Wikipedia

Shigeo Nagashima

Not to be confused with Shigeo Nakajima.

Shigeo Nagashima
長嶋 茂雄
Nagashima in 1962
Third baseman
Born: (1936-02-20)February 20, 1936
Sakura, Chiba, Japan
Died: June 3, 2025(2025-06-03) (aged 89)
Tokyo, Japan
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
NPB debut
April 5, 1958, for the Yomiuri Giants
Last appearance
October 14, 1974, for the Yomiuri Giants
NPB statistics
Batting average.305
Home runs444
Hits2,471
Runs batted in1,522
Win–loss record1,034–948
Winning %.522
Teams
As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards
Member of the Japanese
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction1988
The magazine Weekly Baseball issue on April 16, 1958, featured Nagashima (left) and Tatsuro Hirooka (right) on the cover

Shigeo Nagashima (長嶋 茂雄, Nagashima Shigeo; February 20, 1936 – June 3, 2025) 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

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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

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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

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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

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Nagashima in 2021

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

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Player

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Player statistics by season
League
Club Year G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR TB RBI SB CS Sac SF BB IBB HBP SO GIDP BA OBP SLG OPS
Yomiuri Giants 1958 130 550 502 89 153 34 8 29 290 92 37 10 1 6 36 15 5 53 3 .305 .353 .578 .931
1959 124 526 449 88 150 32 6 27 275 82 21 6 0 3 70 17 4 40 9 .334 .426 .612 1.038
1960 126 524 452 71 151 22 12 16 245 64 31 12 0 2 70 32 0 28 8 .334 .422 .542 .964
1961 130 543 448 84 158 32 9 28 292 86 14 11 1 5 88 35 1 34 14 .353 .456 .652 1.108
1962 134 584 525 69 151 38 5 25 274 80 18 7 0 3 51 7 5 61 14 .288 .354 .522 .876
1963 134 577 478 99 163 28 6 37 314 112 16 3 0 10 86 18 3 30 14 .341 .437 .657 1.094
1964 133 566 459 81 144 19 6 31 268 90 13 2 0 6 96 15 5 34 8 .314 .433 .584 1.017
1965 131 560 503 70 151 23 5 17 235 80 2 6 0 5 50 12 2 42 16 .300 .363 .467 .830
1966 128 543 474 83 163 31 3 26 278 105 14 7 0 8 58 14 3 39 17 .344 .413 .586 .999
1967 122 515 474 65 134 25 3 19 222 77 2 3 0 3 37 4 1 37 24 .283 .334 .468 .802
1968 131 569 494 80 157 21 4 39 303 125 8 3 1 5 66 12 3 74 19 .318 .398 .613 1.011
1969 126 546 502 71 156 23 2 32 279 115 1 1 0 4 38 1 24 58 15 .311 .359 .556 .915
1970 127 525 476 56 128 22 2 22 220 105 1 2 0 9 40 1 0 52 15 .269 .320 .462 .782
1971 130 547 485 84 155 21 2 34 282 86 4 3 1 1 59 8 2 45 20 .320 .395 .581 .976
1972 125 520 448 64 119 17 0 27 217 92 3 2 0 8 63 11 1 34 23 .266 .352 .484 .836
1973 127 530 483 60 130 14 0 20 204 76 3 2 1 8 37 3 1 35 20 .269 .318 .422 .740
1974 128 476 442 56 108 16 1 15 171 55 2 1 1 4 24 0 5 33 18 .244 .288 .387 .675
Career total 2186 9201 8094 1270 2471 418 74 444 4369 1522 190 81 5 90 969 205 43 729 257 .305 .379 .540 .919
Source: Baseball-Reference[51]

