The Japanese Influence – NY Yankees

This entry was posted by on Monday, 12 March, 2012 at

March 12, 2012
Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

New York Yankees history will  note that pitcher Hideki Irabu was the first to bring fame to a  player from Japan pitching for the Yankees.  From the start of negotiations, it was Irabu’s decision that he would only pitch for the New York Yankees.  In 1977, under major league teams controversy, Irabu signed a 4-yr. , $12.8M contract with the Yankees.  The criticism by the teams on the negotiations for Hideki Irabu led to the creation of the “Posting System” currently used by Japan and Major League Baseball.

Hideki Irabu made his highly publicized Major League debut on 7/10/97 and pitched for the Yankees from 1997 until 1999.

During one Spring Training game, George M. Steinbrenner offended Irabu with a comment which criticized his weight.  Expectations were high.  Hideki Irabu was a pioneer player from Japan and he paid a price.
He developed an alcohol problem.

Hideki Irabu appeared in two World Series Championships, 1998 – 1999.  Despite only pitching in one postseason game and having no postseason decision, he was awarded two World Series rings.  He celebrated with the team during two parades down the Canyon of Heroes.  And, twice visited the White House and met the President of the United States with the World Series Champions New York Yankees.

After the 1999 season, the Yankees traded  Hideki Irabu to the Montreal Expos.  In 2002 he pitched for the Texas Rangers.  After 6 seasons of Major League Baseball, Irabu returned to Japan.  He never returned to the Major Leagues.

The gentle-man from Japan never achieved the success he sought, to make him proud to his nation as a pitcher in the Major Leagues.  On July 27, 2011, fourteen years after he signed his contract with the Yankees, Hideki Irabu sadly ended his life in California.

Fast forward Yankees/Japanese  player history to 2012:
Outfielder, Hideki Matsui – LHP,  Kei Igawa – RHP, Hiroki Kuroda.

Hiroki Kuroda made his 2nd start of 2012 Spring Training under the stars of  Steinbrenner (Legends) Field.
After losing his first start, he pitched for a no decison vs. the Astros in his second game.

Fourteen seasons later, it is a different time for baseball players from the “land of the rising sun”, Japan.

Stay tuned.

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