Remembering Shigeo Nagashima: A Tribute with Rare Photos — The Man Who Inspired “I’d Break My Arm for Him”

He was just a playful person

The rain that poured down across the Japanese archipelago that day seemed to reflect the nation’s sorrow mourning the passing of Mr. Shigeo Nagashima.

Nagashima, aged 89, passed away from pneumonia on June 3rd.

“I am proud that I was able to play alongside Mr. Nagashima,” reminisced Shito Shikazu Sekimoto, who supported the Giants’ golden era together with Nagashima.

“Mr. Nagashima was, above all, a playful person. I remember the first time I pitched in the first team. When I glanced at third base, there was a sign from the bench to throw a pickoff, but Nagashima had taken off his glove and was grinning mischievously. It was like he was saying, ‘Pickoffs are a hassle, you don’t need to bother with them’ (laughs).

Mr. Nagashima treated everyone without discrimination. Even to someone like me, who was just starting out, he would say, ‘Hey kid, let’s play catch.’ Whether he hit a home run or made an error, he was the only player who could electrify the stadium.”

Swinging fast and throwing hard

After retiring as a player in 1974 and becoming a manager, Nagashima continued to captivate fans with his trademark playfulness. His countless famous sayings include phrases like “All-Star means a dream of dreams,” “Spring spring camp,” and “Fatigue of fatigue.” Yoshimasa Takahashi, who pitched in Nagashima’s retirement game and served as the Giants’ relief ace after Nagashima became manager, shared his thoughts.

“As a manager, Nagashima was just full of spirit. There were five times when I was suddenly called up to pitch by him without warming up in the bullpen. Both the coaches and I were in a panic, but strangely, I wasn’t mad at all. His way of coaching was unique — he would say, ‘Yoshimasa, the batter swings fast and the pitcher throws hard.’

But he never told me how to throw hard (laughs). No matter how tough or chaotic things got, just one word of praise from him made me think, ‘For this man, I wouldn’t mind breaking my arm.’ He was truly a one-of-a-kind manager.”

Nagashima’s legacy is being passed onto the next generation of stars. Sportswriter Takeaki Yoshimi, who has made covering Nagashima his life’s work, said:

“Mr. Nagashima once said in his hospital room that he wanted to meet Shohei Ohtani. That wish came true in March of this year during the MLB Tokyo Series. Only those two know what was said, but Mr. Nagashima entrusted the future of Japanese baseball to Ohtani.”

Mr. Pro Baseball, showing his strongest love for the game, passed away at age 89 on the same day as the Giants’ retired number he wore — the 3rd. Thank you, Shigeo Nagashima, for showing the Japanese people a dream of dreams.

From the June 20, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”