Game 7, Bottom of the 9th
November 4, 1979, at Osaka Stadium. The Japan Series had gone the full seven games. The Hiroshima Toyo Carp led 4-3 entering the bottom of the ninth against the Kintetsu Buffaloes and their fearsome 'Itemae' lineup. Yutaka Enatsu, who had reinvented himself as a closer after being traded from Nankai to Hiroshima, took the mound. The former Hanshin ace who held the single-season strikeout record of 401 now faced the defining moment of his career.
Bases Loaded, No Outs
Kintetsu loaded the bases with no outs through hits and a walk. One hit would end the series. Osaka Stadium erupted with Kintetsu fans while the Hiroshima dugout fell silent. What followed were 21 pitches that became the most famous sequence in NPB history. Enatsu showed no panic, methodically working the corners. He struck out the first batter on a curveball. He later recalled: 'I wasn't afraid. I thought if I get through this, I become a legend.'
The Legendary Squeeze Detection
With one out and bases loaded, Kintetsu manager Yukio Nishimoto called for a squeeze bunt. Enatsu detected the play from the third-base runner's unusually large lead and the batter's subtle stance change. He signaled catcher Shiro Mizunuma and threw a pitchout. The batter showed bunt but whiffed as the ball sailed wide. The runner charging home was tagged out, turning the tide to two outs. Enatsu then struck out the final batter to clinch Hiroshima's first Japan Series championship.
The Legacy of 21 Pitches
The 21 pitches were immortalized by NHK broadcasts and writer Junji Yamagiwa's acclaimed nonfiction piece 'Enatsu's 21 Pitches' (1981), which reconstructed each pitch through witness testimony and became a landmark of sports journalism. Enatsu himself reflected: 'Without those 21 pitches, my baseball life wouldn't be worth telling.' A pitcher who held the season strikeout record as a starter yet found his greatest glory as a reliever in the Japan Series exemplifies the diverse paths a baseball career can take.