Farewell held for Japanese baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo
Baseball stars have gathered to pay tribute to the late Japanese legend Nagashima Shigeo. Nicknamed "Mr. Pro Baseball," the charismatic former player and manager of the Yomiuri Giants passed away Tuesday at the age of 89.
Nagashima's former teammates, and those who played for him when he was a manager, gathered in Tokyo on Sunday in front of an altar decorated with his portrait.
Oh Sadaharu, who hit a record 868 home runs, was a former teammate. The two sluggers were touted as the "ON combo" during the height of their careers. Oh became a member of the Yomiuri Giants one year after Nagashima joined the team. The Giants won the Japan Series championship for 9 consecutive years from 1965, with Oh third and Nagashima fourth in the batting lineup.
In a speech at Nagashima's funeral, Oh said: "I remember that pro baseball fans across Japan were eager to watch your every move. You were like the sun that shined on the field. I spent more than 60 years with you. That is unforgettable and so valuable. I have no choice but to say thank you."
Nagashima retired as a player in 1974 with a total of 444 home runs. It was also the year when another baseball slugger Matsui Hideki was born.
In the 1992 baseball draft, then Giants' manager Nagashima took part in a lottery and gained the right to negotiate with Matsui, who eventually became the team's cleanup hitter. The slugger later played on US Major League teams including the New York Yankees.
Matsui says his success as a batter was thanks to Nagashima's advice while practicing swings in one-on-one sessions.
He said: "Looking into your eyes, I cannot help cringing as you would tell me to fetch a bat and practice my swing. But now I want to hear your voice again. I refrain from saying "Thank you" or "Goodbye" today. I would rather ask you to continue teaching me. I hope you will always be a light for Japanese baseball."
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NHK
9 hours ago
- NHK
Farewell held for Japanese baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo
Baseball stars have gathered to pay tribute to the late Japanese legend Nagashima Shigeo. Nicknamed "Mr. Pro Baseball," the charismatic former player and manager of the Yomiuri Giants passed away Tuesday at the age of 89. Nagashima's former teammates, and those who played for him when he was a manager, gathered in Tokyo on Sunday in front of an altar decorated with his portrait. Oh Sadaharu, who hit a record 868 home runs, was a former teammate. The two sluggers were touted as the "ON combo" during the height of their careers. Oh became a member of the Yomiuri Giants one year after Nagashima joined the team. The Giants won the Japan Series championship for 9 consecutive years from 1965, with Oh third and Nagashima fourth in the batting lineup. In a speech at Nagashima's funeral, Oh said: "I remember that pro baseball fans across Japan were eager to watch your every move. You were like the sun that shined on the field. I spent more than 60 years with you. That is unforgettable and so valuable. I have no choice but to say thank you." Nagashima retired as a player in 1974 with a total of 444 home runs. It was also the year when another baseball slugger Matsui Hideki was born. In the 1992 baseball draft, then Giants' manager Nagashima took part in a lottery and gained the right to negotiate with Matsui, who eventually became the team's cleanup hitter. The slugger later played on US Major League teams including the New York Yankees. Matsui says his success as a batter was thanks to Nagashima's advice while practicing swings in one-on-one sessions. He said: "Looking into your eyes, I cannot help cringing as you would tell me to fetch a bat and practice my swing. But now I want to hear your voice again. I refrain from saying "Thank you" or "Goodbye" today. I would rather ask you to continue teaching me. I hope you will always be a light for Japanese baseball."
Japan Times
18 hours ago
- Japan Times
Junto Nakatani wins slugfest against Ryosuke Nishida to unify WBC and IBF titles
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Kyodo News
19 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Funeral held for Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima
KYODO NEWS - 5 hours ago - 17:22 | Sports, All A private funeral was held Sunday in Tokyo for Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima, with former Yomiuri Giants teammates and players he managed at the club in attendance. The People's Honor Award recipient, who rose to stardom for his on-field exploits during the country's era of rapid economic growth in the 1960s and 1970s, died Tuesday of pneumonia at age 89. His popularity transcended sports. "You brought pride to the people of Japan," Nippon Professional Baseball all-time home run leader Sadaharu Oh said in a message to Nagashima during the funeral. Oh and Nagashima, together nicknamed "O-N," led the Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973. After his storied 17-year playing career, Nagashima managed the Tokyo-based club. "Shigeo Nagashima will always be with me," former New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui said. "And that makes me happy." During his second stint as manager, Nagashima helped Matsui become Yomiuri's cleanup hitter. Matsui went on to play in the major leagues from 2003. Related coverage: Tributes to Nagashima pour in from Japanese sports world Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dead at 89
