NOVEMBER 20, 1934 | SHIZOUKA, JAPAN – The Japanese equivalent of the “Cy Young” award is called the Sawamura Award largely because of what Eiji Sawamura, a teenager, did on this date in 1934.
At the age of 17, and still in high school, Sawamura faced a team of American all-stars, several considered to be among the greatest in history – Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx. Sawamura entered the game in the fourth, and pitched the rest of the way. In five innings, the teenager gave up just one run – a home run by Babe Ruth – on five hits.
The highlight was when he struck out Charlie Gehringer, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx in succession. Though Sawamura took the loss, he provided Japan with a moment of national pride.
Sawamura went on to pitch in Japanese professional baseball. He threw three no-hitters, finishing with a record of 63-22 and a 1.75 Earned Run Average.
His career was cut short in 1944 by World War II. He lost his life that same year when he ship he was on was torpedoed by an American vessel.
After his death, Eiji Sawamura became an icon of Japanese baseball. In 1947, the Sawamura Award was created to honor the best pitcher in Nippon Professional baseball. Twelve years later, Sawamura became one of the initial members of the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame.
CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
The New York Times, November 21, 1934
Japanese pitcher could have been an American baseball star but fought America instead
SABR Society of American Baseball Research
Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice
