Author's Blog

 February 9, 2010

Hideki Irabu Boosts Long Beach


Pitcher wins second game, draws international attention.


Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Hideki Irabu, the longtime Japanese superstar and former Yankee, Expo and Ranger, has been strong in his early starts for the Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden Baseball League.  On Monday, Irabu struck out nine in seven innings and took a no hitter into the fifth before giving up a solo home run in the Armada’s 12-2 victory over Yuma.  He is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA through his first two starts.  Not only is the pitcher winning games for the Armada, he is pulling in fans for the Armada.  Of the 2,134 fans attending Monday’s game in Long Beach, nearly half were Japanese fans according to Japanese media following Irabu’s progress.

The 40 year old has not pitched in the major leagues since 2002.  He was highly touted in 1997 when, after refusing to play for any team but the Yankees, New York took over the rights to sign him in a trade with the Padres.  He was also highly criticized by George Steinbrenner for showing up overweight and out of shape and by New York fans for never leaving up to expectations that brought him a wealthy contract.   Irabu, who holds the Pacific League record for the fastest pitch in a game, continues to be a household name in Japan.  A 2008 alcohol related arrest in Osaka on assault charges was well publicized in Japan, putting him back in the spotlight.  Now a resident of Southern California, Irabu came out of retirement when he signed with the Armada in April.


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