Hideki Matsui facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hideki Matsui |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Matsui with the New York Yankees in 2007
|
|||
| Outfielder / Designated hitter | |||
| Born: June 12, 1974 Neagari, Ishikawa, Japan |
|||
|
|||
| Professional debut | |||
| NPB: May 1, 1993, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| MLB: March 31, 2003, for the New York Yankees | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| NPB: October 30, 2002, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| MLB: July 22, 2012, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .304 | ||
| Home runs | 332 | ||
| Runs batted in | 889 | ||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .282 | ||
| Home runs | 175 | ||
| Runs batted in | 760 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
NPB
MLB
|
|||
 Baseball Hall of Fame |
|||
| Induction | 2018 | ||
| Vote | 91.3% | ||
| Hideki Matsui | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 松井 秀喜 | ||||
|
|||||
Hideki Matsui (松井 秀喜, Matsui Hideki, born June 12, 1974), often called "Godzilla", is a famous Japanese former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder and designated hitter. Matsui played for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Later, he joined Major League Baseball (MLB) in North America, playing for the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics, and Tampa Bay Rays. He was known for his powerful left-handed hitting.
Matsui spent his first 10 seasons playing baseball in Japan. There, he became a nine-time All-Star and won the Japan Series championship three times. He was also named the Central League Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times. In 2003, Matsui moved to MLB and played seven seasons with the New York Yankees. With the Yankees, he was a two-time All-Star and helped them win the 2009 World Series. He was even named the World Series MVP for his amazing performance. Matsui is the only Asian player ever to win this award. After leaving the Yankees, he played one season each for three other MLB teams before retiring. In 2018, Matsui was honored by being inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Contents
Hideki Matsui's Early Life
Hideki Matsui was born in Neagari, Ishikawa, Japan. This town later became part of Nomi, Ishikawa. When he was a child, Matsui first batted right-handed. But his older brother, who played with him and his friends, thought Matsui was too good. So, his brother told him he had to bat left-handed or stop playing. Matsui agreed and quickly became a very strong left-handed batter.
Matsui went to Seiryo High School in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. This school was famous for its baseball team. During high school, Matsui played in four National High School Baseball Tournaments. These big tournaments were held at Koshien Stadium. In one game in 1992, Matsui was given five intentional walks in a row. This means the other team purposely pitched the ball away from him so he couldn't hit it. This was seen as unfair, but it worked, and Matsui's team lost. People admired Matsui's calm reaction to this situation.
Professional Baseball Career
Playing in Japan: Yomiuri Giants
After high school, the Yomiuri Giants baseball team chose Matsui in the first round of their draft. They gave him jersey number 55. This number was special because it was the same number worn by Sadaharu Oh, who held the record for most home runs in a single season in Japan.
Matsui's first few seasons were quiet. But in 1996, he had a fantastic year. He hit for a .314 average, with 38 home runs and 99 RBIs. Matsui was named the MVP in the Japanese Central League three times (1996, 2000, and 2002). He helped his team reach the Japan Series four times, winning three championships (1994, 2000, and 2002). He also played in nine All-Star games in a row. Matsui led the league in home runs and RBIs three times (1998, 2000, and 2002). In his last season in Japan (2002), he hit 50 home runs. Over 10 seasons in Japan, Matsui played 1,268 games. He hit 332 home runs and had a .304 batting average. He also played in 1,250 games in a row, which was the second-longest streak in Japan.
Matsui became known to American media during his first Japan Series in 1994. This was because a baseball strike in America meant more attention was paid to the Japanese league.
In Japan, Matsui earned the famous nickname "Godzilla." This name came from his powerful hitting, like the giant movie monster. In 2002, he even had a small role in the movie Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.
Moving to America: New York Yankees
On December 19, 2002, Matsui signed a three-year contract to play for the New York Yankees. A big parade was held for him in Tokyo to celebrate him joining the Yankees. Many reporters followed him from Japan to America.
Matsui played his first MLB game on March 31, 2003, against the Toronto Blue Jays. He was the first Japanese player to make his MLB debut in Canada. He got an RBI single in his very first turn at bat. In his first home game at Yankee Stadium, he hit a grand slam. Matsui finished his first MLB season with a .287 batting average, 16 home runs, and 106 RBIs. In the 2003 MLB postseason, he became the first Japanese player to hit a home run in the World Series. This happened in Game Two of the 2003 World Series.
Matsui almost won the MLB Rookie of the Year Award. Some writers didn't vote for him because of his age, even though he was a rookie in MLB. The Yankees' owner, George Steinbrenner, felt Matsui was unfairly treated.
In 2004, Matsui had a great second season. He hit .298 with 31 home runs and 108 RBIs. He was chosen by fans to be an American League All-Star. In 2005, Matsui had his best MLB season so far, with a .305 batting average and 116 RBIs.
On November 15, 2005, Matsui signed a new four-year contract with the Yankees. This made him the highest-paid Japanese player in baseball at the time. In 2006, Matsui missed most of the season because of a wrist injury.
On May 6, 2007, Matsui got his 2,000th hit in his career, combining his hits from Japan and MLB. This earned him a spot in Japan's Golden Players Club. On August 5, 2007, Matsui became the first Japanese player in MLB history to hit 100 home runs.
In 2008, Matsui hit a grand slam on his 34th birthday. Later that month, he had to take time off due to knee pain. He returned as the team's main designated hitter. After the last game at the old Yankee Stadium, Matsui had surgery on his left knee.
On June 12, 2009, Matsui hit a three-run home run on his 35th birthday. On July 20, he hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. This gave the Yankees their fourth win in a row. On August 21, Matsui hit two home runs and had a career-high seven RBIs in one game. He was the first Yankee to get seven RBIs at Fenway Park since Lou Gehrig in 1930. Matsui was named MLB Clutch Performer of the Month for August. On September 19, Matsui hit his 26th home run of the season. This broke the Yankees' record for most home runs by a designated hitter in a single season.
In the 2009 World Series, Matsui helped the Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit incredibly well, with a .615 batting average, three home runs, and 8 RBIs. In Game 6, he tied a World Series record with six RBIs in one game. Even though he only started three games, his amazing performance earned him the World Series Most Valuable Player Award. He was the first Japanese-born player to win this award. Matsui also became the first player to win it as a full-time designated hitter. He joined baseball legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig as the only players to bat over .500 and hit three home runs in the same World Series.
Playing for Other MLB Teams
On December 16, 2009, Matsui signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He said he loved the Yankees, but felt the Angels really wanted him. On Opening Day of the 2010 season, Matsui hit a home run. He played in 145 games for the Angels, hitting 21 home runs and 84 RBIs.
On December 14, 2010, Matsui signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics. On April 3, 2011, Matsui got his 2,500th career hit, combining his hits from Japan and MLB. On July 20, 2011, he hit his 500th career home run.
On April 30, 2012, Matsui signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He joined their minor league team, the Durham Bulls. On May 29, 2012, Matsui was called up to the Rays. In his second turn at bat, he hit a two-run home run. Matsui played 10 seasons in both America (MLB) and Japan (NPB). He was the first player in history to do this. However, his hitting was not as strong, and he was released by the Rays on August 1.
Retirement from Baseball
On December 27, 2012, Hideki Matsui officially announced he was retiring from baseball. His retirement ceremony was held on May 5, 2013, at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The Japanese government honored him with the People's Honour Award.
On July 28, 2013, Matsui signed a special one-day contract with the New York Yankees. This allowed him to officially retire as a member of the team he loved. In 2015, Matsui returned to the Yankees as a special advisor to the general manager.
On January 15, 2018, Matsui was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He received 91.3% of the votes. At 43 years old, he became the youngest player ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Matsui was also one of the torchbearers for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Amazing Playing Streak
Hideki Matsui was known for playing many games in a row. He did not miss a single game in his first three seasons with the Yankees, playing 518 consecutive games. Before that, he played 1,250 games in a row with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. This means he played 1,768 professional baseball games in a row! Matsui holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive games played to start an MLB career.
On May 11, 2006, in his 519th game with the Yankees, Matsui broke his left wrist while trying to catch a ball. Even with the injury, he threw the ball back to the infield. He had surgery the next day. He returned to play for the Yankees on September 12. In his first turn at bat back, he got an RBI-single and had a great game.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
Hideki Matsui is also known for his kindness and generosity. He donated $500,000 to help victims of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Matsui also gave $620,000 to help people affected by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Japan. On March 21, 2015, Matsui and his former teammate Derek Jeter held a special baseball event. It was at the Tokyo Dome and helped children affected by the 2011 disaster. The event included a baseball clinic and a home run contest between Matsui and Jeter.
Hideki Matsui's Personal Life
On March 27, 2008, Matsui announced that he had gotten married in a private ceremony in New York. He met his wife in Japan after the 2006 baseball season. Matsui's first son was born in the United States around the time Matsui retired from baseball. As of 2016, Matsui lived in an apartment in New York City and had a home in Connecticut where he was raising his son. In January 2017, his wife gave birth to their second son. He continues to live in New York City.
See also
In Spanish: Hideki Matsui para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players from Japan
- History of baseball outside the United States
