Hideki Matsui , nicknamed Godzilla, is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played baseball in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. After playing the first ten seasons of his career for the Yomiuri Giants of NPB, he played the next seven seasons, from 2003–2009, for the New York Yankees of MLB. As a free agent, Matsui then had one-year stints with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Oakland Athletics, and the Tampa Bay Rays. Matsui was successful in both leagues, winning the Central League Most Valuable Player Award three times in NPB, as well as the World Series Most Valuable Player Award in MLB. On July 28, 2013, Matsui signed a one-day minor league contract with the New York Yankees in order to officially retire as a Yankee. A pregame ceremony was held for him.
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