Shigeo Nagashima
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Shigeo Nagashima (長嶋 茂雄, Nagashima Shigeo; February 20, 1936 – June 3, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball player and manager. Nagashima first began to playing a baseball in elementary school, before playing at his high school in Chiba Prefecture, part of Kanto Region, just before he played as a third baseman for Rikkyo University. After winning the batting title for two straight years in Tokyo Big6 Baseball League, Nagashima made his professional debut in 1958 with Yomiuri Giants after signing with them months prior. In his rookie season, he led a baseball league in home runs and runs batted in, with 29 and 92 respectively, and ultimately received a rookie of the year honors. Later, Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh would both become a dual force in being the best hitters in a game, in which Nagashima won the season MVP award five times. After retiring in 1974, he became as a manager of Yomiuri Giants from 1975 to 1980, and again from 1993 to 2001; during this time, he won Japan Series twice. His nicknames includes "Mr. Pro Baseball", "Mr. Giants", and "Hot Man" of Japan, Nagashima is regarded as a beloved national figure of postwar Japan, on par with Hibari Misora and Yujiro Ishihara. His bright personality endeared him to the Japanese people, extending beyond the Giants and professional baseball.