  , (june 24, 1925 â february 28, 2011), also known as wally yonamine, was a multi-sport american athlete who played in the all-america football conference (aafc) and japan's nippon professional baseball. yonamine, a nisei japanese american, was born in hawaii to parents matsusai (september 1, 1890 â july 31, 1988) and kikue (february 14, 1901 â february 26, 1999). a two-sport star, he played running back on the san francisco 49ers in their second season (1947), becoming the first football player of asian ancestry to play professional football. in his one season with the team, he had 19 carries for 74 yards and caught 3 passes for 40 yards. his football career
1925_births 2011_deaths American_expatriate_baseball_players_in_Japan American_football_running_backs American_people_of_Japanese_descent American_people_of_Okinawan_descent American_sportspeople_of_Asian_descent Cancer_deaths_in_Hawaii Chunichi_Dragons_managers Chunichi_Dragons_players Deaths_from_prostate_cancer Japanese_Baseball_Hall_of_Fame_inductees Managers_of_baseball_teams_in_Japan Nippon_Professional_Baseball_MVP_Award_winners People_from_Maui San_Francisco_49ers_(AAFC)_players Yomiuri_Giants_players