27 times, can be regarded as the benchmark for professional sports in North America, and their fans are almost the most picky in North America. Not every player wearing a striped shirt can be recognized by harsh New York fans, and it is even harder to get praise or even miss it - , especially in the days when he has not reached the World Series for more than ten years.
When Yankees keep failing in the playoffs in recent years, fans will miss the person who locked the latest championship trophy for the Bronx Bombers: "Godzilla" Hideki Matsui .
Matsui Hideki
Position: Left field player
Shining season: 2004 season (30 years old)
Team: New York Yankee
Record: 31 home runs, 108 RBIs, 3 stolen bases, strike measurements.298/.390/.522, 680 hits, selected as All-Star
2003, as the leading Japanese local strong player, Matsui Hideki joined Yankee as a free agent. In the first year, because he was not used to the straight ball of the second suture, Matsui's ground-rolling rate was relatively high and he was unable to show his long-term playing ability immediately.
After the adaptation period, Matsui was fully fired in the 2004 season, setting an Asian player record for 31 home runs in a single season, and his on-base rate of nearly 40% also showed his ball-choice. Matsui's victory contribution value throughout the season is as high as 5.0, which is the best in his career, so he is included in this list.
However, it is far from enough to select Matsui's 2004 season to the list, but it is far from enough to reflect the overall picture of his baseball career.
Matsui has been since he was a child with amazing strength, and is excellent in both judo and baseball. In elementary school, Matsui's senior tempted him to play left instead, so that at least during the period when he was adapting to his left hand, he would not be so strong that every time he hit the ball, it would be difficult for his friends to resist. In high school, Matsui was already famous nationwide because of its terrifying power, and the media called it "Godzilla". 's opponent was not unafraid of him. He represented Xingleen High School in the Jiaziyuan and was deliberately recommended to be five times in a single game. It was a big news that shocked Japan at that time.
*Picture source NPB TODAY (English)/Twitter
After entering the Japanese Professional Baseball Base (NPB), Matsui became popular quickly, winning the MVP three times and assisting the Yomiuri Giant three times in ten years. For a moment, "Godzilla" was in the limelight and was the most popular baseball star in Japan at that time. Even the number one player in the Asian club, Ichiro Suzuki once lamented, "Even if my strike rate reaches 40%, Matsui is still more popular."
After coming to the United States, Matsui made a bold statement to help Yankee win the championship. At that time, Yankee won four championships in five years not long ago, with strong troops and strong horses, and public opinion all regarded it as a dynasty team. But unexpectedly, Matsui's Flag stood a bit ruthless. In 2003, Yankee entered the World Championship and became the background board of Marlins. In 2004, Yankees led Boston Red Sox 3-0 in the AFC Finals but was allowed to chase three and four, leaving an embarrassing history.
In the following years, Yankees even missed the playoffs in 2008. Matsui is also getting worse and worse. In 2006, due to a garrison metacarpal fracture, his knee was injured in around 2007 and around 2008 and forced to undergo surgery. By 2009, Yankee used Matsui as a designated blow to use and clearly revealed his intention to renew his contract. In other words, if Matsui wants to realize his dream of winning the Yankee championship, has only the last year left.
At this difficult moment, Matsui, who had taken off the garrison mission, regained his vitality and returned to his peak state. That year he scored the second most 28-hit in his major league career, helping Yankee win back the U.S. Eastern Championship. The playoffs were smooth and advanced all the way. faced defending champion Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, and Matsui hit 3 home runs and 8 RBIs.
Especially in G6, 6 RBIs were allowed to win the title battle with almost one-on-one effort. This scene was the most glorious moment in Matsui's career. After the game, Matsui was named the MVP of the World Championship that year. This is the first time in history that was awarded the honor by a full-time designated strike, and 6 RBIs in a single game also tied the World Championship record.
Three years later, Matsui went Los Angeles Angels , Oakland Sportsman and Tampa Bay Light. 2012 season, after several unsuccessful games, Matsui announced his retirement, ending his 20-year professional baseball career between Japan and the United States.
In the 10 years of the major leagues, Matsui hit a total of 175 home runs, and was the number one in Asia when he retired. This record was held for 6 years and was surpassed by Qiu Xin, who had been in office for a longer period of time (at that time, 14 seasons). However, he still maintains the record of Asian players' RBIs in a single season (116 points, 2005 season) , and is also the only Asian player who has achieved 30 and 100 RBIs in a single season.
As the best among Asian gunners, Matsui's strike does not rely entirely on brute force, but also combines subtle strike techniques. While he maintained his home run production, his batting and on-base percentage were not affected. Even in Yankee who is strongly beaten, Matsui can still stand firmly in the center and deserves the title of "Godzilla".
Most Asian batsmen, in order to adapt to the faster ball environment, either sacrifice home runs to pursue strike rate, or have good long-range firepower but have to pay the price of being repeatedly strikeouts. Matsui, with comprehensive strike skills, set a high benchmark for future Asian players.
Honorary nomination: Kim Hyun-soo
Position: Left field player
Shining season: 2016 season (28 years old)
Team: Baltimore Orioles
Record: 6 home runs, 22 RBIs, 1 stolen base, strike measurements.302/.382/.420, 346 hits
Kim Hyun-soo challenged MLB in 2016 after becoming famous at the Korean Professional Baseball (KBO). At first, Orioles did not intend to use him as the main force, but Kim Hyun-soo played better and better. He won the competition for the starter left fielder, which became a big surprise for Asian players back then. Unfortunately, Kim Hyun-soo's performance in the second year declined and he hastily ended his major league career.
Kim Hyun-soo had a good home run output during the KBO period, but his long-distance rate weakened significantly after he arrived in MLB. In addition, his defense ability is quite average, even when he is in the best attack form, Kim Hyun-soo is just an average outfield player. How to maintain long-term play in is a difficult problem facing all Asian players.
Before we knew it, eight Asian players from major leagues met us in the [Asia Stars] column. Has your understanding of major leagues been further deepened? Tell me about the Asian star that impressed you the most in the major league. Maybe the Asian star in the next issue will be your nomination target!
