Shigeo Nagashima: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{Short description|Japanese baseball player and manager (1936–2025)}} | ||
{{ | {{Distinguish|Shigeo Nakajima}} | ||
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} | |||
{{Infobox baseball biography | {{Infobox baseball biography | ||
| name = Shigeo Nagashima<br/>長嶋 茂雄 | | name = Shigeo Nagashima<br/>長嶋 茂雄 | ||
| image = | | image = Shigeo-Nagashima-1.png | ||
| image_size = | | image_size = | ||
| caption = Nagashima in | | caption = Nagashima in 1962 | ||
| position = [[Third baseman]] | | position = [[Third baseman]] | ||
| birth_date = {{Birth date | | birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|02|20}} | ||
| birth_place = [[Sakura, Chiba]], Japan | | birth_place = [[Sakura, Chiba]], [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] | ||
| death_date = | | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|06|03|1936|02|20}} | ||
| death_place = [[Tokyo]], Japan | |||
| bats = Right | | bats = Right | ||
| throws = Right | | throws = Right | ||
| Line 28: | Line 30: | ||
| stat4label = [[Runs batted in]] | | stat4label = [[Runs batted in]] | ||
| stat4value = 1,522 | | stat4value = 1,522 | ||
|stat5label=Win–loss record | |stat5label = Win–loss record | ||
|stat5value=1,034–948 | |stat5value = 1,034–948 | ||
|stat6label=Winning % | |stat6label = Winning % | ||
|stat6value={{Winning percentage|1034|948}} | |stat6value = {{Winning percentage|1034|948}} | ||
|teams= | |teams= | ||
'''As player''' | '''As player''' | ||
*[[Yomiuri Giants]] ({{ | * [[Yomiuri Giants]] ({{Npby|1958}}–{{Npby|1974}}) | ||
'''As manager''' | '''As manager''' | ||
*[[Yomiuri Giants]] ({{ | * [[Yomiuri Giants]] ({{Npby|1975}}–{{Npby|1980}}, {{Npby|1993}}–{{Npby|2001}}) | ||
| highlights = | | highlights = | ||
| hoflink = Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame | | hoflink = Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame | ||
| Line 45: | Line 47: | ||
| hofmethod = | | hofmethod = | ||
|awards = | |awards = | ||
*11× [[Japan Series]] Champion (as a player) {{ | * 11× [[Japan Series]] Champion (as a player) ({{Npby|1961}}, {{Npby|1963}}, {{Npby|1965}}, {{Npby|1966}}, {{Npby|1967}}, {{Npby|1968}}, {{Npby|1969}}, {{Npby|1970}}, {{Npby|1971}}, {{Npby|1972}}, {{Npby|1973}}) | ||
* | * 2× [[Japan Series]] Champion (as a manager) ({{Npby|1994}}, {{Npby|2000}}) | ||
* | * [[Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Central League Rookie of the Year]] ({{Npby|1958}}) | ||
*5× [[Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Central League MVP]] ({{ | * 5× [[Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Central League MVP]] ({{Npby|1961}}, {{Npby|1963}}, {{Npby|1966}}, {{Npby|1968}}, {{Npby|1971}}) | ||
*4× [[Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award|Japan Series MVP]] ([[1963 Japan Series|1963]], [[1965 Japan Series|1965]], [[1969 Japan Series|1969]], [[1970 Japan Series|1970]]) | * 4× [[Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award|Japan Series MVP]] ([[1963 Japan Series|1963]], [[1965 Japan Series|1965]], [[1969 Japan Series|1969]], [[1970 Japan Series|1970]]) | ||
* [[Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize]] (1971) | * [[Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize]] (1971) | ||
* [[Yomiuri Giants#Retired numbers|Yomiuri Giants #3]] retired | * [[Yomiuri Giants#Retired numbers|Yomiuri Giants #3]] retired | ||
}} | }} | ||
[[File:Weeklybaseball 1958 04 16 (first-issue).jpg|thumb|right|200px|The magazine ''Weekly Baseball'' issue on 16 | [[File:Weeklybaseball 1958 04 16 (first-issue).jpg|thumb|right|200px|The magazine ''Weekly Baseball'' issue on April 16, 1958, featured Nagashima (left) and [[Tatsuro Hirooka]] (right) on the cover]] | ||
{{Nihongo|'''Shigeo Nagashima'''|長嶋 茂雄|Nagashima Shigeo|February 20, 1936 – June 3, 2025}} was a Japanese [[professional baseball in Japan|professional baseball]] player and manager. Nicknamed "Mr. Pro Baseball" of Japan and "Mr. Giants", Nagashima first began playing baseball in elementary school, before playing at his high school in [[Chiba Prefecture]] before playing as a third baseman for [[Rikkyo University]]. After winning the batting title for two straight years in the [[Tokyo Big6 Baseball League]], he made his professional debut in 1958 with the [[Yomiuri Giants]] after signing with them months prior. In his rookie season, he led the league in home runs and runs batted in, with 29 and 92 respectively, and ultimately received rookie of the year honors. Nagashima and [[Sadaharu Oh]] would later become a dual force in being the best hitters in the game, in which Nagashima won the season MVP award five times. After retiring in 1974, he became the manager of the Giants from 1975 to 1980, and again from 1993 to 2001; during this time, he won the [[Japan Series]] twice. | |||
Nagashima | |||
==Early life and amateur career== | |||
