(Update) Japanese Baseball Legend Shigeo Nagashima Dies at 89

   Tokyo, June 3 (Jiji Press)--Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima, a national hero nicknamed "Mr. Professional Baseball" for playing a remarkable role as a slugger and a manager for the Yomiuri Giants, died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital on Tuesday. He was 89.
   He was hospitalized in 2004 for a stroke. After rehabilitation and discharge from the hospital, he often watched games and coached children. In July 2018, he was hospitalized for treatment of gallstones but recovered within the same year.
   Nagashima visited the Tokyo Dome to watch a Giants game in April 2019. He had since visited the stadium often to give advice to players as the team's "lifetime honorary manager."
   The native of Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, joined the Giants in 1958. In his first year, he won the RBI, home run and rookie of the year titles.
   He played an important part in big games and inspired the people of Japan during a period of economic growth and led the Giants to nine consecutive Japanese championships together with fellow player Sadaharu Oh.

(2025/06/03-10:39)

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