Latest news with #JapaneseBaseball
CNA
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Ohtani leads tributes as Japan's 'Mr Pro Baseball' dies at 89
TOKYO: Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani led the tributes to Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima following his death on Tuesday (Jun 3) aged 89. Known as "Mr Pro Baseball", Nagashima starred for Japan's most popular team, the Yomiuri Giants, winning nine straight Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973. He formed a lethal partnership with Sadaharu Oh, who holds the world record for hitting the most home runs, and the pair are credited with cementing baseball's status as Japan's favourite sport. Their batting exploits captivated a Japanese public enjoying new economic prosperity out of the ruins of World War II, with families tuning in to watch games on black and white televisions. Nagashima's outsized personality and easy charisma made him a popular public figure and symbol of a confident new Japan. He hit a dramatic walk-off home run to seal a win for the Giants in the first professional game ever attended by Japan's emperor in 1959. "May your soul rest in peace," Ohtani wrote on Instagram to his 9.5 million followers, along with a picture of himself with Nagashima. Oh also paid tribute, telling reporters that he was "really shocked" to learn of his former teammate's death. "I'm really disappointed that Mr Nagashima, who shines brightly in the history of Japanese baseball, has departed after a long bout with illness," the 85-year-old Oh was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency. "He taught me a lot of things. I'm grateful to have been able to play with him." Nagashima retired in 1974 after a 17-year playing career during which he won the Central League batting title six times and was home run king twice. He played in 2,186 games and hit 444 home runs. He also had two stints as the Giants' manager, winning two Japan Series titles over 15 seasons.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani pays emotional tribute to baseball legend after his death
Shohei Ohtani has paid an emotional tribute to Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima on social media after his passing on Tuesday at age 89. Ohtani had met the baseball legend on a few occasions, most recently during MLB's Japan series earlier this year. Nagashima died of pneumonia, with Ohtani leading the tributes to one of the greatest to ever play in the professional leagues in Japan. 'We sincerely pray for the repose of your soul,' Ohtani said on Instagram, with a trio of photos of the duo together. Two of the photos are from earlier this year with a third being from earlier in Ohtani's professional career. When playing professionally in Japan, Ohtani suited up for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters who share a stadium with the Yomiuri Giants, who Nagashima had a long playing career for and two stints as a manager. Nagashima was a third baseman for the Giants from 1958 through 1974, the only professional team he was ever affiliated with. Upon his retirement, he was named the Giants' manager, changing the style of the team that more fit his persona. After his shocking firing as manger in 1980, he was brought back to the Giants in 1992, where he stayed until 2001. The biggest star for the Giants during Nagashima's second tenure as coach was former New York Yankees' outfielder Hideki Matsui. Nagashima's 444 home runs rank No 15 all time in Japanese baseball. Ohtani will play in his first game since Nagashima's passing on Tuesday night against the New York Mets.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Ohtani leads tributes as Japan's ‘Mr Pro Baseball' dies at 89
Shigeo Nagashima's outsized personality and easy charisma made him a popular public figure. (Jiji Press/AFP pic) TOKYO : Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani led the tributes to Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima following his death today aged 89. Known as 'Mr Pro Baseball', Nagashima starred for Japan's most popular team, the Yomiuri Giants, winning nine straight Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973. He formed a lethal partnership with Sadaharu Oh, who holds the world record for hitting the most home runs, and the pair are credited with cementing baseball's status as Japan's favourite sport. Their batting exploits captivated a Japanese public enjoying new economic prosperity out of the ruins of World War II, with families tuning in to watch games on black and white televisions. Nagashima's outsized personality and easy charisma made him a popular public figure and symbol of a confident new Japan. He hit a dramatic walk-off home run to seal a win for the Giants in the first professional game ever attended by Japan's emperor in 1959. 