Akihito Kondo (近藤 昭仁, 1 April 1938 – 27 March 2019) was a Japanese professional baseball figure, known as a durable right-handed pitcher and later as a manager in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Born in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Kondo played during a period when professional baseball in Japan was consolidating its modern structure and growing in popularity.

Early life and entry to professional baseball

Kondo came to professional attention in the late 1950s and joined the Taiyō Whales for the 1960 season. He established himself quickly on the Whales' staff and became a regular presence on the pitching staff for more than a decade. His career coincided with the development of team-based fan followings and expanding media coverage of the sport in Japan.

Playing career

Kondo remained with the Taiyō Whales from his debut in 1960 through the 1973 season. He was noted for his consistency, command of pitches and ability to pitch effectively in a variety of roles as needed by his team. In his rookie year he made significant contributions in the postseason and was widely recognized for his performances during the Whales' championship series.

Style and reputation

Rather than relying on overpowering velocity, Kondo's game emphasized control, movement and competitive poise. Contemporary accounts and later retrospectives describe him as a reliable starter whose experience and pitching craft made him a key component of the Whales' rotation. Teammates and coaches often valued his steadiness in important games.

Honors and achievements

  • Named Japan Series Most Valuable Player in 1960 after strong postseason contributions that helped the Taiyō Whales win the title.
  • Maintained a long tenure with one franchise through the 1960s and early 1970s, becoming identified with the Whales' postwar era.

Managerial career and later roles

After retiring as a player, Kondo remained active in professional baseball in coaching and leadership roles. He returned to the Whales' organizational lineage and later served as manager of the Yokohama BayStars from 1993 to 1995. He also managed the Chiba Lotte Marines in 1997–1998. In those positions he worked on developing younger pitchers and implementing strategies informed by his years on the mound.

Legacy and death

Kondo is remembered as part of the generation that helped shape postwar professional baseball in Japan: a player who combined longevity with a transition to managerial and coaching responsibilities. His 1960 Japan Series MVP and long association with the Whales/BayStars lineage remain the most frequently cited highlights of his career. He died on 27 March 2019 at the age of 80, and his career is recounted in team histories and sports retrospectives that review NPB's formative decades.

Further information on teams and historical context may be found through team archives and published histories of Nippon Professional Baseball; team pages and retrospectives often supply season-by-season summaries and player biographies.