Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Softbank Hawks unveil new manager Kudo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Former pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo speaks at a press conference at a hotel in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 1, 2014, after signing a three-year contract to manage the Softbank Hawks. Kudo succeeds Koji Akiyama, who stepped down after leading the club to its sixth Japan Series title this year.

E

Softbank Hawks unveil new manager Kudo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Former pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo (L) shakes hands with Sadaharu Oh, the all-time home run king and chairman of the Softbank Hawks, at a press conference at a hotel in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 1, 2014, after signing a three-year contract as the new manager of the Pacific League champions. The Hawks won their sixth Japan Series title this year.

E

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.

E

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.

E

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.

E

Veteran pitcher Kudo starts 29th season

TATEYAMA, Japan - Veteran pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo of the Seibu Lions plays catch during a workout to prepare for his 29th season in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, on Jan. 10, 2010. Kudo who will turn 47 in May pledged to contribute to the club's success.

E

46-yr-old Kudo out of work with BayStars for next season

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Kimiyasu Kudo, a pitcher for the Yokohama BayStars and the oldest active player in Japanese baseball, speaks to reporters in Yokohama on Sept. 15, 2009 after the Central League baseball club announced it would release the 46-year-old veteran.

E

Kudo out of work with BayStars for next season

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Kimiyasu Kudo, a pitcher for the Yokohama BayStars and the oldest active player in Japanese baseball, speaks to reporters in Yokohama on Sept. 15 after the Central League baseball club announced it would release him.

E

46-yr-old pitcher Kudo earns 1st win in 2 yrs

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama BayStars veteran pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo greets fans after his club's 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Rakuten Eagles at Yokohama Stadium on May 25. The 46-year-old lefty took his first win since September 2007 retiring three batters in the last and ninth inning of the game.

E

46-yr-old pitcher Kudo earns 1st win in 2 yrs

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama BayStars veteran pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo throws against the Rakuten Eagles at Yokohama Stadium on May 25. The 46-year-old lefty, who pitched in the last and ninth inning, took his first win since September 2007 retiring three batters in his club's 6-5 come-from-behind victory.

E

46-yr-old pitcher Kudo earns 1st win in 2 yrs

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama BayStars veteran pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo shakes hands with the club's acting manager Tomio Tashiro at Yokohama Stadium on May 25. The 46-year-old lefty took his first win since September 2007 retiring three batters in the last and ninth inning of a game against the Rakuten Eagles in his club's 6-5 come-from-behind victory.

E

Yokohama lefty Kudo to have elbow surgery

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama BayStars veteran left-hander Kimiyasu Kudo said Oct. 10 he will undergo endoscopic surgery on his pitching elbow at a Yokohama hospital next week.

E

Veteran lefty Kudo signs reduced salary deal with Yokohama

TOKYO, Japan - Veteran left-hander Kimiyasu Kudo speaks at a news conference in Yokohama on Jan. 19 after signing a contract with the Yokohama BayStars for an estimated annual salary of 90 million yen, plus performance escalators.

E

(3)Yomiuri vs. Devil Rays in Tokyo exhibition

TOKYO, Japan - Tampa Bay Devil Rays right fielder Jose Cruz (22) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a 2-run homer off Yomiuri Giants pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo in the fourth inning of an exhibition game March 29 at Tokyo Dome. (MLB)

E

(2)Yomiuri vs. Devil Rays in Tokyo exhibition

TOKYO, Japan - Tampa Bay Devil Rays right fielder Jose Cruz hits a 2-run homer off Yomiuri Giants pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo in the fourth inning of an exhibition game March 29 at Tokyo Dome. (MLB)

E

Yomiuri makes Kudo highest-paid pitcher in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Yomiuri Giants veteran pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo gets into his car in front of the club office in Tokyo on Nov. 30 after re-signing with the Central League baseball club on a one-year deal. The 39-year-old left-hander will earn an estimated annual salary of 300 million yen, the highest among active pitchers in Japan.

E

Swallows' Petagine hits RBI single

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows infielder Roberto Petagine hits an RBI single to center off Yomiuri Giants starter Kimiyasu Kudo in the top of the third inning at Tokyo Dome on May 14. The Swallows won 2-1.

E

Fukudome slams solo homer

TOKYO, Japan - Chunichi Dragons outfielder Kosuke Fukudome his a go-ahead solo homer off Yomiuri Giants starter Kimiyasu Kudo with two outs in the top of the third inning at Tokyo Dome on April 14.

E

Yomiuri announces acquisition of Kudo

TOKYO, Japan - Yomiuri Giants manager Shigeo Nagashima (L) and pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo shake hands at a Tokyo hotel Dec. 14 after the Yomiuri Giants announced they had acquired the free agent, formerly of the Daiei Hawks. The baby-faced southpaw will wear uniform No. 47 -- his number with Daiei and the Seibu Lions.

