LOS ANGELES — As a kid growing up in Japan, Yoshinobu Yamamoto would watch the news in hopes of seeing a fellow countryman in pinstripes.
“When I was in fifth and sixth grade, he was a big-name star, one of the biggest stars,” the Dodgers’ Game 2 starter said of Hideki Matsui, who played for the Yankees from 2003-2009 after an illustrious career in Japan. “So I did watch his play. He was a big idol for our generation.”
The Yankees hoped that Matsui would make a difference in their recruitment of Yamamoto last offseason, as the team showed the right-hander a video featuring Godzilla during the recruitment process.
But instead of following in the footsteps of Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka, Yamamoto followed Shoehi Ohtani to Los Angeles, which gave the pitcher a record-setting 12-year, $325 million deal.
The Yankees were a finalist for Yamamoto after offering 10 years and $300 million.
While the Yankees’ proposal and sales pitch weren’t enough to lure Yamamoto, he expressed adoration for Matsui at World Series media day earlier this week. So did Ohtani, who passed Matsui for the most MLB home runs hit by a Japanese player back in April.
“I never really had the chance to meet him in person, but as a player that I’ve seen on TV, I’ve always looked up to and admired what he did,” Ohtani said. “That’s the kind of impression he left on me as a child, and I’m sure the impression that he left on many Japanese children.”
In 2003, Matsui played in his first World Series as an MLB rookie with the Yankees. He then won a ring and World Series MVP in 2009, the year of the Bombers’ last championship.
“At that time, obviously Hideki was a huge presence and a star already in his own right in Japan before coming over,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who played for the club during Matsui’s first season in the states.
Boone went on to mention how other Japanese stars have shined after moving to MLB. The list includes Ichiro Suzuki, Yu Darvish, Hideo Nomo and Hiroki Kuroda, among others.
“I don’t think it’s that surprising, frankly,” Boone said. “There’s great players all over the world, as we’re seeing, and obviously we know what baseball means in Japan.”
Indeed, the sport is as much a pastime in Japan as it is in America, which is why millions back home have been tuning in to see Ohtani, Yamamoto and the Dodgers this postseason.
Large numbers in Japan should be expected for Yamamoto’s Game 2 start as well.
“I just think that it’s going to be a global World Series,” Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts said. “I still stand by the fact that more eyeballs are going to be watching this World Series than any other series in history.”
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