Koyama attended Takasago High School, and entered NPB at age 18, drafted by the
Osaka Tigers. Koyama won 20 or more games three straight years from 1958 to 1960; in 1959 he led the
Central League in innings pitched, with 344. He had at least 200 strikeouts for 7 straight seasons from 1956 to 1962. In 1961, Koyama suffered his first losing season, going 11–22, leading the Central League in losses despite a stellar 2.41
earned run average. In 1962, Koyama had 13 shutouts, including five in a row, on his way to a 27–11 record with a 1.66 ERA and the
Sawamura Award. He also led all of NPB in strikeouts, with 270. Unfortunately, he lost two games in that year's
Japan Series, as the Tigers fell to the champion
Toei Flyers. (Koyama ended up on the losing end of three
Japan Series, never winning a championship.) In 1964, Koyama switched teams (and leagues) and went 30-12 for the
Tokyo Orions, leading all of NPB in victories, with a 2.41. ERA. That year he had 25 complete games and led all of NPB in innings pitched, with . He won at least 20 games three straight years from 1964 to 1966 (although in 1965 he also lost 20 games). With 200+ wins, Koyama was a founding member of
Meikyukai in 1978. He was elected to the
Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. On May 2, 1992,
Tsutomu Seki discovered the
minor planet 1992 JE, naming it "13553 Masaakikoyama" in honor of Koyama. Koyama died on April 18, 2025, at the age of 90. == See also ==