Hideki Irabu

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Hideki Irabu
Irabu pitching for the Long Beach Armada
Pitcher
Born: (1969-05-05)5 May 1969
Hirara, Okinawa, Japan
Died: 27 July 2011(2011-07-27) (aged 42)
Rancho Palos Verdes, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
NPB: 7 May, 1988, for the Lotte Orions
MLB: 10 July, 1997, for the New York Yankees
Last appearance
MLB: 12 July, 2002, for the Texas Rangers
NPB: 11 June, 2004, for the Hanshin Tigers
NPB statistics
Win–loss record72–69
Earned run average3.55
Strikeouts1,282
MLB statistics
Win–loss record34–35
Earned run average5.15
Strikeouts405
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Hideki Irabu (伊良部 秀輝, Irabu Hideki, 5 May 1969 – 27 July 2011) was a Japanese professional baseball player of American and Japanese mixed ancestry. He played professionally in both Japan and the United States. Irabu played for the Lotte Orions / Chiba Lotte Marines and Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and for the New York Yankees, Montreal Expos, and Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Irabu debuted in NPB in 1988 and played for the Marines through the 1996 season. Desiring to play in MLB, the Marines sold Irabu to the San Diego Padres, with whom they had a working arrangement, despite Irabu's desire to play for the Yankees. When Irabu refused to play for San Diego, they traded him to the Yankees, and the aftermath of the deal led to the development of the posting system. Irabu was a member of the Yankees' World Series-winning teams in 1998 and 1999, becoming the first Japanese-born player to win a World Series.

Irabu pitched in the major leagues through 2002 and returned to Japan with the Tigers in 2003 and retired after the 2004 season. Irabu died by suicide in 2011.

Early life

Irabu was born on 5 May 1969, in

Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture.[3][4]

Career

Lotte Orions / Chiba Lotte Marines

Irabu pitched for the Lotte Orions, who later became the

Yokohama BayStars.[5][6]

Irabu led the Pacific League in wins in 1994 (15) and in ERA in 1995 and 1996 (2.53 & 2.40, respectively). He also led the Pacific League in strikeouts in 1994 and 1995 (239 & 167, respectively).[7]

New York Yankees

In 1997, the San Diego Padres purchased Irabu's contract from the Chiba Lotte Marines. The criticisms of this sale from other MLB teams, who wished to bid on Irabu, led to the creation of the posting system currently used by Japanese and MLB teams.[8] Irabu, however, refused to sign with the Padres, saying he would only play with the Yankees. For the negotiating rights to Irabu, the Yankees offered the Padres a choice of one from a list of players including Brian Boehringer, David Weathers, Chris Cumberland, Andy Fox and Matt Luke.[9] The Padres eventually included him as a player-to-be-named-later in a trade that involved Homer Bush and Irabu going to the New York Yankees in exchange for Rafael Medina, Rubén Rivera, and $3 million in cash.[10][11] The Yankees signed Irabu to a $12.8 million, four-year contract, and after only eight minor league appearances, the Yankees put him in their rotation.[12][13]

Irabu made his highly publicized debut on 10 July 1997, drawing almost twice as many fans that night as they averaged for weeknight games.[14] He played with the Yankees from 1997 through 1999, winning two World Series rings (1998, 1999) despite only pitching in one postseason game and having no postseason decisions. George Steinbrenner publicly expressed disgust at his weight, at one point calling him a "fat pussy toad"[15] after he failed to cover first base on a ground ball during a spring training game. Steinbrenner refused to let Irabu accompany the team to Los Angeles, but two days later, Steinbrenner apologized and allowed Irabu to join the team.[15]

1998 was Irabu's best season in MLB, featuring career bests in games started (28), complete games (2), innings pitched (173), wins (13), and ERA (4.06).[16] Despite his inconsistency, Irabu was twice named the American League's Pitcher of the Month: in May 1998 and July 1999.

