Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima has passed away at the age of 89. He succumbed to pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital, as announced by his former team, the Yomiuri Giants. An icon of Japanese sports, Nagashima earned the nickname "Mr. Giants" after leading his team to nine consecutive titles during the 1960s and 70s, where he played in 2,186 games and hit an impressive 444 home runs.
Former teammates spoke of his impact, with Sadaharu Oh recalling the lessons learned from playing alongside him. The duo, known as "O-N," made a formidable partnership on the field. Current baseball star Shohei Ohtani also expressed his sentiments on social media, reminiscing about his time with Nagashima.
Nagashima became a household name early in his career when he hit a game-winning home run during the inaugural professional baseball game attended by the Japanese emperor in 1959. After retiring in 1974, he transitioned to coaching and led the Giants to win two Japan Series titles over a span of 15 seasons.
Japanese officials, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, remembered Nagashima as a beacon of hope during a time of national prosperity, noting the many records he set in the sport and the dreams he inspired among his fans.
