Kudo retires after longest career in Japan

Kudo retires after longest career in Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Left-hander Kimiyasu Kudo is pictured at a hotel in Osaka on Dec. 9, 2011, after announcing he's retiring at age 48, bringing an end to the longest playing career in Japanese baseball history. Kudo won 224 games in his 29-year career.

Japanese pitcher Kudo retires at 48

Japanese pitcher Kudo retires at 48

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo celebrates in Hiroshima in October 1986 after he was selected as the most valuable player in the Japan Series. Kudo, who won 224 games in his 29-year career -- the longest playing career in Japanese baseball history, announced his retirement on Dec. 9, 2011, at the age of 48.

Japanese pitcher Kudo retires at 48

Japanese pitcher Kudo retires at 48

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo (L) puts on a Golden Players Club jacket with the assistance of Masaichi Kaneda, then executive member of the club, in August 2004 at Tokyo Dome in the Japanese capital after winning his 200th game, a requirement for pitchers to become members of the Japanese professional baseball players' club. Kudo, who won 224 games in his 29-year career -- the longest playing career in Japanese baseball history, announced his retirement on Dec. 9, 2011, at the age of 48.

Kudo retires after longest career in Japan

Kudo retires after longest career in Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Left-hander Kimiyasu Kudo is pictured at a hotel in Osaka on Dec. 9, 2011, after announcing he's retiring at age 48, bringing an end to the longest playing career in Japanese baseball history. Kudo won 224 games in his 29-year career. (Kyodo)

Japanese pitcher Kudo retires at 48

Japanese pitcher Kudo retires at 48

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo celebrates in Hiroshima in October 1986 after he was selected as the most valuable player in the Japan Series. Kudo, who won 224 games in his 29-year career -- the longest playing career in Japanese baseball history, announced his retirement on Dec. 9, 2011, at the age of 48. (Kyodo)

Japanese pitcher Kudo retires at 48

Japanese pitcher Kudo retires at 48

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo (L) puts on a Golden Players Club jacket with the assistance of Masaichi Kaneda, then executive member of the club, in August 2004 at Tokyo Dome in the Japanese capital after winning his 200th game, a requirement for pitchers to become members of the Japanese professional baseball players' club. Kudo, who won 224 games in his 29-year career -- the longest playing career in Japanese baseball history, announced his retirement on Dec. 9, 2011, at the age of 48. (Kyodo)