Japan mourns death of professional baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima

The Mainichi

4 days ago

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan on Tuesday mourned the death of renowned former baseball player and manager Shigeo Nagashima, who earned the nickname "Mr. Giants" for his lifelong contributions to the sport as part of the country's most historically dominant team.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Nagashima, a recipient of the prime minister's top honor who died of pneumonia at the age of 89 earlier in the day, was "a national star who brought dreams and hope to the Japanese people."
After joining the Yomiuri Giants in 1958, Nagashima played in 2,186 games and hit 444 home runs over his 17-year career. He won the Central League batting title six times, was home run king twice, led in RBIs five times, and was named CL MVP five times.
In 2003, he served as manager of the Japanese national team for the following year's Athens Olympics, the first to feature only professional baseball players. But a cerebral infarction later prevented him from leading the team at the games.
A charismatic figure known for his cheerful personality who helped boost the popularity of professional baseball, Nagashima was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988 and received the People's Honor Award in 2013.
"We pay tribute to the contributions of Mr. Pro Baseball, who was often compared to the sunshine, to Japanese baseball, and express our condolences," Hayashi, the top government spokesman, said at a regular press conference.
The report of Nagashima's death spread across Japan on Tuesday morning, prompting an outpouring of feeling from baseball fans and those who had known or crossed paths with him.
Mayor Tomonori Kiyoyama of Miyazaki, where Nagashima was an honorary citizen, said, "He brought great joy and vitality to our citizens. I pray his soul will rest in peace."
Referring to the city's long history as a training camp site for the Giants, Kiyoyama added Nagashima's "passion for baseball and his love for Miyazaki are deeply engraved in the hearts of the citizens."
In Tokyo, baseball fans hailed Nagashima as a "legend," with Genta Nakai, 31, saying, "He was a star, partly because of his cheerful personality."
Masae Shinoda, 60, said, "I was shocked when I heard on the morning news that he had died. Mr. Nagashima was a hero to my husband," an avid fan of baseball. She thanked him for "giving dreams to so many young players."