This file photo taken in June 1991 shows Hiromitsu Kadota of the Daiei Hawks hitting his 550th career home run at Heiwadai Stadium in Fukuoka. (Kyodo)
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Hiromitsu Kadota, whose 567 career home runs are third most in Japanese pro baseball history, has died at his home, sources with knowledge of the matter said Tuesday. He was 74.
Kadota, an outfielder and designated hitter who spent most of his career with the Pacific League's Nankai Hawks, was famous for both his big swing and a tremendous late-career home run surge.
After suffering a career-threatening Achilles tendon tear in 1979, Kadota bounced back in 1980 with a then career-high 41 home runs.
In 1988, the Hawks' final season in Osaka, Kadota led the PL with 44 home runs and 125 RBIs, becoming the first player to win an MVP award at the age of 40. He finished his career with four 40-home run seasons.
Kadota played two more seasons for the Kobe-based Orix Braves and spent his final two years in Fukuoka with the Daiei Hawks before retiring at the age of 44.
Police in Aioi, Hyogo Prefecture, said they visited Kadota's home on Tuesday, where they found he had fallen and confirmed his death.