Nagashima was born on February 20, 1936, in [[Sakura, Chiba|Sakura]], [[Chiba Prefecture]], [[Japan]].<ref name=":0" /> He began playing in fourth grade of elementary school, and idolized [[Fumio Fujimura]], who was an infielder and pitcher for the [[Hanshin Tigers]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=長嶋茂雄 1936–2025 ミスターがいた時代【特集】：朝日新聞 |url=https://www.asahi.com/special/nagashimashigeo/ |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=[[The Asahi Shimbun]] |language=ja-JP}}</ref> Nagashima also played baseball at his local high school in Chiba Prefecture, and on the [[Rikkyo University]] baseball team in 1955–1957 as a third baseman.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=September 6, 2024 |title=長嶋茂雄さん死去 千葉・佐倉市出身で立教大卒 ゆかりの地では…ONコンビで一時代を築く |url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/shutoken/articles/101/024/31/ |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=[[NHK]] |language=ja}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=June 6, 2025 |title=＜自分の持っているもの、そのすべてを出し切ったら…＞プロ野球のみならず、大学野球人気を押し上げた長嶋茂雄さん。立教大学の後輩に遺した厳しくも温かいメッセージとは |url=https://fujinkoron.jp/articles/-/17284 |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=[[Fujin Kōron]] |language=ja}}</ref> During this period, he also won the batting title for two consecutive years in the [[Tokyo Big6 Baseball League]], in 1956 and 1957 respectively, and was given the Best Nine Award five seasons in a row at third base.<ref name=":2" /> | |||
By his senior year, scouts from every professional team wanted to sign Nagashima, and the [[Nankai Hawks]] and [[Hiroshima Carp]] were particularly active in recruiting Nagashima.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2025 |title=長嶋さんと広島 |url=https://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/articles/-/652279 |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=[[Chugoku Shimbun]] |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=長嶋茂雄が南海に入っていたらプロ野球「もしも、もしも・・・の物語」 |url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/v4?id=moshimo_nagashima0001 |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=[[Jiji Press]] |language=ja}}</ref> However, he instead signed with the Giants in 1958 for 18,000,000 [[yen]], the highest salary for a baseball player at the time.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
==Professional career== | ==Professional career== | ||
[[ | Nagashima made his professional debut in April 1958, and struck out in all four of his at-bats against [[Masaichi Kaneda]] (coincidentally, [[Sadaharu Oh]] also struck out in all of his at-bats in his debut game against Kaneda).<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2025 |title=【長嶋茂雄さんデビュー戦復刻】開幕戦で国鉄金田正一と対戦４打席４三振「ご覧の通りです」 |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e138ce14a1b7c7648cf410712158f94473f03996 |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=[[Yahoo Japan]] |language=ja}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last= |title=Sadaharu Oh |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/sadaharu-oh/ |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Regardless, Nagashima became the team's clean-up hitter by mid-season, and the Giants won the league championship.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=1958 Japan Central League |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=41783612 |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Nagashima led the league in [[Home run|home runs]] (29) and [[Run batted in|runs batted in]] (92), and was subsequently awarded [[Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|the rookie of the year award]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> He would have hit .300 with over 30 home runs and 30 steals in his rookie year, but he had one home run scratched off his record because he forgot to step on first base while rounding the bases after hitting a home run.<ref>''[[Hiragana Times]]'', "'Mr. Baseball' – The Legendary Uniform #3", Volume #294, April 2011, pp. 26–29.</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2025 |title=走攻守に華のあるプレーで魅了 空振りも絵になる長嶋茂雄さん |url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1076656 |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=[[Chunichi Shimbun]] |language=ja}}</ref> Regardless, he had a batting average of .305 and also stole 37 bases.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> The Giants would ultimately make it to the [[1958 Japan Series]] where they won the first three games; however, the opposing [[Nishitetsu Lions]] won the next four games in the seven-game series to overcome the 3–0 deficit.<ref name="NPB">{{cite web|url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/scores/nipponseries/linescore1958.html |script-title=ja:1958年度日本シリーズ 試合結果 |trans-title=1958 Japan Series Results |accessdate=June 8, 2025 |publisher=[[Nippon Professional Baseball]]| language=Japanese| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100325032528/http://bis.npb.or.jp/scores/nipponseries/linescore1958.html| archivedate= March 25, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Nagashima scored two home runs in the series.<ref name="NPB"/> | ||
