Former Nishitetsu Lion Takiuchi dead at 82

Former Nishitetsu Lion Yasuo Takiuchi died on Sunday of chronic heart failure, as announced by Seibu. He was 82 years old.

Takiuchi, was a member of the 1950s Nishitetsu Lions which held a golden age three-peat from 1956-1958. He was a versatile defensive substitute from 1954 to 1963 and averaged about 80 games off the bench, Takiuchi's best statistical season was in 1960, where he hit .249/.303/.419 in 81 games. 

In high school, he participated in the Summer Koshien tournament and after his playing days, he was a coach for several different positions. At both the ni-gun and ichi-gun level for the Nishitetsu, Taiheyo Club, Crown Lighter and Seibu Lions, he mostly coached the defense from 1964-1973 and 1975-1981.

Takiuchi just missed the Golden Era Lions prior to their first championship in the Seibu era in 1982. He spent a decade of his life after the Lions as a coach for the Kintetsu Buffaloes from 1982-1992, serving as a ni-gun defensive coach. His highest position was being teh ni-gun manager from 1989-1992.

Earlier this year, Teruyuki Takakura, who was also part of the 1950s Nishitetsu Lions, passed away at age 83. Shinsaku Katahira also passed away last winter. R.I.P. Takiuchi, you will be missed.

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