Six years ago, there was a parade in the city of
Tokyo to celebrate Hideki Matsui's impending arrival to the major leagues
following his signing by the Yankees.
On Friday, the streets of New York City will be packed for a ticker-tape
parade for the franchise's 27th World Series title, and although the focus
will be on prominent Yankees Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, CC
Sabathia and Mark Teixeira, fans certainly can't forget the incredible
performance by their designated hitter Wednesday night.
Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBI in one game, accomplishing the
feat in a 7-3 title-clinching Game 6 against the 2008 champion Philadelphia
Phillies.
"My first and foremost goal when I joined the Yankees was to win the world
championship," Matsui said through interpreter Roger Kahlon. "Certainly it's
been a long road and very difficult journey. I'm just happy that after all
these years we were able to win and reach the goal that I had come here for."
Matsui belted a two-run homer in the second inning and added a two-run single
in the third, both off Pedro Martinez, and then drilled a two-run double off
J.A. Happ in the fifth, helping New York to a 7-1 lead. He became the first
Japanese player and first full-time designated hitter to win the World Series
MVP.
The six RBI ties the mark set by the Yankees' Bobby Richardson in an October
8, 1960 Game 3 victory against Pittsburgh, a series in which New York lost in
seven games.
In the final season of a four-year, $52 million contract, Matsui saved his
best for ultimately the last game of 2009. The 35-year-old, a three-time MVP
of the Japanese Central League (1996, 2000 and 2002), and nicknamed Godzilla
for his hitting power, had a huge series, going 8-for-13 with three homers and
eight RBI.
"I'm certainly aware that I represent Japan in that sense as a baseball
player," said Matsui. "But more so in my mind, I feel that I am a member of
the Yankees. I'm a Yankee baseball player. So that's always in my mind more
so. As far as how I look at this World Series and being a champion, I guess
it's hard to make a comparison. When I was in Japan, that was the ultimate
goal, and that's what you strive for. Being here, winning the World Series,
becoming world champions, that's what you strive for here. So I can't really
make a comparison."
It's been an incredible ride in the Bronx for Matsui. In his first game at
Yankee Stadium in 2003, he became the first player in franchise history to
belt a grand slam in his first home game. He nearly won the Rookie of the Year
award during that 2003 season, the first of his two straight All-Star
selections. So durable early on, he didn't miss a game over his first three
seasons in the majors. Matsui, though, played in just 51 games in 2006 and 93
in 2008 before smacking 28 homers and 90 RBI during the regular season in
2009.
His eight RBI were the most for a Yankee in a single World Series since Reggie
Jackson drove in eight in both 1977 and 1978. In addition to Richardson in
1960 and Matsui Wednesday, the only other Yankee with a six-RBI game in the
postseason was Bernie Williams in Game 1 of the 1999 ALDS.
Due to be a free agent, Matsui was asked after the game if he'll be a Yankee
in 2010.
"I have no idea right now," he said.
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