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Ex-Yankees Outfielder Hideki Matsui Retires
Cesar Tordesillas
New York, NY
Japanese outfielder and designated hitter Hideki Matsui announced his retirement after an illustrious 20-year career in baseball.
Matsui, popularly known as Godzilla, spent his first 10 years with Japan's Yomiuri Giants. With the Giants, Matsui captured three Central League MVP awards and emerge as one of Japan's biggest baseball stars.
Matsui finally decided to play overseas in 2002, signing a three-year, $21 million free-agent deal with the New York Yankees. Matsui's hustle and all-out play made him a fan favorite in New York.
The Japanese slugger then signed a four-year, $52 million extension with the Yankees in 2005 and helped the Bombers win a World Series title in the final year of the deal.
Matsui, who batted .615 (8 for 14) with three home runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009, joined Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to hit .500 or better with three homers in the same World Series.
Pablo Sandoval became the fourth player and first non-Yankee to join the exclusive list after the San Francisco Giants' triumph over the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 World Series.
Matsui played 1,768 consecutive games to begin his career before the streak was halted because of a fractured wrist in 2006.
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