hideki irabu yankees number

While he was on two World Series champions, he pitched in only one postseason game.

He played professionally in both Japan and the United States. ... 1978 Topps NY YANKEES 9-card lot w/ World Series REGGIE JACKSON (#413), CLAY RC+. Lucchino caved and, on this date in 1997 he agreed to trade the rights to Irabu to New York in exchange for minor leaguers Ruben Rivera and Rafael Medina plus $3 million in cash.In light of the attention given to Irabu during his Padres holdout and given the fact that Rivera was, at the time, considered the Yankees’ top prospect, there were considerable expectations of the young man. Hideki Irabu was a Japanese professional baseball player of American and Japanese mixed ancestry. Due to the money and players spent to get him, and his eventual lack of success, Yankee fans sometimes joked his name was I-rob

When he signed a four year, $12.8 Million contract — which was pretty big for someone with zero big league experience at the time — those expectations only grew.Irabu made six minor league starts before he saw any big league action, posting a 2.32 ERA, issuing just one walk and striking out 34 batters in 31 innings. He was a man of big appetites when he played and, without the structure of baseball, those big appetites — for alcohol, particularly — contributed to his undoing. He was 6’4″ and 250 pounds and pitched at a time when most Japanese pitchers were slighter guys whose games were more about finesse than power. It would be the only time they would not win the AL East in an 11-year stretch and would be the only time they didn’t make the World Series in a six-year stretch.Irabu would never be a star in the United States, but he was at least an adequate starter in his two subsequent years in New York, going 24-16 with a 4.44 ERA, which was an ERA+ of 103 in that high-offense era. Over time, On July 27, 2011 Hideki Irabu took his own life. Before George Steinbrenner would, cruelly, give him a different nickname which we’ll get to in a minute, Hideki Irabu was known as “the Japanese Nolan Ryan.” He sort of looked like the Japanese Roger Clemens, actually. Our sympathies and support go out to his wife, Kyonsu, his two children, and all of his friends and loved ones.”

. Also contributing: a lack of identity or purpose, much of which was tied up in his lack of belonging. It’s worth a read, especially if you don’t know much more about Irabu than that name and the fact that he disappointed the New York Yankees. They gave Irabu 28 and 27 starts, respectively in those two seasons.Irabu made no friends at all, however, with either his teammates, his organization, or with the media. Before George Steinbrenner would, cruelly, give him a different nickname which we’ll get to in a minute, Hideki Irabu was known as “the Japanese Nolan Ryan.” He sort of looked like the Japanese Roger Clemens, actually. One hour after George Steinbrenner verbally attacked the beleaguered pitcher for failing to cover first base for the second straight game, Irabu told The Boss he wanted no part of traveling with the World Champions.After watching Irabu not get to first to take Clay Bellinger’s toss in the ninth inning against the Indians, a livid Steinbrenner added to his legend.“He looks like a fat, pus-ie [rhymes with fussy] toad out there,” a seething Boss said as he made his way from the Legends Field clubhouse to the elevators, where he met Lin Garrett and Gordon Blakeley, members of Steinbrenner’s Inner Circle.

Michael Arriaga said.Irabu was signed to much fanfare by the Yankees in 1997. Please enter a number less than or equal to 1. Career: 34-35, 16 SV, 5.15 ERA, 405 SO, P, Yankees/Rangers/... 1997-2002, t:R, born in Japan 1969, died 2011 After meeting his father upon arriving in America, the two would not become close. His rights were purchased from his Japanese team by the Padres, but he refused to sign.

That’s above average and, in any event, the 114-win 1998 Yankees and 98-win 1999 Yankees — World Series champs both years — did not feel like they had better options. After being subjected to Japan’s reserve clause for so long he, at age 28, wanted at least some say in where he’d play. We know what a desirable place San Diego is and how desirable a team the Padres are, so we remain hopeful.

Irabu pitched for Columbus against Scranton, the Philadelphia Phillies' top farm club.