40-Year-Old Pitcher Takanashi Extends Consecutive Win Streak to 22 Seasons in NPB

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Shōta Takanashi, at 40 years old, delivered a stellar performance on Saturday, pitching six innings and allowing just one run to secure his first win of the season against the Hiroshima Carp. The Dragons won the game 8-1.

This victory is more than just a personal triumph; it extends Takanashi's remarkable streak of recording at least one win in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for 22 consecutive seasons. This feat places him sixth on the all-time NPB list for this specific achievement, underscoring his enduring career.

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I'm really happy, and it makes me realize again that I'm already 40 years old.

Takanashi's journey in professional baseball spans 22 seasons, during which he has amassed 167 wins. He has been a four-time Pacific League wins leader and received the prestigious Eiji Sawamura Award in 2009, in addition to being selected for the All-Star Game six times.

Reflecting on his longevity, Takanashi expressed his joy at achieving wins across different decades of his career. Hiroshima Carp manager Takahiro Arai, a former opponent, praised Takanashi's performance, noting that his "velocity is not that of a 40-year-old pitcher." Arai attributed Takanashi's sustained success to diligent training, calling his performance "truly brilliant."

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I've faced him many times during my playing days, and that's definitely not the velocity of a 40-year-old pitcher. Seeing his pitches, you can feel that he must have put in a lot of hard work training to throw such excellent pitches, it's truly brilliant.