Nagashima | Nagashima played perhaps his most well-known game on June 25, 1959, when the Japanese emperor [[Hirohito]] attended a baseball game for the first time.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2025 |title=希代のスター「長嶋茂雄」誕生の瞬間 1959年天覧試合のサヨナラ弾、プロ野球の礎築いた一振り |url=https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/409291 |access-date=June 8, 2025 |website=[[Tokyo Shimbun]] |language=ja}}</ref> Nagashima hit the game-winning home run off [[Minoru Murayama]], and rookie Sadaharu Oh also had a home run in the game.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harada |first=Akio |date=October 29, 2023 |title=【あの日】1959.6.25、天覧試合。後楽園球場で4番・長嶋が放ったサヨナラ弾 |url=https://sports.pen-and.co.jp/game-watched-by-emperor-showa/ |access-date=June 8, 2025 |website=sports.pen-and.co.jp |language=ja}}</ref> The Yomiuri Giants cleanup consisting of Oh batting third, and Nagashima batting fourth, were nicknamed the "ON Hou" (translated to: "Oh-Nagashima Cannon") as Nagashima continued his hitting prowess, and Oh emerged as the best hitter in the league.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2025 |title=史上最強コンビ「ON」 アベック本塁打106回―王と長嶋 |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6e706eb67dafac9deebf881615f461ecc89d8b72 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Yahoo Japan]] |language=ja}}</ref> The Giants won the league championship nine years in a row from 1965 to 1973, and Oh and Nagashima dominated the batting titles during this period.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last= |date=June 3, 2025 |title=長嶋茂雄さん 記憶に残る数々の偉業・名言 |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250603/k10014824151000.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[NHK]]}}</ref> Nagashima won the season [[Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP award]] five times, and the [[Best Nine Award]] every single year of his career (a total 17 times).<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2025 |title=「真の超人、天才打者」長嶋茂雄さんの現役時代の成績に、野球ファン仰天「プロ17年で、ベストナイン17回、オールスター17回って…」「やっぱりミスタープロ野球」 |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/78ccc1850a5ba994eadb3afb084ca8602ab9d36b |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Yahoo Japan]] |language=ja}}</ref> As a result of his dominant performances with the Giants, he was nicknamed "Mr. Pro Baseball" of Japan and "Mr. Giants".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Jason |date=June 3, 2025 |title=Nagashima, 'Mr. Pro Baseball' of Japan, dies at 89 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/shigeo-nagashima-dies |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[MLB.com]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> | ||
After winning his sixth batting title in 1971, Nagashima suddenly fell into a hitting slump and no longer posted the batting statistics he had previous achieved in his younger years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2020 |title=巨人２５００勝決めた長嶋茂雄の一振り…６０００勝まであと１勝 |url=https://hochi.news/articles/20200514-OHT1T50248.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=Hochi News |language=ja}}</ref> The team wanted Nagashima to take over as manager after [[Tetsuharu Kawakami]], who had led the team for 14 years, and Nagashima doubled as a player and a coach in his final seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2025 |title=じつは"非情な監督"長嶋茂雄は巨人退任時「もう一人の長嶋を作りたい」と嘆いた…「わがままは許されない」超一流バッターでも送りバント |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5101c6cb8e95e904130664711d8c07946c588c4f |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Yahoo Japan]] |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2013 |title=川上哲治・元巨人監督が死去 打撃の神様、Ｖ９の名監督 |url=https://www.giants.jp/news/16586/ |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Yomiuri Giants]] |language=ja}}</ref> In 1974, the [[Chunichi Dragons]] won the league championship, breaking the nine-year streak held by the Giants, and Nagashima played his final game on October 14 against the Dragons, grounding out to short for a double-play in his last at-bat. The game was followed by an elaborate retirement ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2025 |title=長嶋茂雄の"ラストゲーム"は若手と控えで…引退試合か優勝パレードか 日程重なった巨人と中日の譲れない思い |url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1077210 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Chunichi Shimbun]] |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2025 |title=長嶋茂雄とドラゴンズ、数奇な因縁を追憶 ― すれ違い、奪われ、それでも"ナガシマさんは特別だった" |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/fd694807ae7ea678a537e987794dc64eec182a91 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Yahoo Japan]] |language=ja}}</ref> | |||
After winning his sixth batting title in 1971, Nagashima suddenly fell into a hitting slump | |||
==Managerial career== | ==Managerial career== | ||
Nagashima's appointment as manager of the Yomiuri Giants was announced | Nagashima's appointment as manager of the Yomiuri Giants was announced on November 21, 1974, one month after his retirement, and was given control of the team in the same month.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ミスタージャイアンツ 長嶋茂雄（監督編） |url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/slides// |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Yomiuri Shimbun]] |language=ja}}</ref> He recruited third baseman [[Davey Johnson]] from the majors, who became the first ever non-Japanese player to play for the Giants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=大物選手を積極補強、80年代はクロマティが活躍…歴代外国人選手診断【巨人編】 |url=https://sportsbull.jp/p/431783/ |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=sportsbull.jp |language=ja}}</ref> However, the Giants ended the season in last place for the first time in the team's history.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2025 |title=長嶋氏、監督で5度のリーグ制覇 日本一2度、指導者でも人気 |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2249016479f8b91a398a9d3ac766eab72cdc9263 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Yahoo Japan]] |language=ja}}</ref> Despite this, Nagashima made further changes and the Giants quickly re-assumed their dominant position in the [[Central League]], winning league championships in 1976 and 1977.<ref name=":9" /> | ||
