The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.
Kaminishi carried on the legacy of the trailblazing baseball team that broke down barriers for Japanese-Canadians in the first half of the 20th century, most recently on Sept. 2, when he attended a special 10th anniversary game celebrating the modern-day revival of the team as a youth program.
“His inspirational advice and motivational speeches will remain in the hearts of all our players and coaches,” the Asahi Baseball Association wrote in a statement.
The Vancouver Asahi club played at Oppenheimer Park from 1914 to 1941, picking up several championship titles along the way. Kaminishi joined the team in 1939 as an infielder and quickly earned a reputation as a reliable defender and speedy baserunner who used his expert bunting skills to beguile opposing pitchers.
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