In many ways, the fates have tied Senichi Hoshino and Masaji Hiramatsu together in their careers, and on Monday they shared another thing — membership in Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame.
Born roughly four months apart in Okayama Prefecture, the two were familiar with each other from their high school days, and both became ace pitchers as pros. But it was being spurned by the almighty Yomiuri Giants that shaped their careers and eventually brought them together again in the Hall of Fame.
After winning the national spring invitational high school tourney, Hiramatsu turned down the Chunichi Dragons in 1965 in Nippon Professional Baseball's first draft to play corporate league ball. And after winning the prestigious Toshi Taiko intercity championship, he was courted by the Giants.