Shigeo Nagashima

Shigeo Nagashima (長嶋 茂雄, Nagashima Shigeo; February 20, 1936 – June 3, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball player and manager. Nicknamed "Mr. Pro Baseball" of Japan and "Mr. Giants", Nagashima first began playing baseball in elementary school, before playing at his high school in Chiba Prefecture before playing as a third baseman for Rikkyo University. After winning the batting title for two straight years in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League, he made his professional debut in 1958 with the Yomiuri Giants after signing with them months prior. In his rookie season, he led the league in home runs and runs batted in, with 29 and 92 respectively, and ultimately received rookie of the year honors. Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh would later become a dual force in being the best hitters in the game, in which Nagashima won the season MVP award five times. After retiring in 1974, he became the manager of the Giants from 1975 to 1980, and again from 1993 to 2001; during this time, he won the Japan Series twice.