Before the self-proclaimed (and arguably rightly so) "greatest of all time" and new MLB Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson was redefining the way leadoff hitters would be viewed, the Hankyu Braves' Yutaka Fukumoto was helping to set the standard.
Japanese baseball's career leader with 43 leadoff homers, Fukumoto was Henderson on the diamond before Rickey was being Rickey during his 19-year career with the Braves from 1969-88.
Henderson was elected into the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., on Monday as a result of his outstanding career. While Henderson's accomplishments were staggering, Fukumoto built quite a name for himself as well.
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