Funeral held for Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima
KYODO NEWS - 20 minutes 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.
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Tributes to Nagashima pour in from Japanese sports world
Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dead at 89
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A funeral for Japanese baseball superstar Shigeo Nagashima, who died on Tuesday, aged 89, was held in Tokyo on Sunday. A total of 96 people, including his relatives and former Yomiuri Giants players and managers, attended the funeral and bid farewell to the legendary former hitter for the popular Tokyo-based Central League team. Nagashima, nicknamed "Mr. Professional Baseball" for his commanding performances and presence, served as Giants manager after retiring as a player. An altar decorated with orange-colored flowers, representing one of the Giants' team colors, was set up at the funeral venue, together with a bat and Nagashima's jersey. 'Every move Nagashima made on the field captivated fans across Japan,' said Sadaharu Oh, a fellow baseball superstar who played alongside him as a hitter for the Giants and later managed the team, in a memorial address at the funeral. "He shined like the sun and was truly special," said Oh, now chairman of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, a professional baseball team in the Pacific League. Hideki Matsui, who was also a former Giants slugger, was coached by Nagashima after joining the team. "I want to hear his voice now," said Matsui, who also played for the New York Yankees and other U.S. major league teams. Nagashima's second daughter, Mina, who served as chief mourner at the funeral, addressed the attendees, saying, "I think my father is continuing his daily walk and training in heaven." "On a sunny day, I hope you will look up at the sky and remember my father," she added. Nagashima's coffin was transported from his home in Tokyo to the funeral venue. The wake held Saturday night was attended by Shinnosuke Abe, the Giants' current manager, and Giants hitter Kazuma Okamoto, among others.
The Mainichi
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Funeral held for Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- 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.