E

Free agent Kudo decides to sign with Yomiuri

TOKYO, Japan - Free agent pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo of the Daiei Hawks ends six weeks of speculation on Dec. 11 when he informs the Chunichi Dragons that he has decided to sign with the Yomiuri Giants. Earlier Dec. 11, Yomiuri Giants manager Shigeo Nagashima paid a visit to the Fukuoka home of the Pacific League's most valuable player in an attempt to convince the 36-year-old southpaw to sign with the Central League team.

E

Kudo meets reporters in front of his home

FUKUOKA, Japan - Free agent Kimiyasu Kudo meets reporters in front of his house in Fukuoka on Dec. 11 after having talks with Yomiuri Giants manager Shigeo Nagashima. Nagashima paid a visit to the home of Kudo who had led the Daiei Hawks to the Pacific League pennant this season, in a further attempt to convince the pitcher to sign with the Central League team.

E

Kudo in U.S. for talks with major league teams

TOKYO, Japan - Pacific League MVP Kimiyasu Kudo of the Daiei Hawks is in the United States to negotiate with several teams from the North American major leagues, baseball sources confirm Nov. 20. Kudo, 36, who led Daiei to its first PL pennant and Japan Series title, became a free agent after the season ended and has already had talks with several Japanese teams including the Yomiuri Giants and the Chunichi Dragons.

E

Noguchi, Kudo named MVPs

TOKYO, Japan - Central League Dragons pitcher Shigeki Noguchi (L) and Pacific League Hawks hurler Kimiyasu Kudo (R) pose for photographers after winning this season's ''Most Valuable Player title in a ceremony at a Tokyo hotel Nov. 4.

E

Daiei owner apologizes to pitcher Kudo

TOKYO, Japan - Daiei Hawks owner Isao Nakauchi walks out of talks with pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 3. Nakauchi apologized to the veteran southpaw over the displeasure he felt during the negotiation process for a new contract.

E

Kudo fans 13, Daiei wins Game 1 of Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Veteran Kimiyasu Kudo (2nd from R) notches a record 13 strikeouts on Oct. 23 and the Daiei Hawks grab a 3-0 victory over the Chunichi Dragons in the opening game of the best-of-seven Japan Series professional baseball championship series at Fukuoka Dome.

E

Baseball: Kudo retires as Hawks manager

Kimiyasu Kudo (R), who won five Japan Series baseball titles in seven years as SoftBank Hawks manager, poses for a photo with Sadaharu Oh, chairman of the club, after attending a press conference on his retirement in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 27, 2021.

E

Baseball: Kudo retires as Hawks manager

Kimiyasu Kudo, who won five Japan Series baseball titles in seven years as SoftBank Hawks manager, speaks at a press conference on his retirement in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 27, 2021.

E

Fukudome slams solo homer

TOKYO, Japan - Chunichi Dragons outfielder Kosuke Fukudome his a go-ahead solo homer off Yomiuri Giants starter Kimiyasu Kudo with two outs in the top of the third inning at Tokyo Dome on April 14.

E

Veteran lefty Kudo signs reduced salary deal with Yokohama

TOKYO, Japan - Veteran left-hander Kimiyasu Kudo speaks at a news conference in Yokohama on Jan. 19 after signing a contract with the Yokohama BayStars for an estimated annual salary of 90 million yen, plus performance escalators. (Kyodo)

E

Yokohama lefty Kudo to have elbow surgery

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama BayStars veteran left-hander Kimiyasu Kudo said Oct. 10 he will undergo endoscopic surgery on his pitching elbow at a Yokohama hospital next week. (Kyodo)

E

46-yr-old pitcher Kudo earns 1st win in 2 yrs

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama BayStars veteran pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo throws against the Rakuten Eagles at Yokohama Stadium on May 25. The 46-year-old lefty, who pitched in the last and ninth inning, took his first win since September 2007 retiring three batters in his club's 6-5 come-from-behind victory. (Kyodo)

E

46-yr-old pitcher Kudo earns 1st win in 2 yrs

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama BayStars veteran pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo shakes hands with the club's acting manager Tomio Tashiro at Yokohama Stadium on May 25. The 46-year-old lefty took his first win since September 2007 retiring three batters in the last and ninth inning of a game against the Rakuten Eagles in his club's 6-5 come-from-behind victory. (Kyodo)

E

46-yr-old pitcher Kudo earns 1st win in 2 yrs

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama BayStars veteran pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo greets fans after his club's 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Rakuten Eagles at Yokohama Stadium on May 25. The 46-year-old lefty took his first win since September 2007 retiring three batters in the last and ninth inning of the game. (Kyodo)

E

Kimiyasu Kudo inducted into Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame

Photo taken in October 1999 shows Daiei Hawks pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo. Kudo, 52, was inducted into Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame on Jan. 18, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

