Hideki Matsui became the first Japanese baseball player and first full-time designated hitter to be named World Series most valuable player after helping the New York Yankees win their 27th championship.
In what may have been his last game in Yankee pinstripes, Matsui went three-for-four with a home run and a record-tying six runs batted in to lead New York to a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies that clinched the best-of-seven series four games to two.
“This is the best,” Matsui, 35, said in a televised interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK. “It’s like a dream.”
Fittingly, Matsui started the scoring with a second-inning, two-run homer to right field that sailed over a sign for Japanese construction machinery manufacturer Komatsu Ltd., where his father once worked and which features him in ads. Other companies Matsui endorses include Toshiba Corp., sporting goods maker Mizuno Corp., and soy sauce maker Kikkoman Corp.
“Komatsu and its employees are happy with Matsui’s fantastic performance,” company spokesman Toru Nakayama said in a telephone interview. “We have supported him since he joined the major leagues in 2003. We think he is very pleased with his contribution to the team.”
Matsui just completed a four-year, $52 million contract and team officials have not said whether they will re-sign him. He hasn’t played in the field since June 2008. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman declined to comment after the game.
‘Hope It Works Out’
“I hope it works out,” Matsui told the crowd through an interpreter after accepting his MVP award. “I love New York, I love the Yankees, and I love the fans here.”
He batted .615 in the World Series, with three home runs and eight RBIs. As the Yankees designated hitter, he didn’t start in the three games played in Philadelphia, although he had a pinch-hit home run in Game 3 to help seal an 8-5 victory.
“He’s a professional hitter,” Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said in an interview with ESPN. “He’s one of the greatest hitters I’ve played with.”
Matsui also hit a two-run single in the third inning. He followed that up with two more RBI on a double in the fifth, pushing the Yankees’ lead to 7-1 and matching the World Series record of six RBI in one game set by Bobby Richardson in 1960.
“It’s a wonderful, wonderful achievement,” Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told reporters today in Tokyo. “I can’t wait to go home and watch the highlights.”
Matsui came to New York in 2003 after a 10-year career with the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Giants, which he led to three Japan Series titles, winning three regular season and one post-season MVPs in the process.
He finished the regular season with a .274 batting average, 24 home runs and 90 runs batted in.
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