Yasunori Oshima. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Yasunori Oshima, a former pro baseball player who went on to become manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters, died of colon cancer on June 30, a source familiar with the matter said Monday. He was 70.

       Oshima, from Oita Prefecture on Japan's southern island of Kyushu, had been blogging about his battle with cancer since revealing his diagnosis in a post in February 2017, while he continued to work as a baseball commentator.

       A member of the prestigious Meikyukai charitable organization for players with outstanding career numbers, Oshima had stints with the Chunichi Dragons and the Fighters. He ended his 24-year playing career with 2,204 hits, 382 homers and 1,234 RBIs in 2,638 games.

       The Dragons' third-round draft pick retired in 1994, after helping the Central League team capture two pennants, leading the league in hits in 1979 and in homers in 1983. He reached the 2,000-hit milestone in his third of seven seasons with the Fighters, then based in Tokyo, prior to their 2004 relocation to Hokkaido.

       After posting a record of 181-225-7 as manager of Nippon Ham between 2000 and 2002, he joined the national team coaching staff for the 2006 World Baseball Classic as hitting coach and helped Japan win the inaugural tournament.

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