Katsuya Nomura
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Re: Katsuya Nomura
[ Author: Guest: Jim Albright | Posted: Jan 6, 2004 12:22 AM
]
This is one case where I suspect (I haven't tried to work it out yet) where it would be easier to get a good match for a player's actual talent than to find a MLB parallel for his NPB dominance. Without working it out formally, I'd agree with Gibson.
The only MLB option is the still active Piazza. The fact he's still active makes the comparison problematic, given we don't know the full shape and length of his career, while we do know those things about Nomura.
Also, I think Nomura's defense, while unlikely the caliber of Bench, was better than Piazza.
Jim Albright
The only MLB option is the still active Piazza. The fact he's still active makes the comparison problematic, given we don't know the full shape and length of his career, while we do know those things about Nomura.
Also, I think Nomura's defense, while unlikely the caliber of Bench, was better than Piazza.
Jim Albright
Re: Katsuya Nomura
[ Author: 1908 | Posted: Jan 6, 2004 11:48 AM
| HT Fan
]
In his book Baseball's Other All-Stars (page 122), William F. McNeil compares Nomura to Roy Campanella. Their career averages (adjusted to 550 at-bats) are awfully close.
Player AB R H D T HR RBI BB SO BA
Nomura 550 79 152 21 1 35 104 66 78 .277
Campanella 550 82 152 23 2 32 112 70 65 .276
Re: Katsuya Nomura
[ Author: GottaHaveWa | Posted: Jan 6, 2004 12:58 PM
]
Wow, those career averages are amazingly close. The only problem is, Nomura had almost twice as many Best Nines as Campanella had years played. And as good as Campy was, he only led his league in one offensive category once, and was not necessarily the dominant catcher of his time (if you don't count questionable MVPs), with Berra around. I don't think you'd want to say that of Nomura.
Re: Katsuya Nomura
[ Author: Guest: Jim Albright | Posted: Jan 7, 2004 12:52 AM
]
I had forgotten about the Nomura/Campy comparison. The thing we forget is Campy did lose a few (2-3?) years to the breaking down of the color line, which makes the comparison more apt. Give Campy another 5 years and some credit for the Negro Leagues, and then you've just about got it. The auto accident came as he was nearing the end of his career, so I doubt we can accurately give him those 5 years, though.
Jim Albright
Jim Albright
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I'm still not satisfied with this correlation. I think the closest equivalence to a North American equivalent would have to be none other than Negro League catcher Josh Gibson, not necessarily for his longevity, but for his offense that dominated his position as none have.