The Giants lost the pennant to the [[Yakult Swallows]] in 1978, | The Giants lost the pennant to the [[Yakult Swallows]] in 1978,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=年度別成績 1978年 セントラル・リーグ |url=http://npb.jp/bis/yearly/centralleague_1978.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=npb.jp |language=ja}}</ref> and in the off-season of the same year, Nagashima and the Giants were involved in a huge controversy concerning the drafting of pitcher [[Suguru Egawa]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Malcolm |first=Andrew H. |date=February 19, 1978 |title=College Pitcher Stirs Disputes in Japan Over Pro Draft Rule |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/02/19/archives/college-pitcher-stirs-disputes-in-japan-over-pro-draft-rule-and-the.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The Giants ended in fifth place in 1979 with a 58–62 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1979 Japan Central League |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=70974d67 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Criticism towards Nagashima increased, the team's owners decided to fire Nagashima during the 1980 season.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2025 |title=Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dead at 89 |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/47875e53fa39-urgent-japanese-baseball-legend-nagashima-dead-at-89-yomiuri-newspaper.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Kyodo News]]}}</ref> Nagashima's immense popularity caused controversy among the fans after his firing, and the ''[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]'' experienced a significant decrease in publications after Nagashima's firing, with some people angered at its "misreporting" of the situation.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=December 19, 2024 |title=【悼む】渡辺氏も動揺した〝長嶋監督解任騒動〟 |url=https://www.sanspo.com/article/20241219-YFK4AKU3OBMP7HX7MVDDTJHSB4/ |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Sankei Sports]] |language=ja}}</ref> | ||
Nagashima returned to the Yomiuri Giants for the 1993 season, when [[Tsuneo Watanabe]] became the new owner of the team in 1996 (Watanabe had a long-lasting affiliation with Nagashima).<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |date=June 3, 2025 |title=Nagashima, Japan's popular 'Mr. Pro Yakyu,' dies at 89 |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15816758 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250603154339/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15816758 |archive-date=June 3, 2025 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=December 20, 2024 |title=渡辺恒雄さん死去 98歳 球界や政界などから悼む声 |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20241219/k10014672231000.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[NHK]] |language=ja}}</ref> In the 1992 draft, he won the lottery to sign [[Hideki Matsui]], who would become the new star of the Giants during Nagashima's second run as manager.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2025 |title=Farewell held for Japanese baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250609_07/ |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[NHK]] |language=en}}</ref> The Giants won the Central League Pennant in 1994, 1996, and 2000, winning the Japan Series in 1994 and 2000, and he managed the team until 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2025 |title=Baseball: Hideki Matsui pays final respects to Nagashima at private viewing |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/c183ee864c29-baseball-matsui-pays-final-respects-to-nagashima-at-private-viewing.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Kyodo News]]}}</ref> For the [[2000 Japan Series]], Nagashima was managing against his former teammate, Sadaharu Oh, who was the manager for the [[Fukuoka Daiei Hawks]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2025 |title=Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima passes away at 89 |url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/japanese-baseball-legend-shigeo-nagashima-passes-away-at-89 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[World Baseball Softball Confederation]]}}</ref> | |||
