Info on Masanori Murakami

• First MLB Win: September 29, 1964
• First MLB loss: June 26, 1965

His first save is more problematic. There was no official save rule in 1964-1965, his two years in the majors, so any saves you see listed for pitchers then were deduced many years later for the construction of encyclopedias. These decisions were not based on play by play analysis, but rather were done by looking for a game finished when his team won.

Most data sources give Murakami one save for 1964. Of the 9 games he pitched, he only entered one of them in what would be a save situation now and he got a blown save in that one. There are five other games that he finished, one of which was his first win. Of the remaining four games he finished, the Giants lost three. That leaves only one possible game for the save. It was 9-22-1964 in Houston and the Giants won 7-1. Murakami entered in the 9th inning with the score 7-1, no outs and two runners on base. He retired all three batters he faced. If I had to guess, then this would probably be the one recognized as his first save, but I think it should not be seen as one.

The first of his 8 saves in 1965 (5/16 game 2 Hou at SF) would qualify--he entered the top of the 8th (as the 3rd reliever in the inning after the starter left following a lead-off single) with 1 out, 2 on, and a 4-3 lead that he preserved to the end of the game.