RIP Shoichi Busujima

Sad news out of Tokyo this week - former Toei Flyers outfielder Shoichi Busujima has passed away from prostate cancer.  He was 87 years old.

Busujima signed with the Flyers as a third baseman in 1954 after graduating from high school but was quickly converted to the outfield.  He spent 18 seasons with Toei, earning the nickname "Mr. Flyers".  He was an eight time All Star (1956-1958, 1960-1962, 1965-66) and three time Best 9 award winner (1957-58, 1966).  He played in one Nippon Series, going 3 for 29 with one RBI as the Flyers beat the Tigers in the 1962 Series although his one RBI came on a solo home run in Game 3.  His 106 triples were the most ever in NPB until Yutaka Fukumoto passed him in 1985 and are still the second most all time.  He became a player-coach in 1969 and a shoulder injury forced him to retire after only four games in 1971 - he was just 23 hits short of 2000 for his career.  He coached for the Flyers until they were bought by Nippon-Ham in 1974 and later coached and scouted for the Seibu Lions.  He was also a baseball commentator on J Sports.

Busujima had a number of baseball cards during his playing days, including various menko, bromide, game, candy and gum issues.  He appeared in three of BBM's OB sets from the oughts - the 2000 20th Century Best 9, the 2002 All Time Heroes and the 2006 Nostalgic Baseball sets - but as there's really never been a good OB team set for the Fighters there aren't as many "modern" cards of him as there could have been.  Here's what I have for him:

1959 Doyusha Game Set JGA 5

1959 Marusho Bat On Right JCM 39

1967 Kabaya-Leaf #410

2000 BBM 20th Century Best 9 #095

2000 BBM 20th Century Best 9 #215

2000 BBM 20th Century Best 9 #335

2000 BBM 20th Century Best 9 #455

2002 BBM All Time Heroes #151

2006 BBM Nostalgic Baseball #055