A legendary Japanese pitcher with 350 career wins has been arrested by police on suspicion of stealing two cans of alcohol from a convenience store.

The Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki Police announced on the 25th that they apprehended former professional baseball player Tetsuya Yoneda (87) for theft.

According to police, the suspect was caught around 10:40 a.m. that day hiding two cans of diluted shochu in their clothing while leaving a convenience store near their home. After being alerted by the store clerk, police interrogated the suspect, who acknowledged the crime in a clear tone, saying, "It is true that I was stealing shochu."

Yoneda, who was arrested, is a pitcher who achieved 350 career wins while playing for the Hankyu Braves, Hanshin Tigers, and Kintetsu Buffaloes. This record corresponds to the second highest in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) history, following Masayichi Kaneda (400 wins).

The total price of the two cans of beverage discovered that day was 303 yen, which corresponds to approximately 2,960 won. The store stated that the suspect was not a regular customer and had not previously suffered from theft. He did not use a car or bicycle but walked to the crime scene dressed lightly in sneakers. It is reported that he resides with his wife in a nearby home.

Police also found ten side dishes packed in a plastic bag in addition to the hidden drinks, but they stated that it was under investigation where they were obtained.

As this news emerged, netizens expressed concern, saying, "He looked healthy just 2–3 years ago; could he be experiencing problems related to old age?"

In the legal community, it was noted that "if it is due to mental health issues as some speculate, it will not be legally considered culpable," and they added, "Since the scale of damage is not large, the likelihood of this being taken to court is low.

He emerged as a strong right-handed pitcher since high school. When it came to going professional, there was a scouting battle between Hankyu and Hanshin, which led to a controversial dual-contract situation. However, at that time, the commissioner ruled that "the team that signed the contract first has priority," thus finalizing his move to Hankyu.

In his rookie year, he recorded nine wins, and in his second year (1957), he recorded 21 wins, beginning his path as a great pitcher. He primarily served as a starting pitcher until the age of 39, achieving a record of 350 wins, 285 losses, and 2 saves. The 350 wins were the highest record at that time.

Surprisingly, he does not have many awards. He has won the most wins award once (25 wins in 1966), the best earned run average award once (2.47 in 1973), and the most strikeouts award once (231 in 1962). He was selected as the MVP only in 1968.

His true value lies in his consistency and health. He played for 22 seasons and participated in 949 games. He started in 626 of those. This is the highest in NPB history. He recorded 262 complete games, of which 64 were shutouts.

From his second year, he achieved double-digit wins for 18 consecutive seasons. He exceeded 20 wins in 8 seasons. The peak was 29 wins and 13 losses in 1968. His cumulative innings pitched total 5,130. He was a founding member of the Meikyukai and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

He stated, "I have never had any problems with my elbow or shoulder," and added, "Thanks to running more than 10 kilometers every day since elementary school, I developed strong hips and ankles." His main weapon was a forkball, known as the "Yoneda ball."

During his active years, he was known as the "gasoline tank" and the "human locomotive." This fame stemmed from his tremendous physical strength and stamina. He was also famous for his unusual eating habits. It is said that the day before a game, he would consume top-grade beef steak and a lot of roasted garlic.

On the other hand, he was also well-known as a great drinker. The nickname "gasoline tank" among his colleagues is said to mean "he has endless alcohol tolerance." Ironically, he was arrested for stealing alcohol even in his old age.

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