In 2002, it was announced that he would lead the Japanese Olympic baseball team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=長嶋茂雄にはオリンピックがよく似合う |url=https://www.ssf.or.jp/knowledge/history/olympic_athlete/28.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=Sasakawa Sports Foundation |language=ja}}</ref> The team (consisting entirely of players from the Japanese professional leagues) beat China, Taiwan, and Korea to win the Asia tournament in November 2003, but Nagashima suffered a stroke in March 2004, and was unable to travel to the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens Olympics]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web|title=Shigeo Nagashima, known in Japan as 'Mr. Pro Baseball,' dies at 89 |url=https://apnews.com/article/shigeo-nagashima-baseball-japan-da9d28bf17a6b34ed2093fdf3cea8559 |website=[[AP News]] |date=June 3, 2025 |access-date=June 3, 2025}}</ref> The team ended up with a bronze medal in the Olympics after losing to Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2025 |title=Japanese pro baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo dies |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/4051/ |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[NHK]] |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==Personal life and recognition== | |||
[[File:Shigeo Nagashima 20211103.jpg|thumb|Nagashima in 2021|267x267px]] | |||
Nagashima had four children. His eldest son, [[Kazushige Nagashima]], is a former professional baseball player, and currently works as a sportscaster. He also played for the Yomiuri Giants when his father was manager, and later became an actor and TV personality.<ref name=":0" /> His eldest daughter works as a businesswoman, and his younger daughter served as a newscaster.<ref name=":0" /> His youngest son is a professional race-car driver.<ref name=":0" /> Kazushige had twin daughters in 2004, making Nagashima a grandfather.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2018 |title=絶好調の長嶋一茂、ビジネス感覚に優れた妻の助言が奏功する |url=https://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20180715_718837.html?DETAIL |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=news-postseven.com |language=ja}}</ref> He lost his wife, Akiko, on September 18, 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dempsey |first=John |date=September 20, 2007 |title='61 KHS grad dies in Japan |url=https://www.kokomotribune.com/news/local_news/61-khs-grad-dies-in-japan/article_df29ef6b-a30c-52f4-8490-55cb1cb78db6.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=[[Kokomo Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref> | |||
His jersey number (3) is now a [[retired number]] for the Yomiuri Giants.<ref>''[[Hiragana Times]]'', "'Mr. Baseball' – The Legendary Uniform #3", Volume #294, April 2011, pp. 26–29.</ref> | |||
== | On May 5, 2013, Nagashima was awarded the [[People's Honour Award]], alongside [[Hideki Matsui]] whom he had picked in the 1992 draft.<ref>{{cite news|last=Coskrey|first=Jason|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/05/baseball/japanese-baseball/legends-matsui-nagashima-feted|title=Legends Matsui, Nagashima feted: Prime minister hands Yomiuri Giants legends People's Honor Award|date=May 5, 2013|newspaper=The Japan Times|accessdate=January 9, 2018|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/9243919/hideki-matsui-given-people-honor-award-japanese-pm|title=Hideki Matsui honored in Japan|work=ESPN|date=May 5, 2013|accessdate=June 9, 2025|quote=Matsui and his former manager with the Yomiuri Giants, Shigeo Nagashima, received the award, which is bestowed on those who have made significant achievements in their careers and are beloved by the public.}}</ref> In 2021, he received the [[Order of Culture]] for the first time as a former professional baseball player.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021102600557&g=pol|title= 長嶋茂雄さんら9人文化勲章 功労者に加山雄三さんら|access-date= October 26, 2021|work= Jiji.com}}</ref> Nagashima was one of the torchbearers at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]] in [[Tokyo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wtop.com/asia/2021/07/the-latest-cyclist-is-4th-czech-athlete-to-test-positive/|title=The Latest: Osaka lights cauldron at Tokyo opening ceremony|work=WTOP News |agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[WTOP-FM|WTOP]]|date=July 23, 2021|accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> | ||
Nagashima was one of the torchbearers | |||
On September 7, 2022, Nagashima was hospitalized after suffering a [[brain hemorrhage]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shigeo Nagashima Hospitalized After a Brain Hemorrhage|url=https://japan-forward.com/baseball-shigeo-nagashima-hospitalized-after-a-brain-hemorrhage | On September 7, 2022, Nagashima was hospitalized after suffering a [[brain hemorrhage]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shigeo Nagashima Hospitalized After a Brain Hemorrhage |url=https://japan-forward.com/baseball-shigeo-nagashima-hospitalized-after-a-brain-hemorrhage/ |access-date=April 2, 2023 |website=japan-forward.com |date=September 7, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He died in Tokyo on June 3, 2025, at the age of 89, from [[pneumonia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/baseball/20250603-258487/|title=Japan's Baseball Legend Shigeo Nagashima Dies at 89|newspaper=The Japan News|publisher=[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]|date=June 3, 2025}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|author=Ken Belson|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/obituaries/shigeo-nagashima-dead.html|title=Shigeo Nagashima, 'Mr. Baseball' of Postwar Japan, Dies at 89|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 2, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://japantoday.com/category/sports/Japanese-baseball-legend-Shigeo-Nagashima-dies-at-89|title=Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dies at 89|newspaper=[[The Japan Times]]|date=June 2, 2025}}</ref> He received a private funeral in Tokyo on June 7.