Matsui’s Revenge: Uncovering the Anti-Japanese History of the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees, one of the most storied franchises in sports history, are synonymous with excellence, boasting 27 World Series championships and countless Hall of Fame players. Yet, lurking behind the pinstriped legacy lies a troubling connection to anti-Japanese sentiment, a legacy of disrespect, and missed opportunities for strengthening U.S.-Japan baseball ties. This article explores several significant moments in Yankee history that intertwine with the broader story of the organization’s bias—both conscious and unconscious—against people of Japanese ancestry.
Del Webb and the Profits of Injustice
Del Webb, a co-owner of the Yankees from 1945 to 1964, made his fortune as a construction magnate, securing lucrative government contracts during World War II. Among these projects were Japanese American incarceration camps, hastily built under the War Relocation Authority to house over 120,000 Japanese Americans forcibly removed from their homes under Executive Order 9066. These camps became a dark chapter in American history, representing racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and a gross violation of civil rights. Over the course of the war, Webb’s company generated over $100 million through government work.
The profits from these contracts allowed Webb to purchase the Yankees in 1945 alongside Dan Topping. Under their ownership, the team became a dynasty, winning 10 World Series titles. Yet, the source of Webb’s wealth raises uncomfortable questions about how the success of the Yankees, one of the most celebrated symbols of American sports, was tied to the suffering of Japanese Americans.
Bozo Wakabayashi: The International Scout Who Never Was
In late 1955, the Yankees made a goodwill barnstorming trip to Japan when the nation was still recovering from the devastation of World War II. Upon their return, Del Webb made a groundbreaking move by hiring Henry “Bozo” Wakabayashi, a legendary Japanese American pitcher, as a scout to evaluate talent in Japan. Wakabayashi, born in Hawaii, was well-respected for his accomplishments in Japan’s professional baseball leagues and was seen as a bridge between the two baseball cultures.
However, the initiative was rejected inside the Yankee organization, particularly by manager Casey Stengel. Known for his traditionalism and colorful personality, Stengel dismissed the notion of signing Japanese players, remarking that his club was already loaded with stars and he didn’t want to risk disrupting the team chemistry. This resistance thwarted Wakabayashi’s efforts, ensuring the Yankees would miss the chance to be the first team to integrate Japanese talent into Major League Baseball. The Yankees’ dismissal of Wakabayashi not only robbed them of a historic opportunity but also perpetuated (intentionally or not) a dismissive attitude toward Japanese contributions to the sport.
The Tragic Tale of Hideki Irabu
When the Yankees finally embraced Japanese talent in 1997, they signed pitcher Hideki Irabu, who had dominated Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. His arrival was celebrated as a groundbreaking moment, but it quickly unraveled into a story of disillusionment and tragedy.
Irabu struggled to meet the Yankees’ lofty expectations, with inconsistent performances and an inability to adapt to the immense pressure of New York’s baseball scene. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner infamously derided Irabu as a “fat toad” after the pitcher failed to cover first base during a game. This public humiliation reflected the cultural and personal insensitivity Irabu faced throughout his time with the team.
Kei Igawa, a high-priced signing who pitched for the Yankees in 2007–2008, never quite lived up to expectations and became the first Japanese pitcher to join the team after Irabu; he spent several additional years in the Yankees’ minor league system.
According to Jeff Passan in his book “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports”, Igawa faced significant communication barriers during his time with the Yankees. Passan highlights how Igawa was largely isolated within the organization, with the Yankees failing to provide proper support for his cultural integration, translation needs, and pitching development. Igawa often received instructions through written notes rather than direct verbal communication, making it difficult for him to adjust to MLB. Passan describes how Igawa was "left alone to sink or swim," with little effort from the Yankees to bridge the cultural and linguistic gap, further hindering his transition to the American game.
For Irabu, his career spiraled after leaving the Yankees, and he ultimately retired from professional baseball. In 2011, he died by suicide, a tragedy that underscored the mental health challenges he faced, exacerbated by the scrutiny and ridicule of his time in pinstripes. Irabu’s story remains a cautionary tale of how cultural barriers and a lack of support can devastate even the most talented athletes.
A silver lining to the Irabu era was the introduction of Jean Afterman to the Yankees organization. Afterman, who represented Irabu and Hideo Nomo, impressed team leadership with her deep knowledge of international baseball. In December 2001, she was named assistant general manager to Brian Cashman. Her experience and negotiation skills were instrumental in the signing of Hideki Matsui in 2003—a pivotal move that began to repair the Yankees’ relationship with Japanese baseball.
