Hideki Matsui Returns to Tokyo Dome, Wearing Old Uniform No. 55
1:00 JST, May 5, 2023
Godzilla was back in a Yomiuri Giants uniform, and naturally it was No. 55.
Hideki Matsui returned to Tokyo Dome on Wednesday, but not to blast balls over the fence. The former Yomiuri and major league slugger threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Giants’ game against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Donning a Giants jersey with No. 55, the number he wore with the Central League club before moving across the Pacific, Matsui threw a strike before the appreciative holiday crowd of 40,716.
“I’m glad I could throw a good pitch,” the 48-year-old Matsui said. “I always like hearing the cheers of the crowd.”
Prior to the pitch, a video of Matsui’s first career home run as a pro was shown on the large screen. He had hit it 30 years earlier, almost to the day. It came on May 2, 1993, off the Swallows’ Shingo Takatsu — currently the Yakult manager.
“That was my first step as a pro,” Matsui said. “The Giants will always be my home.”
Nicknamed Godzilla for his prodigious power, Matsui joined Yomiuri out of high school and hit 332 home runs over 10 seasons. He moved to the New York Yankees in 2003 and played for three other teams in his final three seasons before retiring in 2012.
"Sports" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Shohei Ohtani Defied Ex-Interpreter’s Request to Cover Up Fraud, Report
-
Shohei Ohtani Makes Rare Public Appearance with Wife at Dodgers’ Charity Event
-
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 6 Shutout Innings Help Dodgers Finish Sweep, Defeat Nats 2-1
-
Shohei Ohtani Hits 176 MLB Homers; the Most by a Japanese-Born Player Surpassing Hideki Matsui
-
Interest in Hosting Olympics ‘Never So High’, Says IOC Boss
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Japan, U.S., Philippines to Strengthen Nickel Supply Chains; Reduce Reliance on China for Critical Minerals
- 70% of Japan Companies to Raise Pay Scales in FY 2024
- Core Consumer Prices Rise 2.8% in Fiscal 2023
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers