Hideki Matsui Getting 1-Day Contract To Retire A Yankee
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Hideki Matsui wants to go out in style -- and that means pinstripes.
Matsui will sign a one-day minor league contract with the Yankees on July 28 and again announce his retirement, the team announced Thursday.
The Yankees plan to honor the 2009 World Series MVP during a pregame ceremony that day and will give the first 18,000 fans Hideki Matsui bobbleheads.
Matsui wore No. 55, and July 28 is the Yankees' originally scheduled 55th home game. The 38-year-old announced his retirement in December after 10 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League and 10 in the major leagues, including his first seven with the Yankees.
Matsui played for New York from 2003-09, driving in six runs in the 2009 World Series clincher, then spent one season each with the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland A's and Tampa Bay Rays.
"Even through his knee injuries, he found a way to always get big hits for the New York Yankees," manager Joe Girardi said. "You will hear every player to a man say what a great teammate he was."
Matsui's parents are expected at the game, the Yankees said.
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