1952 Nippon Professional Baseball season


The 1952 Nippon Professional Baseball season was the third season of operation of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Regular season

Standings

TeamGWLTPct.GB
Nankai Hawks12176441.633—
Mainichi Orions12075450.6251.0
Nishitetsu Lions12067521.5638.5
Daiei Stars12155651.45821.0
Hankyu Braves10849581.45820.5
Tokyu Flyers10849590.45421.0
Kintetsu Pearls10830780.27840.0

Postseason

Pacific League

For the first time, the Pacific League implemented a type of end-of-season playoff system. After the 108-game regular season, the four teams with the best winning percentages played an extra twelve regular season games to determine the league's champion. After the 108th game, the standings were:
The four qualifying teams were the Nankai Hawks, the Mainichi Orions, the Nishitetsu Lions, and the Daiei Stars. These four teams proceeded to play in a twelve game "round-robin" stage, with three games versus each opponent, in late September and early October. The results of this stage were:
TeamGWLPct.vs. Mainichivs. Nishitetsuvs. Nankaivs. Daiei
Mainichi Orions12102—3–13–14–0
Nishitetsu Lions12661–3—2–23–1
Nankai Hawks12571–32–2—2–2
Daiei Stars12390–41–32–2—

The Mainichi Orions' won ten of the twelve extra games, which put them into a tie for the first place with the Nankai Hawks. Both teams had 75 wins, however the Hawks had one less loss than the Orions because of a game against the Daiei Stars that ended in a tie earlier in the season. Because of the impact the tie had on the pennant race, the Hawks and the Stars played an extra 121st game. The Hawks won the game, giving them sole claim to Pacific League title. After the season, this faux playoff system was scrapped because of criticism that it was unfair to the three non-qualifying teams that had their seasons truncated.

Japan Series

League leaders

Central League

StatPlayerTeamTotal
Batting averageMichio NishizawaNagoya Dragons.353
Home runsSatoshi SugiyamaNagoya Dragons27
Runs batted inMichio NishizawaNagoya Dragons98
RunsWally YonamineYomiuri Giants104
HitsWally YonamineYomiuri Giants163
Stolen basesJiro KanayamaShochiku Robins63

StatPlayerTeamTotal
WinsTakehiko BesshoYomiuri Giants33
LossesTsuneo KobayashiShochiku Robins27
Earned run averageTadayoshi KajiokaOsaka Tigers1.71
StrikeoutsMasaichi KanedaKokutetsu Swallows269
Innings pitchedTakehiko BesshoYomiuri Giants371

Pacific League

StatPlayerTeamTotal
Batting averageShigeya IijimaDaiei Stars.336
Home runsYasuhiro FukamiNishitetsu Lions,
Tokyu Flyers		25
Runs batted inTokuji IidaNankai Hawks86
RunsTokuji IidaNankai Hawks100
HitsTokuji IidaNankai Hawks153
Stolen basesChusuke KizukaNankai Hawks55

StatPlayerTeamTotal
WinsMasaaki NoguchiNishitetsu Lions23
LossesMitsuro SawafujiKintetsu Pearls22
Earned run averageSusumu YukiNankai Hawks1.91
StrikeoutsSusumu YukiNankai Hawks104
Innings pitchedGiichi HayashiDaiei Stars269

Awards

PositionPlayerTeam
PitcherTakehiko BesshoYomiuri Giants
CatcherAkira NoguchiNagoya Dragons
First basemanMichio NishizawaNagoya Dragons
Second basemanShigeru ChibaYomiuri Giants
Third basemanFumio FujimuraOsaka Tigers
ShortstopMasaaki HiraiYomiuri Giants
OutfielderWally YonamineYomiuri Giants
OutfielderSatoshi SugiyamaNagoya Dragons
OutfielderFukashi MinamimuraYomiuri Giants

PositionPlayerTeam
PitcherSusumu YukiNankai Hawks
CatcherTakeshi DoigakiMainichi Orions
First basemanTokuji IidaNankai Hawks
Second basemanIsami OkamotoNankai Hawks
Third basemanKazuo KageyamaNankai Hawks
ShortstopChusuke KizukaNankai Hawks
OutfielderKaoru BettoMainichi Orions
OutfielderHiroshi OshitaTokyu Flyers
OutfielderShigeya IijimaDaiei Stars