'May your soul rest in peace,' Ohtani wrote on Instagram to his 9.5 million followers, along with a picture of himself with Nagashima. Oh also paid tribute, telling reporters that he was 'really shocked' to learn of his former teammate's death. 'I'm really disappointed that Mr Nagashima, who shines brightly in the history of Japanese baseball, has departed after a long bout with illness,' the 85-year-old Oh was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency. 'He taught me a lot of things. I'm grateful to have been able to play with him.' Nagashima retired in 1974 after a 17-year playing career during which he won the Central League batting title six times and was home run king twice. He played in 2,186 games and hit 444 home runs. He also had two stints as the Giants' manager, winning two Japan Series titles over 15 seasons. Japan's chief cabinet secretary said Nagashima was 'a sunny person'. 'He left so many brilliant records in the world of professional baseball for many years and gave bright dreams and hopes to society as a national star,' he said.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Japan's ‘Mr Pro Baseball' Shigeo Nagashima dies at 89, Ohtani leads tribute
TOKYO, June 3 — Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani led the tributes to Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima following his death on Tuesday aged 89. Known as 'Mr. Pro Baseball', Nagashima starred for Japan's most popular team, the Yomiuri Giants, winning nine straight Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973. He formed a lethal partnership with Sadaharu Oh, who holds the world record for hitting the most home runs, and the pair are credited with cementing baseball's status as Japan's favourite sport. Their batting exploits captivated a Japanese public enjoying new economic prosperity out of the ruins of World War II, with families tuning in to watch games on black and white televisions. Nagashima's outsized personality and easy charisma made him a popular public figure and symbol of a confident new Japan. He hit a dramatic walk-off home run to seal a win for the Giants in the first professional game ever attended by Japan's emperor in 1959. 'May your soul rest in peace,' Ohtani wrote on Instagram to his 9.5 million followers, along with a picture of himself with Nagashima. Oh also paid tribute, telling reporters that he was 'really shocked' to learn of his former team-mate's death. 'I'm really disappointed that Mr. Nagashima, who shines brightly in the history of Japanese baseball, has departed after a long bout with illness,' the 85-year-old Oh was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency. 'He taught me a lot of things. I'm grateful to have been able to play with him.' Nagashima retired in 1974 after a 17-year playing career during which he won the Central League batting title six times and was home run king twice. He played in 2,186 games and hit 444 home runs. He also had two stints as the Giants' manager, winning two Japan Series titles over 15 seasons. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said Nagashima was 'a sunny person'. 'He left so many brilliant records in the world of professional baseball for many years and gave bright dreams and hopes to society as a national star,' he said. — AFP
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ohtani leads tributes as Japan's 'Mr. Pro Baseball' dies at 89
This picture taken on November 5, 1965 shows Shigeo Nagashima of the Yomiuri Giants (STR) Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani led the tributes to Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima following his death on Tuesday aged 89. Known as "Mr. Pro Baseball", Nagashima starred for Japan's most popular team, the Yomiuri Giants, winning nine straight Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973. Advertisement He formed a lethal partnership with Sadaharu Oh, who holds the world record for hitting the most home runs, and the pair are credited with cementing baseball's status as Japan's favourite sport. Their batting exploits captivated a Japanese public enjoying new economic prosperity out of the ruins of World War II, with families tuning in to watch games on black and white TV sets. Nagashima's outsized personality and easy charisma made him a popular public figure and symbol of a confident new Japan. He hit a dramatic walk-off home run to seal a win for the Giants in the first professional game ever attended by Japan's emperor in 1959. Advertisement "May your soul rest in peace," Ohtani wrote on Instagram to his 9.5 million followers. Nagashima retired in 1974 after a 17-year playing career during which he won the Central League batting title six times and was home run king twice. He played in 2,186 games and hit 444 home runs. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said Nagashima was "a sunny person". "He left so many brilliant records in the world of professional baseball for many years, and gave bright dreams and hopes to society as a national star," he said. amk-hih/pst
