Chunichi Dragons’ Ni-gun pitching coach Mitsuo Inaba passes away
by Gen on Aug.11, 2012 @ 10:09 pm, under NPB
During a Ni-gun game against Hiroshima at Nagoya Stadium earlier today, Ni-gun pitching coach Mitsuo Inaba complained of feeling sick and was taken to a hospital in Nagoya. The Dragons later announced that Inaba died of a brain hemorrhage at 8:39pm. He was sixty-three.
Inaba spent time with Chunichi (1971-1976), Hankyu (1977-1983), and Hanshin (1984) during his pro career. After retiring, he became a coach for the Chunichi Dragons (1986-1997, 2009-2012) and Nippon Ham Fighters (1998-2001).
Source: Nikkan Sports 8/11/2012, Daily Sports 8/11/2012
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UPDATE 8/12 @ 10:09am - Inaba did not suit up for the game and was sitting in the seats behind home plate when he felt numbness in his hands. When he arrived at the hospital, he was still conscious, but in no condition for surgery. His family and some team officials were nearby when he passed at 8:39pm. Source: Sports Hochi 8/12/2012
UPDATE 8/13 @ 3:08pm - The wake will be held on Tuesday at 7pm; the funeral services on Wednesday at 11am. Ichi-gun and Ni-gun players, coaches, and staff plan on attending the funeral services on Wednesday, in uniform. Source: Sponichi 8/13/2012
UPDATE 8/13 @ 10:28pm - Condolence registers will be placed between the first and second gate at Nagoya Dome between 3pm and 7pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. A condolence register will also be placed at Nagoya Stadium on Tuesday; flowers will also be accepted. Source: Nikkan Sports 8/13/2012
UPDATE 8/15 @ 3:25pm - About three hundred people attended the wake on Tuesday. Front office officials, coaches, and Ichi-gun and Ni-gun players were present at the funeral services that took place today. Source: Nikkan Sports 8/13/2012, Nikkan Sports 8/15/2012
UPDATE 8/15 @ 4:37pm - 2,055 fans signed the condolence registers during Tuesday's game. Source: Sports Hochi Osaka 8/15/2012
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Career Stats
| Year | Team | G | GS | CG | ShO | W | L | Sv | H | WPCT | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | WP | BK | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
| 1971 | Chunichi | 21 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | -- | -- | 1.000 | 261 | 68.0 | 44 | 4 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 1.06 | 0.94 |
| 1972 | Chunichi | 38 | 35 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 11 | -- | -- | .646 | 1045 | 261.1 | 202 | 26 | 94 | 9 | 11 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 80 | 2.76 | 1.13 |
| 1973 | Chunichi | 33 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 12 | -- | -- | .334 | 673 | 160.2 | 141 | 13 | 66 | 7 | 1 | 94 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 63 | 3.52 | 1.29 |
| 1974 | Chunichi | 30 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | -- | .445 | 459 | 110.0 | 97 | 15 | 41 | 3 | 5 | 75 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 48 | 3.93 | 1.25 |
| 1975 | Chunichi | 34 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 | -- | .584 | 518 | 130.1 | 104 | 14 | 37 | 1 | 4 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 40 | 2.77 | 1.08 |
| 1976 | Chunichi | 32 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | -- | .300 | 373 | 81.0 | 93 | 16 | 40 | 4 | 0 | 56 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 52 | 5.78 | 1.64 |
| 1977 | Hankyu | 30 | 25 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 6 | 1 | -- | .739 | 757 | 190.2 | 146 | 17 | 51 | 0 | 7 | 104 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 52 | 2.45 | 1.03 |
| 1978 | Hankyu | 25 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 0 | -- | .667 | 679 | 164.0 | 159 | 17 | 51 | 2 | 3 | 74 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 53 | 2.91 | 1.28 |
| 1979 | Hankyu | 23 | 22 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 0 | -- | .550 | 646 | 151.0 | 154 | 23 | 47 | 2 | 5 | 84 | 1 | 1 | 84 | 73 | 4.35 | 1.33 |
| 1980 | Hankyu | 22 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 1 | -- | .385 | 513 | 109.0 | 136 | 20 | 58 | 1 | 6 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 85 | 77 | 6.36 | 1.78 |
| 1981 | Hankyu | 23 | 21 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 0 | -- | .688 | 580 | 135.1 | 150 | 14 | 47 | 0 | 9 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 44 | 2.93 | 1.46 |
| 1982 | Hankyu | 18 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 | -- | .364 | 371 | 87.1 | 83 | 7 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 41 | 4.24 | 1.36 |
| 1983 | Hankyu | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | ---- | 29 | 7.0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2.57 | 1.14 |
| Totals | 331 | 230 | 76 | 22 | 104 | 80 | 2 | -- | .566 | 6904 | 1655.2 | 1516 | 187 | 589 | 30 | 56 | 837 | 18 | 3 | 704 | 633 | 3.44 | 1.27 | |
All-Star Appearances: 3 (1972, 1973, 1977)