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/a2fa525ce4c8-funeral-held-for-japanese-baseball-legend-shigeo-nagashima.html |title=Funeral held for Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima |work=Kyodo News|date=June 8, 2025}}</ref> | ||
== | ==Career statistics== | ||
===Player === | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;font-size:86%;" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;font-size:86%;" | ||
|+ | |+ Player statistics by season | ||
|- | |- | ||
! | ! | ||
| Line 107: | Line 101: | ||
!Year | !Year | ||
!G | !G | ||
! | !PA | ||
! | !AB | ||
! | !R | ||
! | !H | ||
! | !2B | ||
! | !3B | ||
!HR | !HR | ||
!TB | !TB | ||
!RBI | !RBI | ||
!SB | !SB | ||
! | !CS | ||
! | !Sac | ||
!SF | !SF | ||
! | !BB | ||
!IBB | !IBB | ||
! | !HBP | ||
!SO | !SO | ||
! | !GIDP | ||
!BA | !BA | ||
!OBP | !OBP | ||
| Line 130: | Line 124: | ||
!OPS | !OPS | ||
|- | |- | ||
|rowspan=" | |rowspan="18"|[[Yomiuri Giants]] | ||
| bgcolor="gold"|{{sort|00|1958}} | | bgcolor="gold"|{{sort|00|1958}} | ||
|{{sort|01|130}} | |{{sort|01|130}} | ||
| Line 187: | Line 181: | ||
|{{sort|00|71}} | |{{sort|00|71}} | ||
|{{sort|00|151}} | |{{sort|00|151}} | ||
|{{sort|00| | |{{sort|00|22}} | ||
|{{sort|00|12}} | |{{sort|00|12}} | ||
|{{sort|00|16}} | |{{sort|00|16}} | ||
| Line 469: | Line 463: | ||
|{{sort|00|4}} | |{{sort|00|4}} | ||
|{{sort|00|3}} | |{{sort|00|3}} | ||
|{{sort|00| | |{{sort|00|1}} | ||
|{{sort|00|1}} | |{{sort|00|1}} | ||
|{{sort|00|59}} | |{{sort|00|59}} | ||
| Line 580: | Line 574: | ||
|{{sort|00|.540}} | |{{sort|00|.540}} | ||
|{{sort|00|.919}} | |{{sort|00|.919}} | ||
|- | |||
| colspan="25" style="text-align: center;" | '''Source:''' Baseball-Reference<ref name=base-ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=nagash000shi|title= Shigeo Nagashima |work=Baseball-Reference|accessdate=June 3, 2025}}</ref> | |||
|} | |} | ||
== | ===Managerial record=== | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;font-size:86%;" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;font-size:86%;" | ||
|+ | |+ Managerial record by season | ||
|- | |- | ||
! | ! | ||
| Line 595: | Line 590: | ||
!Game | !Game | ||
!W | !W | ||
!L | |||
!D | !D | ||
!WA | !WA | ||
!GD | !GD | ||
| Line 603: | Line 598: | ||
!ERA | !ERA | ||
|- | |- | ||
|rowspan="15"|[[Yomiuri | |rowspan="15"|[[Yomiuri Giants]] | ||
|{{sort|00|1975}} | |{{sort|00|1975}} | ||
|{{sort|01|6th}} | |{{sort|01|6th}} | ||
| Line 794: | Line 789: | ||
|{{sort dash}} | |{{sort dash}} | ||
|{{sort dash}} | |{{sort dash}} | ||
|- | |||
| colspan="12" style="text-align: center;" | '''Source:''' Baseball-Reference<ref name=base-ref/> | |||
|} | |} | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[List of top Nippon Professional Baseball home run hitters]] | |||
*[[List of top Nippon Professional Baseball home run hitters]] | |||
== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{Commons category}} | |||
{{Baseballstats|brm=nagash000shi}} | {{Baseballstats|brm=nagash000shi}} | ||
| Line 819: | Line 815: | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagashima, Shigeo}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Nagashima, Shigeo}} | ||
[[Category:1936 births]] | [[Category:1936 births]] | ||
[[ | [[category:2025 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Baseball people from Chiba Prefecture]] | [[Category:Baseball people from Chiba Prefecture]] | ||
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Japan]] | |||
[[Category:Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]] | [[Category:Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]] | ||
[[Category:Japanese baseball players]] | [[Category:Japanese baseball players]] | ||
[[Category:Managers of baseball teams in Japan]] | [[Category:Managers of baseball teams in Japan]] | ||
[[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball MVP Award winners]] | [[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball MVP Award winners]] | ||
[[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball players with retired numbers]] | |||
[[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners]] | [[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners]] | ||
[[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball third basemen]] | [[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball third basemen]] | ||
[[Category:Olympic baseball managers]] | [[Category:Olympic baseball managers]] | ||
[[Category:People from Sakura, Chiba]] | |||
