"Bad Boy Taro" was one of the very best pitchers of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1966, as an 18-year-old rookie playing for the Yomiuri Giants, he won 12 consecutive games, finished the season with a 1.39 ERA and won both the Rookie of the Year and Sawamura (Japan Cy Young) Awards. He promptly proclaimed himself a superstar, refused to bow respectfully to elder players, argued with management, goofed off in exhibition games, spat while on television, and shamefully let his cap fall off during his follow through motion. During his career, he had a 203-139, 3.27 record. He also won seven consecutive Golden Gloves.

Horiuchi's behavior mellowed over the years, and he subsequently became a coach, and later a manager of the Yomiuri Giants. This signed official Japan pro baseball was autographed by Horiuchi sometime between 1993 and 1998 during his coaching days. He has signed this ball in black marker, along with his uniform number 70, which was his number only while a coach.

Size: Regular baseball size

Condition: Autograph--8 out of 10. Baseball--Nm.