Takehiko Bessho

, born , was a Japanese baseball player whose professional career as a player lasted from 1942 until 1960. Bessho first achieved fame as a pitcher in Japanese professional baseball; later, he served as a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) manager.

Bessho spent his first five seasons in the Japanese Baseball League (the predecessor of NPB) with the Nankai franchise (1942–43, 1946–48) and his final 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants (1949–1960). He quickly established himself as a top pitcher and went on to earn two Sawamura Awards, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award, and six Best Nine Awards. In 1947, Bessho set the JBL record for most complete games in a single season (47). In addition, Bessho earned the NPB Most Valuable Player Award in 1952 and 1956. and went by the name Akira Bessho. Bessho started his athletic career by playing nanshiki (rubber baseball) while he was in the fifth grade in elementary school.

In 1960 he was a player and pitching coach for the Yomiuri Giants. At the end of season he retired and remained on the team as coach. His 310 victories were the NPB all-time record when he retired. During his career, Bessho won six Best Nine Awards, starting in 1947. He tied for the honor in 1948 with Hiroshi Nakao and Juzo Sanada. It is currently the only time multiple pitchers were named to the Best Nine in a single season and the only time there was a positional tie for nearly six decades; he has the most Best Nine Awards for all pitchers in NPB history.

Post-playing career From 1964 until 1966, Bessho served as the pitching coach of the Taiyō Whales. He managed the Sankei Atoms from 1968 until mid-1970.

Afterwards, he gave commentaries at Fuji TV, Bunka Hōsō and Nikkan Sports. As a commentator, he was known for his cheerful loud laughter, grayed hair, and apparent but innocent favoritism toward the Yomiuri Giants (he often couldn't remember the names of non-Giants players).

In 1979 he was nominated to Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

In 1992 he surmounted to the presidency of the Yomiuri Giants Old Boy Club, succeeding Tetsuharu Kawakami.

Death In 1999, he died at his home at the age of 76.

Records and awards Lifetime records as pitcher: playing in 662 games (335 completed), 310 wins, 178 losses, winning average .635, ERA 2.18 Lifetime records as batter: playing in 828 games, batting average .254, 500 hits, 35 home-runs, 91 walks, 2 hit-by-pitch, RBI 248 No-hitter: 26 May 1943 (defeated the Yamato Team) Best Nine Award (Pitcher): 1947, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956