Baseball fans give retired Matsui a farewell to remember
Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui was afforded an emotional farewell to Major League Baseball, ending his glittering career as a New York Yankee after re-signing with his old team for less than two hours.
Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui was afforded an emotional farewell to Major League Baseball, ending his glittering career as a New York Yankee after re-signing with his old team for less than two hours.
Matsui's final game in the majors was for the Tampa Bay Rays last year but the Yankees signed him to a one-day contract so he could end his career at the team where he enjoyed his greatest success.
"I'd like to thank the Yankees organisation, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me this opportunity," Matsui said through a translator. "I officially announced my retirement last year, but to be able to come back in this manner. At the time, I never really imagined having this type of opportunity.
"To become a member of the Yankees and retire as a Yankee, I'm just so humbled and honoured."
After moving to the United States following a decade with the Yomiuri Giants, Matsui spent seven seasons with the Yankees between 2003 and 2009, batting .292 with 140 home runs and 597 runs batted in. A two-time All-Star, his crowning moment was in 2009 when he helped the Yankees win the World Series and was named as the most valuable player.