[[Category:People's Honour Award winners]] | [[Category:People's Honour Award winners]] | ||
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Culture]] | [[Category:Recipients of the Order of Culture]] | ||
| Line 834: | Line 832: | ||
[[Category:Yomiuri Giants managers]] | [[Category:Yomiuri Giants managers]] | ||
[[Category:Yomiuri Giants players]] | [[Category:Yomiuri Giants players]] | ||
Revision as of 12:51, 11 June 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox baseball biography
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Script error: No such module "Nihongo". was a Japanese professional baseball player and manager. Nicknamed "Mr. Pro Baseball" of Japan and "Mr. Giants", Nagashima first began playing baseball in elementary school, before playing at his high school in Chiba Prefecture before playing as a third baseman for Rikkyo University. After winning the batting title for two straight years in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League, he made his professional debut in 1958 with the Yomiuri Giants after signing with them months prior. In his rookie season, he led the league in home runs and runs batted in, with 29 and 92 respectively, and ultimately received rookie of the year honors. Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh would later become a dual force in being the best hitters in the game, in which Nagashima won the season MVP award five times. After retiring in 1974, he became the manager of the Giants from 1975 to 1980, and again from 1993 to 2001; during this time, he won the Japan Series twice.
Early life and amateur career
Nagashima was born on February 20, 1936, in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.[1] He began playing in fourth grade of elementary school, and idolized Fumio Fujimura, who was an infielder and pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers.[2] Nagashima also played baseball at his local high school in Chiba Prefecture, and on the Rikkyo University baseball team in 1955–1957 as a third baseman.[3][4] During this period, he also won the batting title for two consecutive years in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League, in 1956 and 1957 respectively, and was given the Best Nine Award five seasons in a row at third base.[4]
By his senior year, scouts from every professional team wanted to sign Nagashima, and the Nankai Hawks and Hiroshima Carp were particularly active in recruiting Nagashima.[5][6] However, he instead signed with the Giants in 1958 for 18,000,000 yen, the highest salary for a baseball player at the time.[1]
Professional career
Nagashima made his professional debut in April 1958, and struck out in all four of his at-bats against Masaichi Kaneda (coincidentally, Sadaharu Oh also struck out in all of his at-bats in his debut game against Kaneda).[7][8] Regardless, Nagashima became the team's clean-up hitter by mid-season, and the Giants won the league championship.[2][9] Nagashima led the league in home runs (29) and runs batted in (92), and was subsequently awarded the rookie of the year award.[2][10] He would have hit .300 with over 30 home runs and 30 steals in his rookie year, but he had one home run scratched off his record because he forgot to step on first base while rounding the bases after hitting a home run.[11][12] Regardless, he had a batting average of .305 and also stole 37 bases.[2][12] The Giants would ultimately make it to the 1958 Japan Series where they won the first three games; however, the opposing Nishitetsu Lions won the next four games in the seven-game series to overcome the 3–0 deficit.[13] Nagashima scored two home runs in the series.[13]
Nagashima played perhaps his most well-known game on June 25, 1959, when the Japanese emperor Hirohito attended a baseball game for the first time.[14] Nagashima hit the game-winning home run off Minoru Murayama, and rookie Sadaharu Oh also had a home run in the game.[14][15] The Yomiuri Giants cleanup consisting of Oh batting third, and Nagashima batting fourth, were nicknamed the "ON Hou" (translated to: "Oh-Nagashima Cannon") as Nagashima continued his hitting prowess, and Oh emerged as the best hitter in the league.[8][16] The Giants won the league championship nine years in a row from 1965 to 1973, and Oh and Nagashima dominated the batting titles during this period.[17] Nagashima won the season MVP award five times, and the Best Nine Award every single year of his career (a total 17 times).[17][18] As a result of his dominant performances with the Giants, he was nicknamed "Mr. Pro Baseball" of Japan and "Mr. Giants".[19][20]
After winning his sixth batting title in 1971, Nagashima suddenly fell into a hitting slump and no longer posted the batting statistics he had previous achieved in his younger years.[21] The team wanted Nagashima to take over as manager after Tetsuharu Kawakami, who had led the team for 14 years, and Nagashima doubled as a player and a coach in his final seasons.[22][23] In 1974, the Chunichi Dragons won the league championship, breaking the nine-year streak held by the Giants, and Nagashima played his final game on October 14 against the Dragons, grounding out to short for a double-play in his last at-bat. The game was followed by an elaborate retirement ceremony.[24][25]
