Japan nearly came to a standstill as millions watched on TV as the man they know as Godzilla stomped around New York. Hideki Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to win the MVP trophy, setting a record with six RBIs in the World Series clincher to lead the New York Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 on Wednesday night. Matsui homered, doubled and singled in Game 6, highlighting a Series in which he hit .615 with three home runs and eight RBIs. Japanese salarymen crammed into downtown electronics stores to watch the final few innings on giant TVs. The game ended just before 2 p.m. local time Thursday, giving office workers an excuse to take an extended lunch break. "All the news recently has been about Ichiro Suzuki," said office worker Hiroyuki Takeuchi, who took the morning off to watch the game. "But Matsui's presence is huge. He overcame injuries and came through with the performance of a lifetime. As a Japanese, I'm very proud today." Matsui was a three-time MVP for the Yomiuri Giants in the regular season in 1996, 2000 and 2002, his last year in Japan. He also won the MVP award in the 2000 Japan Series, Japan's version of the World Series. Earning the nickname "Godzilla," Matsui hit 50 home runs in 2002. The No. 55 on his uniform is a tribute to Sadaharu Oh's single-season home run record. "As the first Japanese to win an MVP in the World Series, this is a great accomplishment for Matsui and will have a huge impact," said former San Francisco Giants pitcher Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player to play in the major leagues, who watched at his Tokyo home. Continued... |