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In the previous Episode 5, we took up the post-war revival of Six University Baseball.

In this Episode 6, we will tell you about the "Keiso 6 consecutive battles" that have been handed down.

 

The Keio-Waseda game lasted for six days... It was unthinkable under the current rules of student baseball, but in the fall of 1960, a fierce battle was taking place at Jingu Stadium.

   

   In fact, this year, the Keio-Waseda race was also the battle that decided the championship. Keio University, which had a good reputation, was running in the lead and had the advantage in a situation where winning points would determine the championship. Waseda University was in the runner-up position with a difference of one point, and the scenario was that they would advance to the championship game after winning two games.

 

The first match is November 6th. Waseda took the lead in the match, which was attended by more than 60,000 spectators. Waseda University's ace pitcher Ando sealed Keio's powerful batting lineup to 1 point and set a counterattack for the championship. However, the next day (7th), Keio University's pace changed and it was even with 1 win and 1 loss. It was decided to be entangled in the third round.

In the third game on the 8th, Waseda's ace pitcher Ando started again, showing his determination to somehow make it to the championship game. It will be a numbing pitcher battle, but Keidai lost a point due to a defensive mistake. Pitcher Ando saved the team at the last minute with a shutout victory.

　

In this way, the fate of the Imperial Cup is entangled in a one-game championship match, but it will not be settled easily. On November 9th, in the match on the 4th day, Keio University was leading until 1 out in the 9th inning, but it was caught up at the last minute and the game went into overtime. Then, in the bottom of the 11th inning, the game was replayed due to sunset. This happened because the Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium at that time did not have equipment for night games.

　

Considering the burden on the players, the 10th will be a rest day, but the 11th will continue to be exciting. Pitcher Ando pitched four consecutive pitches, but closed the key points and lined up 0 on the scoreboard. On the other hand, pitcher Kakutani of Keio University also closed the Waseda batting lineup to zero. Then, due to sunset again, another match was declared.

And November 12th. On this day, in response to pitcher Ando's enthusiastic pitching, Waseda's batting lineup was finally awakened, and they succeeded in scoring the opening goal early in the game. Pitcher Ando succeeded in pitching a complete game, keeping the Keio batting lineup to 1 run, even though he was in a pinch. Through 6 games, he pitched 49 innings and allowed only 3 runs.

 

After that, Ando went on to become a professional pitcher, and in his rookie year, he played a major role in making the team the best in Japan, but his results gradually declined. In 1965, his fourth year, he announced his retirement. However, Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium was also where he made his first professional appearance and achieved his first victory, so it may be said that it was a good match. There is no doubt that he was a player who left his name in the history of the Waseda University baseball club.

 

How was the six-day battle that will go down in history? Now that the three-game system is back and the strength of each school is evenly matched, we may see another historic battle. Please keep an eye out for future battles!