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Veteran pro hurler Yamamoto, 49, to continue career

NAGOYA, Japan - Masa Yamamoto, a Chunichi Dragons pitcher who turns 50 years old in 2015, pledges to continue his professional baseball career next year at a Japan National Press Club news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 26, 2014. He rewrote a Japanese pro baseball record for the oldest active winning hurler this season.

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(3)Baseball fans gather at autograph sessions

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto gives his autographs during a gathering with fan at Nagoya Dome on Sept 19, the second day of the first-ever strike by Japanese pro ball players.

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(3)Baseball fans gather at autograph sessions

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto gives his autographs during a gathering with fan at Nagoya Dome on Sept 19, the second day of the first-ever strike by Japanese pro ball players. (Kyodo)

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Dragons' 50-year-old Yamamoto pitches last start before retirement

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto throws the final start of his career during a game against the Hiroshima Carp at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima on Oct. 7, 2015. At the age of 50 years and 1 month, the southpaw became the oldest player to pitch in a Nippon Professional Baseball game. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Dragons' 50-year-old Yamamoto pitches last start before retirement

Chunichi Dragons hurler Masa Yamamoto breaks down in tears during a game against the Hiroshima Carp at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima on Oct. 7, 2015, after throwing the last pitch of his career before retiring at the end of the season. At the age of 50 years and 1 month, the southpaw became the oldest player to pitch in a Nippon Professional Baseball game. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-year-old Yamamoto pitches for Chunichi against Hiroshima

Chunichi Dragons starting pitcher Masa Yamamoto, who turned 50 in August, pitches in a game against the Hiroshima Carp at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima on Oct. 7, 2015, becoming the first pitcher throwing in his 50s in Japanese professional baseball. Yamamoto, who will retire at the end of the season, got a leadoff batter out on a grounder to second before leaving the game. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-year-old Yamamoto pitches for Chunichi against Hiroshima

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto, who turned 50 in August, waves to the crowd at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima on Oct. 7, 2015, after pitching against the Hiroshima Carp. Yamamoto, who will retire at the end of the season, got a leadoff batter out on a grounder to second before leaving the game. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-yr-old Chunichi pitcher Yamamoto announces retirement

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto attends a press conference in Nagoya on Sept. 30, 2015, to announce the end of his 32-year career at the end of this season. Yamamoto, 50, the oldest player on the active list, became the oldest winning pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball in September 2014. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-yr-old Chunichi pitcher Yamamoto announces retirement

File photo shows Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto pitching in a game against the Hanshin Tigers to become the oldest winning pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball in September 2014. Yamamoto, 50, the oldest player on the active list, told a press conference in the central Japan city of Nagoya on Sept. 30, 2015, that he would end his 32-year career at the end of this season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-yr-old Chunichi pitcher Yamamoto announces retirement

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto attends a press conference in Nagoya on Sept. 30, 2015, to announce the end of his 32-year career at the end of this season. Yamamoto, 50, the oldest player on the active list, became the oldest winning pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball in September 2014. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-yr-old Chunichi pitcher Yamamoto announces retirement

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto attends a press conference in Nagoya on Sept. 30, 2015, to announce the end of his 32-year career at the end of this season. Yamamoto, 50, the oldest player on the active list, became the oldest winning pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball in September 2014. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-yr-old Chunichi pitcher Yamamoto announces retirement

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto attends a press conference in Nagoya on Sept. 30, 2015, to announce the end of his 32-year career at the end of this season. Yamamoto, 50, the oldest player on the active list, became the oldest winning pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball in September 2014. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-yr-old Chunichi pitcher Yamamoto announces retirement

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto attends a press conference in Nagoya on Sept. 30, 2015, to announce the end of his 32-year career at the end of this season. Yamamoto, 50, the oldest player on the active list, became the oldest winning pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball in September 2014. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-yr-old Chunichi pitcher Yamamoto to call it quits

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto pitches in a game against the Yakult Swallows at Nagoya Dome in the central Japanese city of Nagoya in August 2015. Yamamoto, who turned 50 that month, said Sept. 26 he will retire at the end of this season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-year-old professional pitcher Yamamoto to retire

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto holds up a bouquet after setting a record for the oldest pitcher to score a win in Japanese professional baseball at the age of 49 in September 2014. Yamamoto has announced he will retire at the end of this season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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50-yr-old Chunichi pitcher Yamamoto to call it quits

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Masa Yamamoto smiles as he speaks with reporters at Nagoya Dome in the central Japanese city of Nagoya on Sept. 26, 2015. Yamamoto, who turned 50 in August, said he will retire at the end of this season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Veteran pro hurler Yamamoto, 49, to continue career

NAGOYA, Japan - Masa Yamamoto, a Chunichi Dragons pitcher who turns 50 years old in 2015, pledges to continue his professional baseball career next year at a Japan National Press Club news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 26, 2014. He rewrote a Japanese pro baseball record for the oldest active winning hurler this season. (Kyodo)