Full Count
A Furiously Updated Red Sox Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
RSS
For Matsuzaka, uniform number is no small matter 08.25.10 at 1:19 am ET
By Alex Speier

Daisuke Matsuzaka's contract states that he will receive the No. 18. (AP)

Even before Johnny Damon’s declaration that he intended to exercise his right to veto a deal to Boston, it was clear that he would not be wearing No. 18 for the Red Sox again this year.

It is not just that Daisuke Matsuzaka wears Damon’s old uniform. The number actually harbors tremendous significance for the member of the Red Sox rotation, to the point where his right to wear it was written into the six-year, $52 million deal he signed with the Sox in December 2006.*

“Growing up, I played baseball with the goal of one day wearing number 18 as a professional ballplayer,” Matsuzaka said through translator Masa Hoshino yesterday. “When I signed with the Red Sox, I wanted to keep wearing the same number I had always worn, and the number was available. I’ve never worn another number since I went pro, even in international competition.

“In Japan, the ace gets to wear number 18,” he continued. “I know that 18 isn’t considered an ‘ace number’ here in the U.S., but for me personally, I wear the number with pride, and I always try to push myself to be a pitcher worthy of the number.”

The roots of “18” as an “ace number” in Japan, Matsuzaka explained, stem from the legendary Yomiuri Giants. From 1965-73, the Giants won nine straight championships, spearheaded by legendary hitters Shigeo Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh.

But during that time, Tsuneo Horiuchi – who debuted in 1966 – was the dominant mound presence for the Giants. He won the Sawamura Award (recognizing the best pitcher in the NPB) twice during the dynasty. He was known for his irreverence and willingness to challenge his elders, and helped to make the number 18 that he wore iconic.

But Matsuzaka was too young to see Horiuchi pitch. Instead, it was Horiuchi’s successor as the Giants ace who captivated the young Matsuzaka.

“When I was growing up, Masumi Kuwata, who later pitched for Pittsburgh, wore number 18 as the Giants’ ace,” Matsuzaka explained. “As I watched him, it became my goal to wear 18 if I ever became a professional baseball player.”

Kuwata was the Giants ace for much of his 20-year career in the NPB, and he inherited the No. 18. The number is treated with reverence.

“Right now, for example, no one in the Giants’ roster is wearing number 18, because no one is considered worthy,” said Matsuzaka. “That’s how much weight the number has in Japan.”

Insofar as it was a lifelong goal for Matsuzaka to wear the number, and he has spent his entire professional career trying to honor its tradition, it is nearly impossible to imagine him sacrificing it for anyone, including a former Sox icon. That is no slight against Damon, of course.

“I think he’s an aggressive hitter and a great baseball player,” Matsuzaka said of Damon.

But a No. 18? Not on a team on which Matsuzaka can carry on the torch of a number that carries such great symbolism, not just for his personal career but also for his country.

* – While Matsuzaka’s contract clause entitling him to a uniform number is rare, it is not unique. Barry Zito‘s deal with the Giants entitles him to the number 75, while Kenshin Kawakami‘s deal with the Braves guaranteed him the number 11.

Read More: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Johnny Damon, masumi kuwata, tsuneo horiuchi Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • fideauxdon

    Clauses like that were written in anticipation of Dice-K being a Star.
    He isn’t a Star….by a long shot!

  • Tom

    Mr Matsuzaka sounds like a nice guy who usually says the right thing. Unfortunately, the Sox paid for an ace pitcher. What they received is far from an ace. The little injuries are way past annoying now. Maybe they can get him to waive his no-trade clause and send him somewhere that has a big hole to dig out of, such as the Mets or Mariners. Hopefully, they will never again post such a ridiculous sum just for negotiation privileges. Taken with the ~ $50m in salary in his contract, the $51m posting fee seems enormously out of proportion. Unfortunately, overpaying for pitching has become the norm, with Beckett and Lackey in that class, at immediately following signing their new Sox contracts.

  • http://sigmakom.com/ Tod Couden

    It truly is rare to encounter an expert in whom you might have some confidence. In the world at present, nobody absolutely cares about showing others exactly how in this issue. How blessed I am to have now found such a wonderful web-site as this. It truly is people like you exactly who make a true difference these days through the thoughts they share.

  • http://www.premium-lists.com premium backlinks

    The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.

  • http://www.november811.co.uk Katherine

    I really liked reading your post!. Quallity content. With such a valuable blog i believe you deserve to be ranking even higher in the search engines :)

  • http://www.cellphoneaccessoriesv.com Cell Phone Accessories

    Good post. I learn one thing more difficult on totally different blogs everyday. It will all the time be stimulating to read content material from other writers and practice a little bit one thing from their store. I’d favor to use some with the content material on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll offer you a hyperlink in your net blog. Thanks for sharing.

  • http://www.november811.co.uk Jasmine

    I wish more people would write blogs like this that are really fun to read. With all the fluff floating around on the net, it is rare to read a blog like this instead.

  • http://pacquiaoversusmarquez3live.blogspot.com pacquiao vs marquez

    You must take part in a contest for among the finest blogs on the web. I will suggest this website!

  • http://weathervanestyle.weebly.com/ weathervane

    Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!

  • http://www.sportstvlivestreaming.com/pacquiao-vs-marquez-live-streaming/ pacquiao vs marquez live streaming

    There are actually a number of details like that to take into consideration. That may be a great point to carry up. I offer the ideas above as basic inspiration however clearly there are questions like the one you bring up the place an important factor shall be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged around things like that, however I’m positive that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Both girls and boys feel the impact of just a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.

  • http://www.cat-urine-odor-remover.org/ cat urine odor remover

    Exceptional read, I just passed this onto a coworker who was doing a modest research on that. And he in fact bought me lunch simply because I identified it for him .So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch!

  • http://blackhatrealm.com blackhat seo forum

    very nice publish, i definitely love this web site, carry on it

  • http://foxmoor.org/story.php?title=bathroom-furniture-designs-tips-on-how-to-define-your-vanity-style bathroom furniture

    The more units you fit into the bathroom, the far more you can shop. Having a modern bathroom furniture most bathroom cabinets you’ll find numerous options for the insides including the number of of shelves you might require. If the salesman delivers you an open unit for straightforward access then just say no. You truly will regret it should you are talked into it.

Red Sox Box Score
Red Sox Schedule
Baseball Analytics Blog
Red Sox Headlines
Red Sox Minor League News
Red Sox Team Leaders
MLB Headlines
Tips & Feedback

Verify