Matsui: A Stunning Snub After Glory
When Matsui joined the Yankees, he brought more than his powerful bat—he brought a cultural bridge between Japan and Major League Baseball. Over seven seasons, Matsui became a cornerstone of the Yankees' offense, peaking in 2009 when he carried the team to a World Series victory against the Philadelphia Phillies. Matsui earned World Series MVP honors for his clutch performances, including a six-RBI outburst in the clinching Game 6.
It seemed fitting that the Yankees would reward Matsui’s heroics with a contract extension. Instead, they released him, citing his age (35) and declining durability, despite the fact that he had played 142 games that season.
Prior to Matsui, seven Yankees players had won the World Series MVP: Bobby Richardson (1960), Whitey Ford (1961), Ralph Terry (1962), Reggie Jackson (1977), Bucky Dent (1978), John Wetteland (1996), and Mariano Rivera (1999). Of those, six MVPs returned to the Yankees the following season. The exceptions were Wetteland, who received more money to join the Texas Rangers in 1997, and Matsui who was forced to sign with the Los Angeles Angels for $6 million, a significant pay cut from the one-year, $13 million deal the Yankees could have offered.
Again, of the eight Yankees who have ever won World Series MVP honors, Matsui is the only one to take a pay cut the following season.
The decision to part ways with Matsui raised eyebrows, especially when the Yankees contradicted themselves just two seasons later by signing Ichiro Suzuki, another Japanese star, at age 39 (albeit for $6.5 million). The treatment of Matsui stood in stark contrast to the respect he had earned and served as a reminder of the Yankees' inconsistent and often dismissive approach toward their Japanese players.
The Departure of Masahiro Tanaka The Yankees' connection with Japanese stars continued in 2014 with the signing of Masahiro Tanaka, a dominant pitcher who became a cornerstone of their rotation over seven successful seasons. (Incidentally, the Yankees released Ichiro and pitcher Hiroki Kuroda after the 2014 season.) However, Tanaka's time with the team ended under troubling circumstances in 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the United States, a surge in anti-Asian sentiment created an environment of fear and unease for Tanaka and his family. New York City recorded an 867% increase in Asian hate crime victims compared to the year before. Feeling unsafe and unsupported by the institutions he had relied upon in New York, Tanaka made the difficult decision to leave the Yankees and return to Japan. His departure highlighted the broader societal challenges and vulnerabilities faced by Asian athletes in the U.S. during a time of crisis.
According to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, Masahiro Tanaka did not express any specific concerns to him or the organization in 2020. Although Cashman had not yet read the translated article detailing Tanaka’s fears, he said he was “aware of the article,” which included a passage about Tanaka’s eldest child—then in kindergarten—having a difficult experience at school.“It’s heartbreaking to hear any of these stories,” Cashman said. “We need to, as a society, do a better job to make sure that [racism] is unwelcomed in any walk of life.” At the time, the Yankees had cultivated strong ties with the Japanese American business community in New York. Yet when it mattered most, the organization failed to step up as an ally. From the outside, it appears they dropped the ball off the field as well. As Cashman himself acknowledged, the Yankees “need to… do a better job.”
The 2024 World Series: A Poetic Ending
Fast-forward to 2024, and the Yankees found themselves on the cusp of reclaiming their championship glory, facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. The Dodgers, however, boasted a roster rich with Japanese talent, including two of the sport’s biggest stars: Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The pivotal Game 5 at Yankee Stadium unfolded like a karmic tale. Leading 5-0, the Yankees imploded in the fifth inning, committing a series of costly errors, including a failed cover of first base by ace Gerrit Cole—a mistake eerily reminiscent of the infamous play that earned Hideki Irabu public scorn from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. By the end of the inning, the score was tied 5-5, an ominous echo of Hideki Matsui’s jersey number with the Yankees, 55.
Adding to the drama, Matsui, now a beloved figure in Yankees lore for his MVP contributions in their last World Series victory in 2009, had thrown out the ceremonial first pitch before the game. It was a poignant moment, symbolic of his enduring connection to the team despite the disrespect he endured in his departure.
The Dodgers went on to win the game and the series, solidifying a narrative that the Yankees had been outplayed by a team that fully embraced Japanese talent. While Ohtani performed below his record-season pace, Yamamoto shone in the series. His brilliance was a testament to what the Yankees had missed by failing to value Japanese players earlier in their history.
Conclusion: Missed Opportunities and the Making of a Curse From Del Webb’s wartime profits tied to Japanese American incarceration camps to the disrespect of Hideki Matsui, the Yankees’ history with Japanese players and people of Japanese ancestry is marred by contradictions and missteps. While Matsui’s heroic 2009 World Series performance and Masahiro Tanaka’s successful tenure offered moments of hope, these bright spots have often been overshadowed by the franchise’s cultural insensitivity and shortsighted decisions.
The 2024 World Series served as a stark reminder of these failings. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto led the Dodgers to victory, while the Yankees collapsed under the weight of costly errors. The symbolism was undeniable: the Yankees, once seen as untouchable, had been outplayed by a team that fully embraced Japanese talent.
Baseball’s lore is filled with tales of curses, none more famous than the Curse of the Bambino, which kept the Red Sox from winning a championship for 86 years after trading Babe Ruth. Now, the Yankees may face a similar reckoning—not for a single fateful decision but for a pattern of dismissiveness toward Japanese players and their contributions.
The Yankees' decision to release Matsui after his MVP performance, their mishandling of Irabu, and their failure to support Tanaka during a period of rising anti-Asian sentiment all point to a larger problem. These actions haven’t just cost them talented players; they’ve eroded goodwill and cultural bridges that could have strengthened the franchise.
As long as stars like Ohtani and Yamamoto dominate for rival teams, the Yankees’ path back to glory may remain elusive for some time. Just as the Red Sox overcame their curse by embracing change and broadening their approach to talent, the Yankees must reckon with their history and rebuild their culture. Until then, their legacy of missteps and missed opportunities may cast a long shadow perhaps known as “Matsui’s Revenge” – haunting them in ways reminiscent of the Curse of the Bambino.
2025 Off-Season Update Several sources indicate that the Yankees are interested in pursuing Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami when he becomes available to MLB teams after the 2025 season.
Michael Kay, a broadcaster for the YES Network, mentioned on his radio show that the Yankees "would love to have" Murakami and have structured their offseason plans to accommodate the possibility of signing him. Additionally, Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation reported that, according to Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) insiders, Murakami prefers to play for a West Coast team but is also open to signing with the Yankees. Furthermore, reports suggest that the Yankees' one-year contract with Paul Goldschmidt for the 2025 season aligns with their interest in Murakami, potentially leaving first base open for him in 2026. These sources collectively highlight the Yankees' strategic interest in Murakami as a potential addition to their roster in the near future. FWIW, Murakami wears #55 with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows -- the same as Hideki Matsui.
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In addition to Baseball-Reference.com, this article referenced the following sources:
“Buildings and Baseball - A History of Del Webb,” The State Library of Arizona, June 9, 2020. https://statelibraryofarizona.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/buildings-and-baseball-a-history-of-del-webb/
“Look for Japanese,” Great Falls Tribune (MT), November 6, 1955, 18.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/great-falls-tribune-wakabayashi-ny-yanke/25148963/
Syd Love, “Club Loaded With Talent, Casey Says Yanks Don't Need Additional Players,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, February 5, 1956, 31.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-advertiser-wakabayashi-and/94796439/
“Steinbrenner calls Irabu 'fat ... toad'," The Atlanta Journal, April 2, 1999, 44.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-irabur-fat-toad-1999/159815350/
Jeff Passan, “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” (Harper, 2017). https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Billion-Dollar-Mystery-Valuable-Commodity/dp/0062400371
Ben Walker, “Yanks, Matsui are Back on Top," The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY), November 6, 2009, C3. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-matsui-mvp-2009/159815724/
Scott Davis, “Yankees legend Masahiro Tanaka appears to suggest he moved back to Japan to protect his family from racism in the US,” Business Insider, March 29, 2021. https://www.businessinsider.com/masahiro-tanaka-family-faced-anti-asian-racism-us-2021-3
Hate crimes against Asian Americans continue to rise amid pandemic, cbsnews.com, Feb 13, 2021.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/hate-crimes-against-asian-americans-continue-to-rise-amid-pandemic/
“It’s a thrilla … from Godzilla,” @mlb, October 30, 2024. https://x.com/MLB/status/1851629781080560064
Sarah Langs, “A dozen eye-popping stats from a thriller of a Game 5 World Series clincher,” mlb.com, October 31, 2024. https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-yankees-world-series-game-5-stats-fun-facts
Grant Young, "Yankees 'Would Love' to Sign Japanese Superstar Slugger in 2026, si.com, Jan 16, 2025. https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/news/yankees-would-love-to-sign-japanese-superstar-slugger-in-2026-grant9
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By Bill Staples, Jr., and the Nisei Baseball Research Project