Takao Kajimoto
| Takao Kajimoto | |||
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| Pitcher | |||
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Born: April 8, 1935 Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan |
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| Died: September 23, 2006 (aged 71) | |||
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| NPB debut | |||
| 1954, for the Hankyu Braves | |||
| Last NPB appearance | |||
| 1973, for the Hankyu Braves | |||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Win-Loss Record | 254–255 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.98 | ||
| Strikeouts | 2,945 | ||
| Teams | |||
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As player As manager As coach |
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Member of the Japanese | |||
 Baseball Hall of Fame
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| Inducted | 2007 | ||
As player
As manager
As coach
Takao Kajimoto (梶本 隆夫?, April 8, 1935, Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan—September 23, 2006) was a left-handed Japanese baseball pitcher for the Hankyu Braves from 1954 to 1973. He won 254 games and was a 12-time All-Star during his career. He is a member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and Meikyukai.
Kajimoto was signed by the Hankyu Braves in 1954 and surprised people in spring training with his fastball, which reached 150 km/h (93 mph). He was so impressive, he was named the Opening Day starter and won. That year he was 20-12 with a 2.73 ERA as a rookie. Kajimoto led the Pacific League with 118 walks, but made the All-Star team. Hankyu was only 46-58 when other pitchers got the decision.
In 1956, Kajimoto was 28-17 with a 2.24 ERA. He struck out 327 and walked 118 in 364 1⁄3 innings. He led the league in complete games (20), batters faced (1,478), hits allowed (284), hit batters (12), walks, strikeouts and shutouts (5, tied with Katsumi Nakanishi). He made his second All-Star team and was ninth in the Pacific League in ERA.
1957 presented him with a 24-16, 1.92 year in which he whiffed 301 in 337 1⁄3 IP. An All-Star, he reached 1,000 strikeouts in just his fourth season. On July 23, he became the first pitcher in Japanese professional baseball history to strike out nine consecutive batters. He led in complete games (26) and strikeouts. His seven shutouts tied Shoichi Ono for the most, while he finished fourth in ERA.
On September 14, 1958 he threw a one-hitter against the Toei Flyers. In 1963, Kajimoto fell to 9-17, 4.33, making his 8th All-Star team but posting the worst ERA of his career. That season, the Hankyu offense was so weak (they barely averaged 3 runs a game) that manager Yukio Nishimoto once batted Kajimoto third. Overall, Kajimoto hit .204 in his career, with 13 homers and two intentional walks.
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