Satoshi Hirayama

Hirayama was an All-Star twice in Japan.

Early life and amateur career Hirayama got the nickname "Fibber" from his father's inability to pronounce "February", the month of his birth. At 12 years old, following the signing of Executive Order 9066, he was interned at the Poston War Relocation Center with his father and two brothers. After three years, when World War II ended, he was released and began attending Exeter Union High School from which he graduated in 1947.

Hirayama was a star athlete at Fresno State, playing both baseball and football as a halfback. Hirayama attended the school on a football scholarship and only played baseball because he did not want to play spring football. He wound up playing three seasons of each. He was voted "Nisei Player of the Year" in 1951.

Professional career After college, Hirayama signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Browns and spent the 1952 season with the Stockton Ports. He was one of the first Japanese-American players to sign with a Major League Baseball club. After being discharged, Hirayama signed with the Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball on the insistence of fellow Japanese-American Kenichi Zenimura. In 1954, the Browns granted Hirayama his release and he and his wife moved to Japan. Hirayama did not speak Japanese upon arrival but became fluent after a few years.

After retiring as a player, Hirayama spent three years coaching and one year managing in the Japanese minor leagues before returning to the United States.

Personal life Hirayama met his wife, Jean, while they were attending Fresno State. They were married in February 1955 and had three sons, Colin, Kevin and Brian. After returning to the United States, Hirayama also worked as a teacher and administrator in the Clovis Unified School District in addition to his scouting duties.

Satoshi Hirayama died on September 15, 2021, at the age of 91.