Shigeo Nagashima Remembered: His Recovery, His Message to Fans and the Moments We Alone Saw

Back in March, he had been offering words of encouragement to Ohtani

The greatest national hero of the Shōwa era has passed away.

At 6:39 a.m. on June 3, “Mr. Pro Baseball” Shigeo Nagashima died of pneumonia at a hospital in Tokyo. He was 89.

In September 2022, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage at home and was hospitalized in Tokyo. Even while undergoing treatment, he continued to visit Tokyo Dome to encourage Giants manager Shinnosuke Abe, and this March, he also met with Shohei Ohtani during a preseason match between the Dodgers and the Giants.

As a central figure in the Giants’ V9 era from 1965 to 1973, he captivated fans with his outstanding play both offensively and defensively until his retirement in 1974. He helped elevate professional baseball to one of Japan’s most beloved sports. His retirement speech line, “My Giants will live on forever,” became one of the most famous quotes in Japanese sports history.

Afterward, he served two stints as the Giants’ manager over 15 years, leading the team to five league championships and two Japan Series titles. Even after stepping down as manager, he remained an enduring symbol of professional baseball. This article looks back on Nagashima’s legacy through reports from past issues.

A letter of apology to the fans, entrusted to this magazine after clinching the league championship in the famed “10.8 Decisive Battle” (October 28, 1994 issue)

On October 8, 1994, the final Giants vs. Dragons game at Nagoya Stadium — the famed “10.8 Decisive Battle” — became a historic match in professional baseball, where the winner would claim the league championship. Victorious in that decisive clash, achieving his long-cherished league title, Shigeo Nagashima (then 58) sent this magazine a message of apology to the fans.

“To all the fans who had been waiting so eagerly for this championship — I sincerely apologize for putting you through so much tension in the latter half of the season. As manager, I didn’t care what would become of me personally. I fought alongside the players solely for the fans, and having managed to win the title, I feel at least I’ve saved face. Because the title race dragged on to the final game, I imagine the joy for the fans must be all the greater.”

Indeed, that season had truly tested the nerves of Giants supporters. With major roster reinforcements — including acquiring Chunichi Dragons’ star slugger Hiromitsu Ochiai (then 40) through free agency — they burst out of the gate with a strong start in April. By early July, they led the league by 9.5 games, seemingly uncatchable. Yet in the second half, the batting lineup stalled, and they were caught by a surging Chunichi, ending up tied for first place at season’s close. Somehow clinching the title in the final showdown, their next target was the Japan Series championship.

“We’ve earned our place in the Japan Series at last, with Seibu as our opponent. Ever since I took the managerial post, it’s been my dream and greatest goal to defeat Seibu. Of course, Seibu’s team strength is unmatched across all 12 teams, rich in experience, and especially capable of pulling away decisively at crucial moments. For the Giants, they are the strongest, most formidable opponent.

Still — in baseball, victory comes down to fortune, and you don’t know the result until you face them head-on. We’ll give it our all, chasing our long-awaited Japan Series crown. I believe the tense, no-margin-for-error battles at the end of the season, and the trials we overcame, have instilled real confidence and strength in the players. Like we did in the pennant race, in the Japan Series too, we’ll fight believing in one thing: we’ll be the ones standing victorious in the end.”

Nagashima praised Seibu’s manager, Masaaki Mori (then 57), for his textbook, flawless baseball, while vowing, “As challengers, I want to stir things up with bold tactics.” True to those words, in the Japan Series, the Giants overcame the formidable Seibu, and for the first time in his managerial career, Nagashima himself was tossed into the air in victory as the Giants were crowned champions of Japan.

Emergency hospitalization right before the Athens Olympics!! Our magazine alone captured the miraculous rehabilitation scene (July 23, 2004 issue)

In 2001, after stepping down as Giants manager and becoming honorary lifetime manager, Nagashima’s next post was as manager of Japan’s national baseball team, aiming for the Athens Olympics. Having led the team to victory in the Asia Championships and securing their Olympic berth, Nagashima (then 68) suffered a cerebral infarction on March 4, 2004 — just five months before the Games — and was rushed to the hospital. Though he was discharged in May and it was reported that his rehabilitation was “going well,” the details remained shrouded in secrecy. This magazine managed to capture a glimpse of that rehab, and here’s an excerpt from the article at the time:

“On a certain day in June, inside a luxury condominium in Tokyo. ‘Mr. Baseball’ sat in a chair wearing a T-shirt and training pants. A cane was propped up nearby. Though his right arm was in a sling, with his left hand he made a fist, bent and extended his arm, and crossed one leg over the other — actively moving as much as he could.

‘His passion for Athens must be what’s fueling his motivation. At first, he didn’t seem to grasp his situation, but now he’s proactively working through his rehab. Currently, a team of specialists — a physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech therapist — visit for in-home sessions. They hold regular conferences with doctors, nurses, and caseworkers to thoroughly manage his treatment and rehabilitation plan. Having never really experienced serious illness before, he seems restless to get moving, sometimes even going beyond his scheduled rehab hours.’” (hospital staff)

Nagashima underwent walking training in the room, and on an exercise bike, he slowly pedaled with his paralyzed right leg strapped to the pedal. He also received massages to loosen stiff joints — doing everything he could to recover. His determination to make a comeback radiated through his actions.

However, doctors ultimately did not grant him permission to travel overseas, and Nagashima’s wish to lead the team in Athens went unfulfilled. The national squad was instead led by then-head coach Kiyoshi Nakahata (50). Nagashima’s first public appearance after his collapse came on July 3, 2005, at the Tokyo Dome during a Giants vs. Hiroshima game. After 16 months away, the sight of his familiar smile in the stands drew applause and a standing ovation from the crowd.

Thanks to steady rehabilitation, Nagashima gradually began appearing in public again. Though his health declined further after a gallstone hospitalization in 2018, in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he inspired many by participating in the torch relay — walking slowly through the National Stadium, supported by legends like Sadaharu Oh and Hideki Matsui.

Until the very end, Nagashima remained a true hero. May he rest in peace.