Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dies at 89

Rest in peace.

Never heard of him

Sad news. He was an all round decent guy.

Sorry to hear this news, great man.

From 1960 to the present the number of US pro baseball teams nearly doubled, from 16 to 30. Japan Pro baseball has remained stagnant at 12. Suggestions to expand either domestically or internationally, such as by playing games with pro teams in Taiwan or South Korea, have never gone anywhere. I'd like to see the sport become more international -- as has happened with soccer -- so that star players like Oh and Nagashima can perform and be appreciated by international audiences. That would, of course, also mean more foreign players on Japanese teams than there are at present.

RIP Mr Giants.

Sad day for Japan.

An enormous name to Japanese people, but almost completely unknown outside of Japan. I remember his appearence at the olympics, where he looked very frail indeed, but I think it meant a lot to the older Japanese generation for him to be there.

Never heard of him

These posts are the best. Very constructive.

A hero to many older Japanese people I knew.

@NCIS where they going to find talent for more teams? Doesnt make sense to expand.

He had a stroke years ago and became frail after that. But he lived to a ripe old age. Bless him. I enjoyed watching the Yomiuri Giants when he was 監督.

RIP to Mr Giants. A lot of older Japanese will be reminiscing today.

Never heard of him

You've never heard of Japanese baseball then.

RIP Shigeo Nagashima San, that was a good run.

Mr Giants have a great after life.

Definitely a great baseball player and a legend. Thank you very much for your service, talent, and memories.

NCIS Reruns

From 1960 to the present the number of US pro baseball teams nearly doubled, from 16 to 30. Japan Pro baseball has remained stagnant at 12. Suggestions to expand either domestically or internationally, such as by playing games with pro teams in Taiwan or South Korea, have never gone anywhere.

12 teams is just about the right number for a country this size. A baseball team is an expensive endeavor, which needs fan support to buy tickets, buy goods, and watch broadcasts. More teams will draw fans away from existing teams, lowering revenue per team.

canigetawhatwhat

@NCIS where they going to find talent for more teams? Doesnt make sense to expand.

There's plenty of talent, as can be seen in August during the Koshien HS tournament, as well as foreign players. The reason why expansion wouldn't work is simply a financial one.

He must have been very impressed with Mr. Dodgers, Otani, RIP!

He definitely was a legend in the Pantheon of Japanese sports.

RIP.

Probably most young Japanese havent really heard about him

But that's no reason to besirch his legacy

He was a national hero, a role model for several generations of Japanese, and to my knowledge was a scandal free public figure of impeccable character. I don't get all the down votes here.

He was somewhat of a god here back in the 70s. He was on a lot of posters everywhere. He was bigger than Oh even though I was a bigger Oh fan. Most American ball fans know Oh but no Nagashima.

I'm "anti-Giants" now but back in the day, I had a Yomiuru Giants cap like pretty much every kid in Japan did. Goodbye, "Mr. Giants."

@syniksan Perhaps you are not a fan of baseball, but at least show some respect now that you have!!

"Never heard of him"

I didn't know of him when he was a player, but I have fond memories of him as a manager. The "wacky phrases" made me smile. And I think it was he who once forgot to take his son home one day - that made me smile even more. Thanks for the warm feelings.

He was a national hero, a role model for several generations of Japanese, and to my knowledge was a scandal free public figure of impeccable character. I don't get all the down votes here.

You get the down votes because not is all as it seems. He certainly wasnt "loved" by all, and had plenty of detractors in his life as well.

Respectful farewell. RIP Mr. Shigeo Nagashima.