Japanese-American professional baseball player. In 1952 Hirayama signed a contract with major league team St. Louis Browns and spent that season with the Stockton Ports, a minor league team. He spent 1953 to 1955 in the military where he played for Fort Ord in California. After being discharged he signed with the Hiroshima Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball where he played his entire professional career from 1955 until 1964 as an outfielder. His playing career was cut short when he ran into the outfield was and suffered a nerve injury which caused him to lose some vision in his right eye. After the injury he retired from the field but remained for 3 years in the position of coach and 1 year managing in the Japanese minor league. He and his wife returned to California where he worked as a scout for the California Angels and Hiroshima Carp. He was a 2x NPB All-Star (1955-1964). He had a career batting average of .229 with 251 runs batted in and 45 home runs. Hirayama met his wife, Jean had 3 sons she passed away in 1991.
Japanese-American professional baseball player. In 1952 Hirayama signed a contract with major league team St. Louis Browns and spent that season with the Stockton Ports, a minor league team. He spent 1953 to 1955 in the military where he played for Fort Ord in California. After being discharged he signed with the Hiroshima Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball where he played his entire professional career from 1955 until 1964 as an outfielder. His playing career was cut short when he ran into the outfield was and suffered a nerve injury which caused him to lose some vision in his right eye. After the injury he retired from the field but remained for 3 years in the position of coach and 1 year managing in the Japanese minor league. He and his wife returned to California where he worked as a scout for the California Angels and Hiroshima Carp. He was a 2x NPB All-Star (1955-1964). He had a career batting average of .229 with 251 runs batted in and 45 home runs. Hirayama met his wife, Jean had 3 sons she passed away in 1991.
Bio by: Danny Hackney
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