Montreal Expos

After the 1999 season, he was traded to the Montreal Expos for Ted Lilly, Christian Parker, and Jake Westbrook.[1][17] He started only 14 games for the Expos in 2000 and 2001, pitching 71+1⁄3 innings with a 6.69 ERA and only two wins against seven losses.[16]

Texas Rangers

In 2002, he signed as a free agent to pitch for the Texas Rangers as a closer.[18] At the end of the year, he was released.[19][20]

Hanshin Tigers

At the end of the 2002 season, Irabu moved back to Japan to pitch in the Hanshin Tigers' starting rotation for the 2003 season, helping the team win the Central League pennant for the first time since 1985.[21][22]

Before the 2004 season, he pitched in the 2004 MLB Japan Opening Series exhibition games against the

Tampa Bay Devil Rays.[23][24]

Over the course of six MLB seasons, Irabu's career totals are 126 games, 514 innings, 34 wins, 35 losses, 16 saves, 405 strikeouts, and a 5.15 ERA.[16] His Japanese totals for eleven seasons are 273 games, 1,2861⁄3 innings, 72 wins, 69 losses, 11 saves, 1,282 strikeouts, and a 3.55 ERA.

Later career

In April 2009, Irabu came out of retirement to sign with Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden Baseball League.[25] He posted a 5–3 record in 10 starts, with an ERA of 3.58. In 65 innings, Irabu struck out 66 batters while walking just 19. In August, he announced his intention to return to the Japanese professional leagues, and began playing for the semi-professional Kōchi Fighting Dogs.[26][4]

Later life

On 20 August 2008, Irabu was arrested for assaulting the manager of a bar in Umeda, Osaka after his credit card was declined.[27]

Irabu was arrested for

Rancho Palos Verdes.[29]

Irabu was found dead in his home in Los Angeles on 27 July 2011. He was reported to have

Ativan in his system. He was reportedly despondent because his wife had taken their two daughters and left him.[31][32]

References

  1. ^ a b "Remembering Hideki Irabu: Japanese MLB Pitcher and Link to Donnie Moore | MLB reports". 7 August 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b Reiter, Ben (1 August 2017). "The Complicated Life and Death of Hideki Irabu". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  3. ^ Curry, Jack (15 July 1997). "Stepfather Says Irabu Is the Son of an American". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. ^
    Japan Times
    , 30 July 2011, p. 1.
  5. ^ "Rest in peace, Hideki Irabu - Chuck Miller - timesunion.com - Albany NY". 16 October 2012. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Irabu's impact on MLB-NPB relations profound | The Japan Times Online". 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Hideki Irabu". Hanshin Tigers English News. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  8. ^ Kurkjian, Tim (15 December 2006). "Posting process needs to be altered". ESPN. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Its Yankees or Stay Home For Japan's Irabu, Says Agent". Tulsa World. 5 March 1997. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  10. ISSN 0190-8286
    . Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Hideki Irabu, 42, found dead in Los Angeles home | River Avenue Blues". 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  12. Japan Times
    , 23 October 2011.
  13. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Hideki Irabu gave New York Yankees fans a Stadium night to remember – ESPN New York". Sports.espn.go.com. 10 July 1997. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  15. ^ a b Merron, Jeff. "The List: Steinbrenner's worst". ESPN. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  16. ^ a b c Hideki Irabu Stats Archived 21 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine ESPN
  17. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  18. ^ Hawkins, Stephen. "For Rangers, Irabu as closer a big surprise". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Rangers Release Pitcher Hideki Irabu". The Edwardsville Intelligencer. 13 November 2002. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Rangers release Hideki Irabu - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Pitcher Irabu returns to Japan with big goals". San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. 10 August 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  22. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  23. ^ "D-RAYS NOT PUSHOVERS, PINIELLA SAYS". Orlando Sentinel. 28 March 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  24. ^ "LUGO'S HR LIFTS D-RAYS TO TIE IN JAPAN". Orlando Sentinel. 29 March 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Hideki Irabu Launches Comeback and Signs with the Long Beach Armada". OurSports Central. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  26. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Hideki Irabu arrested for assault in Japan". CBC. The Associated Press. 20 August 2008. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Hideki Irabu: Former New York Yankees Pitcher Hideki Irabu Arrested on Suspicion of Drunken Driving". ktla.com. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  29. Japan Times
    , 30 October 2011, p. 16.
  30. ^ Fortuna, Matt. "Yankees have fond memories of Irabu". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  31. Japan Times, 16 October 2011, p. 16. Archived
    from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  32. ^ "Autopsy planned for ex-Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu". syracuse. Associated Press. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hideki Irabu.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hideki_Irabu&oldid=1214391619"