【5月31日 AFP】米大リーグ(MLB)のニューヨーク・ヤンキース(New York Yankees)で活躍し、2009年のワールドシリーズでは最優秀選手に輝いた松井秀喜(Hideki Matsui)氏が、7月に1日限りの契約を結び、最後はヤンキースの一員として引退することになった。
ヤンキースは30日、松井氏が2012年に所属したタンパベイ・レイズ(Tampa Bay Rays)と対戦する7月28日の試合前に、同氏の引退セレモニーを行うと発表した。
ヤンキースは背番号「55」をつけて活躍した松井氏の功績を称え、シーズン55試合目のホームゲームで式典を行う。
NEW YORK — Godzilla is coming back to the Bronx.
The Yankees announced on Thursday that they will celebrate the career of former outfielder Hideki Matsui in a ceremony before their July 28 game against the Rays, honoring No. 55 on what was originally scheduled to be the 55th home game of the season.
Matsui will sign a one-day contract with the Yankees on that day and will officially announce his retirement from baseball as a member of the Yankees. The first 18,000 fans in attendance will receive bobbleheads showing Matsui holding his 2009 World Series MVP trophy.
"I think it’s extremely deserving," manager Joe Girardi said. "When you talk about Hideki Matsui, I think about a great player, great teammate. He’s someone who was prepared to play every day and gave everything he’s got."