Hiromitsu Kadota

Hiromitsu Kadota (門田 博光, Kadota Hiromitsu, born February 26, 1948, in Onoda, Japan) was a Japanese professional baseball player for the Hawks franchise (known during his career as the Nankai Hawks and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks) and the Orix Braves. Reputed for his slugging ability, he ate a lot and became a strong hitter, though was later weakened by diabetes mellitus. With 567 home runs, Kadota is number three on the NPB career list.

Hiromitsu Kadota
Outfielder
Born: (1948-02-26) February 26, 1948 Onoda, Japan
Batted: Left Threw: Left
debut
1970, for the Nankai Hawks
Last appearance
1992, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
Career statistics
Avg.	.289
HRs	567
RBIs	1678
Teams
As player Nankai Hawks (1970–1988) Orix Braves (1989–1990) Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (1991–1992)
Career highlights and awards
1988 Pacific League MVP
Member of the Japanese
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2006

Kadota won the Nippon Professional Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1980 with 41 home runs and 84 RBI.

He hit 44 home runs at the age of 40 in 1988, also knocking in 125 runs and winning the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award. That year he was also given the Matsutaro Shoriki Award, for contribution to the development of professional baseball.

After playing for the Orix Braves for two seasons, he returned to the Hawks in 1991; he retired after his last game against pitcher Hideo Nomo in 1992.

Kadota was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.