Wally YonamineĀ dies of cancer. Yonamine was the first American to play inĀ Nippon Pro BaseballĀ afterĀ World War IIĀ and later was the first American to manage in NPB. Yonamine was also the first Japanese-American to play in theĀ National Football League, doing so in 1947, four years before he would become a pioneer inĀ Japan.

On February 28, 2011 — Wally YonamineĀ dies of cancer. Yonamine was the first American to play inĀ Nippon Pro BaseballĀ afterĀ World War IIĀ and later was the first American to manage in NPB. Yonamine was also the first Japanese-American to play in theĀ National Football League, doing so in 1947, four years before he would become a pioneer inĀ Japan.

Source:
Baseball Reference February 28
SABR Games Project
National Pastime February 28
Hall of Fame
Replay The Game
Retro Sheet

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