Japanese baseball legend dies aged 89

[ad_1] Michael Bristow Asia-Pacific editor

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e6cd/live/2cb6da10-4069-11f0-bace-e1270fc31f5e.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e6cd/live/2cb6da10-4069-11f0-bace-e1270fc31f5e.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e6cd/live/2cb6da10-4069-11f0-bace-e1270fc31f5e.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e6cd/live/2cb6da10-4069-11f0-bace-e1270fc31f5e.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e6cd/live/2cb6da10-4069-11f0-bace-e1270fc31f5e.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e6cd/live/2cb6da10-4069-11f0-bace-e1270fc31f5e.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e6cd/live/2cb6da10-4069-11f0-bace-e1270fc31f5e.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e6cd/live/2cb6da10-4069-11f0-bace-e1270fc31f5e.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images A photo of Shigeo Nagashima wearing a orange turtle neck jumper and a black leather jacket. He is waving. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures Former baseball participant Shigeo Nagashima, who was as soon as one among Japan's most well-known sports activities stars, has died aged 89.

He died of pneumonia at a hospital in Tokyo, based on an announcement launched by his former group the Yomiuri Giants.

Nicknamed Mr Giants, Nagashima received 9 straight titles with the group within the Nineteen Sixties and 70s, taking part in in 2,186 video games and hitting 444 residence runs.

Commenting on his dying, a authorities spokesman mentioned Nagashima had given society "shiny goals and hopes".

His means - and appeal - made him fashionable, at a time of accelerating financial prosperity and rising confidence in Japan.

"He taught me plenty of issues. I am grateful to have been in a position to play with him," his former teammate, Sadaharu Oh, was quoted as saying. Oh, 85, nonetheless holds the world file for hitting essentially the most residence runs, and collectively, referred to as "O-N", they had been a deadly group on the pitch.

Shohei Ohtani, who's at the moment one among Japan's most well-known baseballers, and performs for the LA Dodgers, posted images of himself with Nagashima on his Instagram web page.

"Might your soul relaxation in peace," the 30-year-old wrote.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ad3e/live/5a70fa70-406a-11f0-8347-7fad55b264e6.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ad3e/live/5a70fa70-406a-11f0-8347-7fad55b264e6.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ad3e/live/5a70fa70-406a-11f0-8347-7fad55b264e6.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ad3e/live/5a70fa70-406a-11f0-8347-7fad55b264e6.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ad3e/live/5a70fa70-406a-11f0-8347-7fad55b264e6.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ad3e/live/5a70fa70-406a-11f0-8347-7fad55b264e6.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ad3e/live/5a70fa70-406a-11f0-8347-7fad55b264e6.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ad3e/live/5a70fa70-406a-11f0-8347-7fad55b264e6.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A black and white photograph of Nagashima training on the baseball field. He is wearing the Giants uniform and a baseball cap." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures Shigeo Nagashima was a star from his first season with the Yomiuri Giants, and have become a family title throughout his taking part in profession

Nagashima, who additionally had the nickname Mr Professional Baseball, famously hit a profitable residence run on the first ever skilled baseball sport attended by the Japanese emperor, in 1959.

He retired in 1974 after a 17-year taking part in profession - profitable the Central League batting title six instances.

Nagashima additionally helped the Giants win two Japan Sequence titles over 15 seasons as their supervisor.

The nation's chief cupboard secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, mentioned Nagashima was "a sunny particular person".

"He left so many good information on the earth {of professional} baseball for a few years and gave shiny goals and hopes to society as a nationwide star," he mentioned.