Akinobu Okada
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{short description|Japanese baseball manager and former player (born 1957)}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name = Akinobu Okada
| image = Akinobu_Okada_Tigers_20230326.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| team =
| number =
| position = Infielder / Manager
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|11|25}}
| birth_place = Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
| bats = Right
| throws = Right
| debutleague = NPB
| debutdate = April 11
| debutyear = 1980
| debutteam = Hanshin Tigers
| finalleague = NPB
| finaldate = October 2
| finalyear = 1995
| finalteam = Orix BlueWave
| statleague = NPB
| stat1label = Batting average
| stat1value = .277
| stat2label = Hits
| stat2value = 1,520
| stat3label = Home runs
| stat3value = 247
| stat4label = RBIs
| stat4value = 1434
| managerwins = 747
| managerlosses = 639
| teams =
;As player
- Hanshin Tigers ({{npby|1980}}–{{npby|1993}})
- Orix BlueWave ({{npby|1994}}–{{npby|1995}})
;As manager
- Hanshin Tigers ({{npby|2004}}–{{npby|2008}})
- Orix Buffaloes ({{npby|2010}}–{{npby|2012}})
- Hanshin Tigers ({{npby|2023}}–{{npby|2024}})
|awards =
- 2× Japan Series champion ({{npby|1985}}, {{npby|2023}})
- {{npby|1980}} Central League Rookie of the Year
|caption=Okada in 2023}}
{{Nihongo|Akinobu Okada|岡田 彰布|Okada Akinobu}} (born November 25, 1957) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and manager. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 1980 to 1995 for the Hanshin Tigers and Orix BlueWave.
Career
=Playing career=
Okada played, mostly as a second baseman, for the Hanshin Tigers from {{npby|1980}} to {{npby|1993}}, winning the Central League Rookie of the Year in 1980. In 1993, he was traded to the Orix BlueWave. He played there until {{npby|1995}}.
=Coaching career=
He managed the Hanshin Tigers from 2004 to 2008, leading the team to the Central League pennant in 2005.
In November 2008, he entered into a contract with the Daily Sports Company as a commentator. In 2009, he appeared on Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (ABC, AM radio, Terrestrial TV), Sky A Sports Plus (SKY PerfecTV!, satellite TV) and other broadcasting stations in the Kansai region.
Okada returned to the field in 2010, managing the Orix Buffaloes from 2010 to 2012.
On September 26, 2022, Okada was hired to serve as the manager for the Hanshin Tigers, marking his second managerial stint with the club.{{Cite web|title=Akinobu Okada Named New Manager|url=https://www.thehanshintigers.com/2022/10/17/akinobu-okada-named-new-manager/|access-date=June 21, 2023|website=thehanshintigers.com|date=October 17, 2022 |language=en}} During his first season back in 2023, the Hanshin Tigers defeated Okada's former team he managed, the Orix Buffaloes, 4-3 in the 2023 Japan Series. This not only gave Okada a championship as a manager for Hanshin, but also ended the Tigers' championship drought that started back in 1985. On October 2, 2024, Okada announced that he would be stepping down following the season.{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/npb_reddit/status/1841615727398420638?s=46&t=UN5XGiNzRq3-vt33N7zCTw|title=x.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
{{Baseballstats|mlb=|espn=|br=|fangraphs=|brm=okada-001aki}}
- {{japanesebaseball|id=48}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box | title=Hanshin Tigers manager | before=Senichi Hoshino
Akihiro Yano | years=2004–2008
2023–2024 | after=Akinobu Mayumi
Kyuji Fujikawa}}
{{succession box | title=Orix Buffaloes manager | before=Daijiro Oishi | years=2010–2012 | after=Hiroshi Moriwaki}}
{{s-end}}
{{Central League ROYs}}
{{Matsutaro Shoriki Award}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okada, Akinobu}}
Category:Baseball people from Osaka
Category:People from Chūō, Osaka
Category:Japanese baseball players
Category:Nippon Professional Baseball infielders
Category:Hanshin Tigers players
Category:Orix BlueWave players
Category:Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners
Category:Managers of baseball teams in Japan
Category:Hanshin Tigers managers
Category:Orix Buffaloes managers
{{japan-baseball-manager-stub}}