Hideki Matsui
From BR Bullpen
Hideki Matsui (Godzilla)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 210 lb.
- High School Seiryo High School
- NPB Debut May 1, 1993
- NPB Final Game October 11, 2002
- MLB Debut March 31, 2003
- Born June 12, 1974 in Neagari, Ishikawa, Japan
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Biographical Information
Hideki Matsui played for the Yomiuri Giants for ten years. A huge power threat, he was expected to break Sadaharu Oh's NPB record of 55 home runs and was given uniform number 55, due to this. His highest total was 50 in 2002 in his final season in Japan. In 2003 he signed with the New York Yankees.
Matsui played in 1,768 consecutive games before fracturing his wrist while diving to catch a liner by Mark Loretta on May 12, 2006. He had played in 518 consecutive games to begin his MLB career, breaking the record previously held by Ernie Banks (424). Banks did it from 1953 to 1956 and he played shortstop during the streak. Al Simmons of the Philadelphia Athletics held the American League record of 394, from 1924 to 1926, playing the outfield during the streak. Both Banks and Al Simmons are Hall of Famers.
On May 6, 2007, Matsui reached 2,000 career hits between MLB and NPB. This made him the 46th member of the meikyukai.
Matsui was the first player ever to be named Japan Series MVP (2000) and World Series MVP (2009). Matsui's 6-RBI game in the 2009 Series tied Bobby Richardson's 49-year-old World Series record; it was only two years before Albert Pujols tied that duo. After securing that last honor, he became a free agent and signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the 2010 season. He became a member of the Oakland Athletics in 2011. On July 20, he his 500th homer between Japan and the United States, a solo shot against Duane Below of the Detroit Tigers. The 500 total included his 10 postseason homers hit in the U.S.
Record
In Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS, Matsui tied the record of 5 runs in a postseason game. He is the only player ever to have at least 5 runs and 5 RBI in the same postseason game.
Notable Achievements
- 2-time AL All-Star (2003 & 2004)
- 2009 World Series MVP
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 5 (2004, 2005, 2007, 2009 & 2010)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 1 (2004)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 4 (2003-2005 & 2007)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 3 (2004, 2005 & 2007)
- Won a World Series wih the New York Yankees in 2009