SoftBank Hawks wins 2nd straight Japan Series championship

Kimiyasu Kudo, manager of the Pacific League champion baseball club SoftBank Hawks, is tossed into the air by his players at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 29, 2015 after the team clinched its second straight Japan Series championship. SoftBank beat the Central League champion Yakult Swallows 5-0 in Game 5 of the series. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Lee leads Hawks to repeat Japan Series championship

SoftBank Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo (C in front), chairman Sadaharu Oh (2nd from L in front) and owner Masayoshi Son (3rd from L in front) pose for a photo with players after the club won its second consecutive Japan Series baseball championship at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 29, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Lee leads Hawks to repeat Japan Series championship

SoftBank Hawks players toss team manager Kimiyasu Kudo into the air at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 29, 2015, after earning their second consecutive Japan Series baseball championship with a 5-0 win over the Yakult Swallows in Game 5. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hawks capture 2nd straight PL title

Rookie manager Kimiyasu Kudo of the SoftBank Hawks holds a press conference at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Sept. 17, 2015, after capturing the team's second straight Pacific League title. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hawks capture Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo (R) and player Nobuhiro Matsuda (2nd from R) appear jubilant at a party to celebrate the team clinching the Pacific League pennant at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Sept. 17, 2015, the earliest in the league's history. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hawks capture 2nd straight PL title

The SoftBank Hawks' players and others, including Hawks Chairman Sadaharu Oh (front, 3rd from L) and skipper Kimiyasu Kudo (R of Oh), pose for commemorative photos at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Sept. 17, 2015, after capturing the Pacific League pennant for the second year in a row. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hawks rock to 2nd straight Pacific League title

Kimiyasu Kudo, manager of Japan's Pacific League baseball club Softbank Hawks, is tossed into the air by his players at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Sept. 17, 2015, after the team captured its second straight league pennant and the 19th in franchise history following a 5-3 victory over the Seibu Lions. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

All Star managers hold press conference

Kimiyasu Kudo (L), who will manage the Pacific League All Stars, and Central League manager Tatsunori Hara attend a press conference in Tokyo on May 14, 2015. They exchanged views on the game and the potential use of some stars. The two games are slated for July 17 at Tokyo Dome and the following evening at Hiroshima's Mazda Stadium. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Matsuzaka throws bullpen as he aims for comeback

Photo taken May 5, 2015, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka shows Softbank Hawks pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka throwing during a bullpen session. Matsuzaka, who is in his first season back in Japan after spending nine years in the majors, came down with the flu before the start of the season. He was prohibited from throwing after complaining of shoulder fatigue in discussion with Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo on April 2. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Softbank Hawks pitcher Matsuzaka sidelined

Softbank Hawks pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka leaves Yafuoku Dome, the team's home ballpark in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on April 2, 2015, after discussing the muscle fatigue in his right shoulder with team manager Kimiyasu Kudo. The team decided to sideline the 34-year-old former major leaguer indefinitely. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Lee leads Hawks to repeat Japan Series championship

SoftBank Hawks Chairman and all-time Japanese baseball home run leader Sadaharu Oh congratulates Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 29, 2015, after a championship-clinching 5-0 victory over the Yakult Swallows in Game 5 of the Japan Series. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

SoftBank skipper Kudo wins Shoriki award

SoftBank Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo gives a press conference in Miyazaki, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 19, 2015, after he was named the winner of this year's Matsutaro Shoriki Award. Kudo steered the team to the Japan Series title in his first year as manager. The award created in honor of the Yomiuri Giants founder is given annually to recognize individuals for their contribution to Japan's pro baseball. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Ex-major leaguer Wada returns to Hawks

Pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada (L), a former player of the Chicago Cubs, and SoftBank Hawks skipper Kimiyasu Kudo pose for photos at a press conference in Fukuoka on Nov. 14, 2015, as Wada is rejoining the Pacific-League team on a three-year deal. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Intense effort helped pave way for Hawks-Swallows clash

Conditioning coach Atsushi Toriida of the Pacific League's SoftBank Hawks talks at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 25, 2015, about changes to the team's fitness program under manager Kimiyasu Kudo. Toriida formerly worked for the Washington Nationals organization. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

SoftBank Hawks celebrate PLCS victory

SoftBank Hawks owner Masayoshi Son, skipper Kimiyasu Kudo, chairman Sadaharu Oh, outfielder Seiichi Uchikawa (from 2nd L to R, front row) and others pose for photos at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 16, 2015, after they won the Pacific League Climax Series by beating the first-stage winner Lotte Marines. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

SoftBank owner Son, skipper Kudo celebrate PLCS title

SoftBank Hawks owner Masayoshi Son (L) shakes hands with skipper Kimiyasu Kudo at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 16, 2015, as the Pacific League team will advance into the Japan Series by clean-sweeping the Lotte Marines in the PL Climax Series final stage. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo