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Japanese Sports Stars

Shinjo Tsuyoshi (Tokyo, 1972- )
Shinjo Tsuyoshi Baseball is huge in Japan and the poster boy for Japanese baseball has long been Shinjo Tsuyoshi. Consistently one of the most popular players on the fan's ballot for the All-Star game, Shinjo is equal parts style and substance. Well, make that 60-40. His red Ferrari, Armani suits and dyed-blonde hair are certainly not to help with his swing. 'The Prince' or 'The Spaceman' as he is known in Japan learned some time ago that what he lacks in statistics he can make up for with a cocky smile and a flourish on the field. A career .248 batter, Shinjo had to work hard during 2001 Spring training to secure a place in the New York Mets talented outfield, but though he went through ups and downs, he managed to keep it. Mets manager Bobby Valentine spent some happy, if frustrating, years with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan and had high hopes for Shinjo. So it came as quite a shock, not least to the player himself, when he was traded to the San Fransisco Giants the following season. Ever the optimist, Shinjo said he looked forward to moving to the west coast.

Shinjo (born Jan 28, 1972 in Tokyo) joined the Hanshin Tigers in 1990 and in many ways his career encapsulates the team's very essence in recent years. In their decades-long rivalry with 'Japan's team', the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Giants, the Tigers and their fans have lived in constant hope of beating the 'money' team and making it to the top. Only once since they won the Japan Series in 1985 have they even managed a winning record. But the fans remain just about the most fanatical in Japan as well as the most hopelessly optimistic. Shinjo's 'freestyle' batting and league-leading strikeout records reflect that kind of optimism. That having been said, Shinjo is very quick on his feet and plays solid, error-free defense.

Shinjo gave up a very lucrative career in Japan to move to the US. He turned down a $14 million multi-year contract to play for the minimum MLB salary of $200,000. As he said: "I'm not going for the money. I want to play baseball at this level. You never know what's going to happen. I'm trying to grasp that dream I've always had." In typical positive style, he added: "I would have had something in my mind that I would have regretted forever if I didn't come here. Rather than have that regret, I decided to go." Certainly in comparison with the occasionaly dour Nomo, Irabu and even Ichiro, Shinjo's 'no-tenki' (carefree) approach to life makes for more cheery news reports.

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