Hall of Famer Sachio Kinugasa, whose 2,215 consecutive games played remain a Japan pro baseball record, died of colon cancer Monday at 71, an informed source said.

Nicknamed "Iron Man," Kinugasa played for the Hiroshima Carp from 1965 to 1987 and was the Central League's 1984 MVP. He is tied for fifth in hits in NPB history with 2,543, sixth in runs with 1,372, and tied for seventh with 504 home runs.

On June 11, 1987, Kinugasa played in his 2,130th consecutive game, equaling Lou Gehrig's professional record total, and surpassed it two days later in front of a sold-out stadium in Hiroshima. Kinugasa's total was in turn surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles on June 14, 1996. Kinugasa was on hand that day to congratulate Ripken in Kansas City.