Biography

Miichiro Katoh

Miichiro Katoh in 1988 made arrangements for the professional Chunichi Dragons to travel to Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida from February 16-March 5 for spring training activities, alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers. Katoh, Chairman of the Board, Chunichi Shimbun and owner of the Dragons, accepted the invitation from Dodger President Peter O’Malley. The Dragons were the first team from Japan other than the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants to visit Dodgertown. Chunichi officials were so enamored by the way the Dodgers conducted their business, they had their uniforms designed to have the same blue color and script tail after the “s” in Dragons just like the Dodgers. On March 2, 1988, Katoh arrived in Dodgertown from Nagoya, Japan and was warmly welcomed by Peter, who presented him with a Dodger jacket. Katoh attended the Dodgers game against Chunichi at Holman Stadium on March 3.

The professional Chunichi Dragons of Nagoya, Japan trained and stayed at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida on the invitation of Dodger President Peter O’Malley. March 2, 1988 (L-R): Satoru Nakayama, President, Chunichi Dragons, Japan; Senichi Hoshino, Manager, Chunichi Dragons; Miichiro Katoh, Chairman of the Board, *Chunichi Shimbun* and Dragons owner; O’Malley; and Dr. Creighton Hale, longtime President and CEO, Little League Baseball.

March 3, 1988, Holman Stadium, Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida, Peter O’Malley enjoys visiting with Miichiro Katoh, Chairman of the Board of *Chunichi Shimbun* and owner of the Chunichi Dragons while watching an exhibition game between the professional Dragons of Nagoya, Japan and the Dodgers.

On the occasion of the Dodgers’ 100th Anniversary season in 1990, Katoh asked Satoru Nakayama, Chunichi Dragons President, to personally travel to Dodger Stadium and present a gift of appreciation of a beautiful traditional pagoda trophy to Peter with an inscription, “To Mr. Peter O’Malley, Warmest congratulations on the 100th Anniversary of the Dodgers, Miichiro Katoh, owner of the Chunichi Dragons”. Katoh wrote a letter to O’Malley: “We would like to congratulate the 100th Anniversary of the Dodgers from the bottom of our hearts. We deeply respect you and the Dodgers organization’s bright history of the great dedication to the prosperity of the Major League Baseball in the United States…Please accept one of the Japanese traditional crafts, “Five Storied Pagoda” as our warmest wish for the Dodgers’ eternal prosperity. This “Five Storied Pagoda” was made with silver material by Mr. Takehiko Seki who is one of the most famous artists in Japan. Since I could see you in your country a few years ago, it has been my great pleasure to know, according to many kinds of news, that you are working very energetically for the development of baseball not only in your country, but also all over the world. I don’t know enough good words to appreciate your great cooperation for the Dragons and manager Hoshino. I heartily wish the health and prosperity of you and your family as well as of the Dodgers.”