Hideki Matsui Biography

Hideki Matsui, born June 12, 1974, is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter nicknamed Godzilla. He has played in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics, and Tampa Bay Rays, and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Yomiuri Giants. Matsui spent the first 10 seasons of his career in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants. As a Yankee, he was a two-time All-Star and won the 2009 World Series, earning World Series MVP honors. On July 28, 2013, Matsui signed a one-day minor league contract with the Yankees to retire officially with the team. During his 20-year playing career, Matsui hit 507 home runs, including 332 in NPB and 175 in MLB. He won three Central League MVP awards in 1996, 2000, and 2002, and led his team to four Japan Series appearances, winning three titles in 1994, 2000, and 2002.