Wally Yonamine
Wallace Kaname Yonamine (与那嶺要, Yonamine Kaname, June 24, 1925 – February 28, 2011) was a Japanese American multi-sport athlete who played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Yonamine was the first Japanese American to play in the NFL. He made his debut with the San Francisco 49ers in 1947, just a few months after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Yonamine's participation in the NFL was significant not only for his athletic prowess but also for its cultural impact, as he represented the Japanese American community during a time when many were returning from internment camps following World War II.
In his inaugural season, Yonamine played as a running back and kick returner, starting in three of the 49ers' games. He quickly gained recognition, notably scoring two touchdowns in a preseason game, which endeared him to the local Japanese American community. His contributions to sports extended beyond football; after his NFL career, he became a celebrated baseball player in Japan, earning a place in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.