Toshio Kurosawa

was a Japanese baseball outfielder who played eight seasons in the Japanese Baseball League from 1936 to 1947. His career was cut short due to typhoid fever, from which he died at age 33.

After matriculating to Kansai University, Kurosawa became a leading figure in the University club's golden era, batting fourth in the lineup. There he played alongside future Japanese Hall of Fame pitcher Yukio Nishimura. Kurosawa was named outfielder in 1933 while on a club trip to Hawaii.

Nagoya Kinko / Nishitetsu Kurosawa debuted with Nagoya Kinko in 1936, in the inaugural season of the Japanese Baseball League. After the 1941 season, he again left baseball for the military, this time only for one year. Kurosawa returned to the field in 1943 for the newly renamed Nishitetsu Baseball Club. That year, while batting only .190 he drove in 32 runs to finish 3rd in the league.

Tokyo Kyojin / Yomiuri Giants In 1944, Nishitetsu disbanded as a result of worsening finances and a shortage of players due to the draft during World War II. As a result, Kurosawa was transferred to the Tokyo Kyojin along with other players including Sadao Kondo. In the shortened season that year (35 games), Kurosawa hit for a career-high .348 batting average (2nd in the league) at leadoff, playing a key supporting role while many Kyojin regulars were on active duty. Notable for his speed, The club held a rare team funeral for Kurosawa.

Honors The Giants retired Kurosawa's uniform number 4 soon after his death. Led by Shigeru Chiba, his former teammates proposed the honor, recognizing his achievements playing for the club during the challenging wartime era as well as honoring his untimely passing, and his number was retired alongside Eiji Sawamura. Kurosawa wished, "When I die, I want you to bury me in my uniform," and ultimately he was.

Player characteristics By the time he joined the Kyojin, Kurosawa's power had declined, but he was known for his ability to hit to all fields and for his clutch hitting.