The New York Yankees were, in 2001, on a four-year streak of World Series appearances, winning in 1998-2000 and losing in 2001.
That streak came to an end in the 2002 season.
The regular season was a success, as the team won 103 games.
However, they were shockingly eliminated in the Division Series in just four games against the Los Angeles Angels (then Anaheim Angels).
Owner George Steinbrenner wanted a major move to bolster the lineup.
He also didn’t mind expanding the Yankees brand to Japan, so he went out and brought in “Godzilla” himself.
“Hideki Matsui, 3-time MVP of Japan’s Central League, agreed to a deal with the New York Yankees OTD in 2002. Check out the first and last homers of his 10-year Major League career,” MLB tweeted on Tuesday.
Hideki Matsui, 3-time MVP of Japan’s Central League, agreed to a deal with the New York Yankees OTD in 2002.
Check out the first and last homers of his 10-year Major League career. pic.twitter.com/GNTr980sXH
— MLB (@MLB) December 19, 2023
Matsui, nicknamed Godzilla, was dominating the Japanese league back then.
He took on the challenge of joining the Yankees and ended up doing a very solid job.
In that 2003 debut season, he hit .287/.353/.435 with a .788 OPS, 42 doubles, and 16 home runs.
He then proceeded to hit 31 home runs the next year, and 23 in 2005.
In those first three years in the Bronx, he drove in 330 runs, an average of 110 per season.
He was tailor-made for the short porch and was also good with runners in scoring position.
He was one of the most feared hitters in the league those days, and his perseverance paid off in 2009 when he won his first (and only) World Series with the Yankees.
Yankees fans remember Matsui with a smile, and that’s all that matters.
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