International Relations
Dodgers vs. Yomiuri Giants at Korakuen Stadium, Tokyo - October 19, 1956
Yomiuri 5, Dodgers 4
| Dodgers | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| Yomiuri | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | x | 5 | 8 | 1 |
WP — Takumi Otomo. LP — Don Bessent. HR: Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Andy Miyamoto, Kazuhiko Sakazaki, Tetsuji Kawakami 2.
Dodger Record 0-1.
GAME NOTES: The National League Champion Dodgers lost the first game of their Goodwill Tour to Japan to the Yomiuri Giants. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Yomiuri Shimbun publisher Matsutaro Shoriki, State Minister and “The Father of Japanese Professional Baseball.” John M. Allison, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, was in attendance amongst the more than 20,000 fans at Korakuen on an overcast day. National League President Warren C. Giles, Dodger President Walter O’Malley and Sotaro Suzuki, renowned Japanese sportswriter and trip organizer for Yomiuri met in the morning at Shoriki’s residence. The Giants stunned the Dodgers by pounding four home runs, including two by Tetsuji Kawakami. Giants’ first baseman Kawakami was a five-time batting champion in his 18-year career. He was inducted into the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965. He also managed Yomiuri to 11 Japan Series victories in 13 seasons (1961-73) and nine consecutive titles from 1965-73. Dodger starter Don Drysdale and relief pitcher Don Bessent each surrendered two homers. Two ace Giants pitchers — starter Takumi Otomo and reliever Sho Horiuchi — struck out 16 Dodgers, who appeared weary from their transpacific trip. The Dodgers did all their scoring in the third inning with singles by Pee Wee Reese and Roy Campanella, a triple by Gino Cimoli and home runs by Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges.