This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ahoerstemeier (talk | contribs) at 14:37, 15 October 2004 (Reverted edits by 69.27.245.250 to last version by Ignignot). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 14:37, 15 October 2004 by Ahoerstemeier (talk | contribs) (Reverted edits by 69.27.245.250 to last version by Ignignot)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Hideki Matsui (Japanese: 松井 秀喜) (born June 12, 1974) is a Japanese Major League Baseball left fielder who plays for the New York Yankees. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.
Matsui was born in Neagari, Ishikawa, Japan. He started playing baseball when he was in elementary school, and participated in four National High School Baseball Tournaments at Koshien Stadium, once in the spring and three times in summer, during his high school years. In 1992, he drew five consecutive intentional walks in a game at Koshien and became a nationwide topic in Japan at that time, even though the strategy worked and his team lost. Matsui graduated from Seiryo-Highschool in Ishikawa and was drafted by the Yomiuri Giants in the first round. Based in Tokyo, the Giants are Japan's most famous team.
A three-time MVP in the Japanese Central League, Matsui has been nicknamed "Godzilla", and has generated excitement among fans. His hair style has prompted some of his Yankee teammates to jokingly refer to him as "Shemp". Many reporters and photographers have followed him from his home in Tokyo.
Matsui started every game with the Yankees in the 2004 season, extending his streak of consecutive games played to 325. Before that, he played in 1,573 consecutive games with Yomiuri. In the majors, Matsui is a career .292 hitter with 47 home runs and 214 RBI.
Related links
- Japanese baseball
- 2003 World Series
- List of Japanese baseball players
- History of baseball outside the United States
External links
- Hideki Matsui pages at: