Hideki Matsui

Lore & Background

Matsui played the first 10 seasons of his career in Japan for NPB's Yomiuri Giants. During that span, he was a seven-time All-Star, three-time Japan Series champion, and three-time Central League Most Valuable Player (MVP). In 2003, Matsui transitioned to playing in MLB in North America, and spent his first seven seasons there with the New York Yankees. As a Yankee, he was a two-time All-Star and 2009 World Series champion, for which he was named the World Series MVP.

He is the first Asian player to win the award in league history. After becoming a free agent, Matsui had one-year stints with three other MLB teams: the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics, and Tampa Bay Rays. On July 28, 2013, Matsui signed a one-day minor league contract with the Yankees in order to officially retire with the team. During his 20-year playing career, Matsui hit 507 home runs, 332 in NPB and 175 in MLB. In 2018, Matsui was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

Reader's Guide

Hideki Matsui was born in Neagari, Ishikawa, Japan (later merged into Nomi, Ishikawa). He originally batted right-handed as a child but switched to batting left-handed after his brother insisted. He attended Seiryo High School in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, and participated in four National High School Baseball Tournaments at Koshien Stadium. In 1992, he drew five consecutive intentional walks in a game at Koshien.

Following high school, Matsui was drafted by the Yomiuri Giants in the first round and given uniform number 55. His breakout season came in 1996. He earned the nickname "Godzilla" in Japan, originally derisive due to skin problems but later representing his powerful hitting. In 2002, he made a cameo in the film Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.

Matsui signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Yankees on December 19, 2002. He made his MLB debut on March 31, 2003, against the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada, becoming the first Japanese player to debut in Canada. He hit a grand slam in his first game at Yankee Stadium. In 2005, he signed a four-year, $52 million deal.

He recorded his 2,000th combined hit in NPB and MLB on May 6, 2007. On August 5, 2007, he became the first Japanese player in MLB history to hit 100 home runs. On June 12, 2008, he hit a grand slam on his 34th birthday. On June 12, 2009, he hit a three-run home run on his 35th birthday.

On July 20, 2009, he hit a walk-off solo home run. On August 21, 2009, he hit two home runs and drove in a career-high seven runs. On September 19, 2009, he broke the Yankees' record for home runs in a single season by a designated hitter.

Did You Know?

• Matsui's streak of 1,250 consecutive games played in Japan was the second longest in NPB history.
• He turned down a $64 million, six-year offer from the Yomiuri Giants in 2001.