2 days ago
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."
