Legendary Japanese baseball icon Shigeo Nagashima dies at 89

Japan mourned the death of Shigeo Nagashima, popularly known as “Mr. Baseball," as he was 89. He died on June 3, 2025, from pneumonia. A Yomiuri Giants hero, he made baseball super popular in Japan. His big smile and excellent skills won everyone's hearts forever.On June 3, 2025, Shigeo Nagashima died in a Tokyo hospital because of pneumonia. The Yomiuri Giants, his team forever, shared this sad news. Nagashima was a big star who made baseball Japan's favorite sport. He played third base and hit the ball hard, exciting fans for years.He was a key factor in the Giants’ nine straight Japan Series victories from 1965 through 1973 in the 1960s and 1970s. They were nicknamed the “ON Cannon” with Sadaharu Oh and they were known as the strongest duo in Japanese baseball. His 1959 home run for Emperor Hirohito was very significant. People were impressed by his .305 batting average, 444 homers and 2,471 hits over the years.. Nagashima's happy energy made him a hero, showing Japan's strength after hard times.Also Read: Highest-paid San Francisco Giants players in MLB 2025, ranked by payroll salaryBesides being a major baseball player, Nagashima made a substantial contribution to Japan. After his retirement in 1974, Ogiura continued as a coach for the Giants and in 1994 and 2000, he helped the Giants win the Japan Series. "My Giants are forever immortal" a phrase that has become so popular throughout Japan. A stroke in 2004 stopped him from coaching the Japanese Olympic team, which didn't stop him from recovering, and he carried the Olympic flame in Tokyo 2020, alongside Sadaharu Oh and Hideki Matsui.He was rewarded with huge awards: the People's Honor Award in 2013 and the Order of Culture in 2021. There were lots of young players who looked up to him, including Shohei Ohtani, who said some lovely things about him on the internet. Nagashima's friendly smile made fans love him. He stayed simple, laughing about his mistakes, and kept teaching kids baseball.Born in Sakura, Chiba, in 1936, Nagashima was great at Rikkyo University, hitting eight home runs. He joined the Giants in 1958 and became Rookie of the Year with 29 home runs. He won five MVP awards and joined the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. Even after his stroke, he went to games, cheering loudly.When he died, Tokyo newspapers made special editions, showing how much people loved him. Fans like Nobuo Uchiyama shared stories of his kindness and great hits. Japan's leader Yoshimasa Hayashi said Nagashima gave "dreams and hope" to all. His No. 3 Giants jersey, now retired, is a sign of his greatness.Nagashima was close to new stars like Ohtani, meeting him at the MLB Tokyo Series in March 2025. Ohtani shared photos with Nagashima, showing their friendship. Nagashima's fun saying "Make Drama" from 1996 became a big hit, exciting fans and players.Japan now remembers Nagashima as a true hero who made baseball special. His awesome hits and leadership brought so much joy. Getting better after his stroke to carry the Olympic flame showed his strength. Shigeo Nagashima will always be loved as Japan's proud baseball hero.