Managerial career
Nagashima's appointment as manager of the Yomiuri Giants was announced on November 21, 1974, one month after his retirement, and was given control of the team in the same month.[26] He recruited third baseman Davey Johnson from the majors, who became the first ever non-Japanese player to play for the Giants.[27] However, the Giants ended the season in last place for the first time in the team's history.[28] Despite this, Nagashima made further changes and the Giants quickly re-assumed their dominant position in the Central League, winning league championships in 1976 and 1977.[29]
The Giants lost the pennant to the Yakult Swallows in 1978,[30] and in the off-season of the same year, Nagashima and the Giants were involved in a huge controversy concerning the drafting of pitcher Suguru Egawa.[31] The Giants ended in fifth place in 1979 with a 58–62 record.[32] Criticism towards Nagashima increased, the team's owners decided to fire Nagashima during the 1980 season.[28][33] Nagashima's immense popularity caused controversy among the fans after his firing, and the Yomiuri Shimbun experienced a significant decrease in publications after Nagashima's firing, with some people angered at its "misreporting" of the situation.[28][34]
Nagashima returned to the Yomiuri Giants for the 1993 season, when Tsuneo Watanabe became the new owner of the team in 1996 (Watanabe had a long-lasting affiliation with Nagashima).[20][35] In the 1992 draft, he won the lottery to sign Hideki Matsui, who would become the new star of the Giants during Nagashima's second run as manager.[36] The Giants won the Central League Pennant in 1994, 1996, and 2000, winning the Japan Series in 1994 and 2000, and he managed the team until 2001.[37] For the 2000 Japan Series, Nagashima was managing against his former teammate, Sadaharu Oh, who was the manager for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks.[29]
In 2002, it was announced that he would lead the Japanese Olympic baseball team.[38] The team (consisting entirely of players from the Japanese professional leagues) beat China, Taiwan, and Korea to win the Asia tournament in November 2003, but Nagashima suffered a stroke in March 2004, and was unable to travel to the Athens Olympics.[10] The team ended up with a bronze medal in the Olympics after losing to Australia.[39]
Personal life and recognition
Nagashima had four children. His eldest son, Kazushige Nagashima, is a former professional baseball player, and currently works as a sportscaster. He also played for the Yomiuri Giants when his father was manager, and later became an actor and TV personality.[1] His eldest daughter works as a businesswoman, and his younger daughter served as a newscaster.[1] His youngest son is a professional race-car driver.[1] Kazushige had twin daughters in 2004, making Nagashima a grandfather.[40] He lost his wife, Akiko, on September 18, 2007.[41]
His jersey number (3) is now a retired number for the Yomiuri Giants.[42]
On May 5, 2013, Nagashima was awarded the People's Honour Award, alongside Hideki Matsui whom he had picked in the 1992 draft.[43][44] In 2021, he received the Order of Culture for the first time as a former professional baseball player.[45] Nagashima was one of the torchbearers at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[46]
On September 7, 2022, Nagashima was hospitalized after suffering a brain hemorrhage.[47] He died in Tokyo on June 3, 2025, at the age of 89, from pneumonia.[48][1][49] He received a private funeral in Tokyo on June 7.[50]
Career statistics
Player
Managerial record
See also
References
External links
- Career statistics from Script error: No such module "String".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Template:Central League ROYs Template:Central League MVPs Template:Japan Series MVP Template:Matsutaro Shoriki Award Template:Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize Template:Yomiuri Giants Template:Yomiuri Giants managers Template:Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame Template:Authority control
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- ↑ Hiragana Times, "'Mr. Baseball' – The Legendary Uniform #3", Volume #294, April 2011, pp. 26–29.
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- ↑ Hiragana Times, "'Mr. Baseball' – The Legendary Uniform #3", Volume #294, April 2011, pp. 26–29.
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Categories:
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- 1936 births
- 2025 deaths
- Baseball people from Chiba Prefecture
- Deaths from pneumonia in Japan
- Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame inductees
- Japanese baseball players
- Managers of baseball teams in Japan
- Nippon Professional Baseball MVP Award winners
- Nippon Professional Baseball players with retired numbers
- Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners
- Nippon Professional Baseball third basemen
- Olympic baseball managers
- People from Sakura, Chiba
- People's Honour Award winners
- Recipients of the Order of Culture
- Rikkyo University alumni
- Yomiuri Giants managers
- Yomiuri Giants players