Japanese baseball legend Isao Harimoto, who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and became the first player from his country to reach 3,000 hits, has died aged 86, local media reported.

Born to Korean parents in Japan, Harimoto learned to play left-handed after an accident at the age of four left him with severe burns and limited mobility in his right hand. He survived the atomic bombing as a five-year-old, his mother jumping in front of him and his sister to shield them from the blast.

He went on to rack up 3,085 career hits, which still stand as a record in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for several teams in Japan, including the all-powerful Yomiuri Giants, and earned himself the nickname “Hit Machine” for his batting prowess.

Harimoto retired in 1981 after 23 professional seasons and worked as a TV commentator. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990. His death is a great loss not only for Japan but for the entire global baseball community.

Source: www.aljazeera.com