "Three Musketeers" of Nagoya, along with fellow imports Harris McGalliard and Sam Takahashi; the three were collectively the first Americans to play professional ball in Japan.[5]

North returned to Hawaii after the season and played in the amateur circuit. He was part of the Hawaii national baseball team at the 1940 Amateur World Series.[6] He later worked as a furniture salesman.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: IMPORTING AMERICA’S PASTIME: The 75th anniversary of U.S. ball players in Japan . 15 July 2024 . Nichi Bei News . 10 June 2011.
  2. Web site: YEAR IN REVIEW : 1936 AMERICAN LEAGUE . Baseball Almanac . 15 July 2024.
  3. News: プロ野球、昭和、平成、令和を振り返る 各元号の最初、最後の勝利、試合は? . 15 July 2024 . Full Count . 8 May 2015 . ja.
  4. Web site: 舌口球<200回>プロ野球なんでも始め物語① . 15 July 2024 . 19 January 2013 . ja.
  5. Akihiko Kawaura . Sumner La Croix . INTEGRATION OF NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN PLAYERS IN JAPAN'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUES . International Economic Review . August 2016 . 57 . 23 . 1108 .
  6. News: Star-Bulletin . Honolulu Star-Bulletin . September 27, 1940 . 14.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census Bureau . Herbert Kunlei North, "United States Census, 1950" . Family Search.com.