Former Nishitetsu Lions pitcher Kazuhisa Inao, who once held the moniker "iron man," died of cancer at a Fukuoka hospital early Tuesday. He was 70.

News photoJapanese baseball Hall of Famer Kazuhisa Inao, shown here when he played for the Nishitetsu Lions in the 1950s, died of cancer on Tuesday at a Fukuoka hospital at the age of 70. KYODO PHOTO

A native of Oita Prefecture, Inao made his professional debut with Nishitetsu in 1956 and posted a 21-6 record, winning the Pacific League Rookie of the Year award.