Akira Noguchi

Akira Noguchi (野口明; August 6, 1917 – October 5, 1996) was a Japanese baseball pitcher, catcher, infielder, and manager who played 15 seasons across the Japanese Baseball League and Nippon Professional Baseball from 1936 to 1955. A native of Nagoya, Aichi, he attended Chukyo Shogyo High School and Meiji University before turning professional at 18 with the Tokyo Senators. He posted a 15–13 record in his 1936 rookie season and went 34–22 the following year, leading the league in games pitched and innings. A four-time All-Star and two-time Best Nine Award winner, Noguchi was the eldest of four brothers to play professional baseball in Japan.