Managerial record

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Managerial record by season
League
Club Year Pos Game W L D WA GD HR BA ERA
Yomiuri Giants 1975 6th 130 47 76 7 .382 27.0 117 .236 3.53
1976 1st 130 76 45 9 .628 (2.0) 167 .280 3.58
1977 1st 130 80 46 4 .635 (15.0) 181 .280 3.48
1978 2nd 130 65 49 16 .570 3.0 136 .270 3.61
1979 5th 130 58 62 10 .483 10.5 154 .259 3.85
1980 2nd 130 61 60 9 .504 14.0 153 .243 2.95
1993 3rd 131 64 66 1 .492 16.0 105 .238 3.22
1994 1st 130 70 60 0 .538 (1.0) 122 .258 2.41
1995 3rd 131 72 58 1 .554 10.0 139 .2526 3.40
1996 1st 130 77 53 0 .592 (5.0) 147 .253 3.47
1997 4th 135 63 72 0 .467 20.0 150 .251 3.69
1998 3rd 135 73 62 0 .541 6.0 148 .267 3.74
1999 2nd 135 75 60 0 .556 6.0 182 .265 3.84
2000 1st 135 78 57 0 .578 (8.0) 203 .263 3.34
2001 2nd 140 75 63 2 .543 3.0 196 .271 4.45
Career total 1982 1034 889 59 .538 — — — —
Source: Baseball-Reference[51]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Ken Belson (June 2, 2025). "Shigeo Nagashima, 'Mr. Baseball' of Postwar Japan, Dies at 89". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b c d "長嶋茂雄 1936–2025 ミスターがいた時代【特集】：朝日新聞". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  3. ^ "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". NHK (in Japanese). September 6, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "＜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". Fujin Kōron (in Japanese). June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  5. ^ "長嶋さんと広島". Chugoku Shimbun (in Japanese). June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  6. ^ "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」". Jiji Press (in Japanese). Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  7. ^ "【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」". Yahoo Japan (in Japanese). June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Sadaharu Oh". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "1958 Japan Central League". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Shigeo Nagashima, known in Japan as 'Mr. Pro Baseball,' dies at 89". AP News. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  11. ^ Hiragana Times, "'Mr. Baseball' – The Legendary Uniform #3", Volume #294, April 2011, pp. 26–29.
  12. ^ a b "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". Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  13. ^ a b 1958年度日本シリーズ　試合結果 [1958 Japan Series Results] (in Japanese). Nippon Professional Baseball. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "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". Tokyo Shimbun (in Japanese). June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  15. ^ Harada, Akio (October 29, 2023). "【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". sports.pen-and.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  16. ^ "史上最強コンビ「ON」 アベック本塁打106回―王と長嶋". Yahoo Japan (in Japanese). June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  17. ^ a b "長嶋茂雄さん 記憶に残る数々の偉業・名言". NHK. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  18. ^ "「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」". Yahoo Japan (in Japanese). June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  19. ^ Foster, Jason (June 3, 2025). "Nagashima, 'Mr. Pro Baseball' of Japan, dies at 89". MLB.com. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Nagashima, Japan's popular 'Mr. Pro Yakyu,' dies at 89". The Asahi Shimbun. June 3, 2025. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  21. ^ "巨人２５００勝決めた長嶋茂雄の一振り…６０００勝まであと１勝". Hochi News (in Japanese). May 15, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  22. ^ "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". Yahoo Japan (in Japanese). June 8, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  23. ^ "川上哲治・元巨人監督が死去 打撃の神様、Ｖ９の名監督". Yomiuri Giants (in Japanese). October 30, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  24. ^ "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". Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  25. ^ "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"". Yahoo Japan (in Japanese). June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  26. ^ "ミスタージャイアンツ 長嶋茂雄（監督編）". Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  27. ^ "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】". sportsbull.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  28. ^ a b c "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". Yahoo Japan (in Japanese). June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  29. ^ a b "Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima passes away at 89". World Baseball Softball Confederation. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  30. ^ "年度別成績 1978年 セントラル・リーグ". npb.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  31. ^ Malcolm, Andrew H. (February 19, 1978). "College Pitcher Stirs Disputes in Japan Over Pro Draft Rule". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  32. ^ "1979 Japan Central League". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  33. ^ "Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dead at 89". Kyodo News. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  34. ^ "【悼む】渡辺氏も動揺した〝長嶋監督解任騒動〟". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). December 19, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  35. ^ "渡辺恒雄さん死去 98歳 球界や政界などから悼む声". NHK (in Japanese). December 20, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  36. ^ "Farewell held for Japanese baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo". NHK. June 8, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  37. ^ "Baseball: Hideki Matsui pays final respects to Nagashima at private viewing". Kyodo News. June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  38. ^ "長嶋茂雄にはオリンピックがよく似合う". Sasakawa Sports Foundation (in Japanese). Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  39. ^ "Japanese pro baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo dies". NHK. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  40. ^ "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". news-postseven.com (in Japanese). July 15, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  41. ^ Dempsey, John (September 20, 2007). "'61 KHS grad dies in Japan". Kokomo Tribune. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  42. ^ Hiragana Times, "'Mr. Baseball' – The Legendary Uniform #3", Volume #294, April 2011, pp. 26–29.
  43. ^ Coskrey, Jason (May 5, 2013). "Legends Matsui, Nagashima feted: Prime minister hands Yomiuri Giants legends People's Honor Award". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  44. ^ "Hideki Matsui honored in Japan". ESPN. May 5, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2025. 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.
  45. ^ "長嶋茂雄さんら9人文化勲章 功労者に加山雄三さんら". Jiji.com. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  46. ^ "The Latest: Osaka lights cauldron at Tokyo opening ceremony". WTOP News. WTOP. Associated Press. July 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  47. ^ "Shigeo Nagashima Hospitalized After a Brain Hemorrhage". japan-forward.com. September 7, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  48. ^ "Japan's Baseball Legend Shigeo Nagashima Dies at 89". The Japan News. Yomiuri Shimbun. June 3, 2025.
  49. ^ "Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dies at 89". The Japan Times. June 2, 2025.
  50. ^ "Funeral held for Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima". Kyodo News. June 8, 2025.
  51. ^ a b "Shigeo Nagashima". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
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