Photo/Illutration Former Hanshin Tigers player and manager Yoshio Yoshida delivers the ceremonial first pitch at the team's home, Koshien Stadium, in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Aug. 1. (Nobuhiro Shirai)

Hanshin Tigers fans are mourning the death of their beloved former shortstop and manager Yoshio Yoshida, who spent his entire career with the team.

Yoshida died on Feb. 3 of a stroke. He was 91.

A major figure in Japanese professional baseball, Yoshida was a fan favorite for his swift and graceful play, earning the nickname "Ushiwakamaru," after a heroic medieval samurai known for his combat expertise.

Born in Kyoto, he joined the Tigers in 1953 after dropping out of Ritsumeikan University.

Despite standing a diminutive 165 centimeters tall, Yoshida was renowned for his exceptional all-around skills in hitting, fielding and base running.

Yoshida played 17 seasons in NPB, appearing in 2,007 games, racking up 1,864 hits and a career batting average of .267.

His remarkable career also saw him win two stolen base titles and he was selected nine times for the Best Nine award, designating the most outstanding player at each position in the Central and Pacific leagues. 

After his playing career, Yoshida became the manager of the Tigers and led the team to its first Japan Series championship in 1985.

He also served as the manager of the French national baseball team from 1989 to 1995.

Yoshida was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. The Tigers retired his jersey number, 23, in his honor.

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