Latest news with #People'sHonorAward
Kyodo News
2 days ago
- Sport
- 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
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
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.
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Funeral for Nagashima Held in Tokyo; ‘Mr. Pro Baseball' Honored in Tokyo Ceremony
The Yomiuri Shimbun A portrait of Shigeo Nagashima is seen during a funeral for the baseball legend in Tokyo on Sunday. The funeral of legendary Yomiuri Giants player and manager Shigeo Nagashima was held in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, on Sunday. Nagashima, one of Japan's most beloved sports figures and known as 'Mr. Pro Baseball,' died on Tuesday at 89. In addition to his family members, the 96 attendees of the service included Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Chairman Sadaharu Oh, with whom Nagashima formed the 'O-N' pair, a driving force for the Giants; and Tsuneo Horiuchi, former manager of the team. The altar was decorated with orange flowers, as Nagashima loved the Giants' team color. Among the items placed on the altar were a uniform with his number 3, which is now retired, the bat with which he made a walk-off home run during a game attended by Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun, and a golden commemorative bat made when Nagashima received the People's Honor Award from the government with his protege Hideki Matsui.
Kyodo News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
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. Related coverage: Tributes to Nagashima pour in from Japanese sports world Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dead at 89
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Baseball Stars, Mourners Pay Tribute to Yomiuri Giants Legend Shigeo Nagashima; Former Pro Hideki Matsui Pays Respects on Return from U.S.
The Yomiuri Shimbun Hideki Matsui stands before reporters after a condolence visit in Tokyo on Wednesday. Former professional baseball player Hideki Matsui on Wednesday visited the home of his mentor Shigeo Nagashima, the Yomiuri Giants lifetime honorary manager who died the previous day. Matsui, 50, who returned from the United States early in the morning, spent about two hours paying his respects to Nagashima, who was known as 'Mr. Pro Baseball.' 'I was shocked to hear that he had passed away,' Matsui said. 'I felt as though he had willpower and would open his eyes at any moment.' Matsui joined the Yomiuri Giants in 1993. Through one-on-one batting and other practice sessions with Nagashima, who was the team's manager at the time, Matsui became one of the most powerful hitters in professional baseball. Their mentor-mentee relationship continued even after Matsui joined the New York Yankees in 2003, laying the foundation for his impressive achievements, including hitting a combined 507 career home runs in Japan and the major leagues. He also won the World Series MVP award in 2009 with the Yankees. In 2013, Matsui received the People's Honor Award together with Nagashima. Mourners sign condolence book The Yomiuri Shimbun Mourners sign a condolence book for Shigeo Nagashima at the Giants Town Stadium in Inagi, Tokyo, on Wednesday. Mourners signed a condolence book for Nagashima at the main square of the Giants Town Stadium in Inagi, Tokyo, on Wednesday. Items such as a baseball uniform he wore during his prolific career and his cherished bat and glove were on display alongside photos at the memorial site set up at the new venue of the Yomiuri Giants' farm team. When the site opened at 9 a.m., about 30 people who had been waiting outside lined up to sign the book, with some shedding tears. 'He was a hero from my youth who gave me strength and encouragement at key moments in my life,' a 75-year-old from Nerima Ward, Tokyo, said. Signing of the condolence book will also be possible on Thursday.
