In response to the retirement of pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, an event will be held at Seibukyujo-mae Station! Commemorative train enters the limited "18th platform"
In response to the retirement of Daisuke Matsuzaka, a pitcher who belongs to the Saitama Seibu Lions, Seibu Railway Co., Ltd. held a project at Seibukyujo-mae Station (Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture) to commemorate the final day of pitching. (Photo courtesy of Seibu Lions)
Junichi Swan
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2021/10/29
On the 19th, pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka held a retirement press conference and made his final pitch at the MetLife Dome. Seibu Railway held various events at Seibukyujo-mae Station to show appreciation for pitcher Matsuzaka's achievements and his fans.
At Seibukyujo-mae Station, admission tickets with commemorative cards were suddenly released, creating a long line.
Platform 5 of Seibukyujo-mae Station will feature “Platform 18” for this day only. The 20000 series "L-Train", which is usually used on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, has entered the line.
The same vehicle with a picture of pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on the body. A message card was placed at the home, and many fans wrote their gratitude to pitcher Matsuzaka.
Numerous messages were spread inside the car.
Photo courtesy:Seibu Lions
Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is tossed after the game with Hokkaido Nippon-Ham. In addition to the Seibu Nine, Fuminori Kimura, who was traded from Seibu to Nippon-Ham, and former Yokohama High School alumni Kensuke Kondo, Daiki Asama, Yujin Takahama, and Chumasa Mannami also joined the team.
In the "L-Train" car, "Lions News" from 1999 when pitcher Matsuzaka joined the team to 2006 when he moved to the major leagues was reprinted.
Year 1999：16-5 ERA2.60 (Pro 1year)
Pitcher Matsuzaka, who led Yokohama High School to Koshien spring and summer consecutive victories, was at a draft meeting in the fall of 1998.After competing with three teams, he joined the Seibu Lions.
Fans who wanted to catch a glimpse of pitcher Matsuzaka rushed to various places before the opening, causing "Matsuzaka fever".
In the match against Nippon-Ham (Tokyo Dome) on April 7, he won his first professional starting lineup, and on April 27, against Lotte, he marked his second win with the first shutout as a professional. He took revenge on pitcher Kuroki, who suffered a black star in the previous match. "Revenge" also won the 1999 buzzword annual award.
On May 16, in his first confrontation with Orix's Ichiro, Matsuzaka struck out in three consecutive at-bats, saying, "My confidence changed to conviction," and continued to accumulate victories.
Despite being a rookie, she also participated in the final Asian qualifiers for the Sydney Olympics. He won a complete game (Chinese Taipei).
Despite being a rookie, Matsuzaka won 16 wins (5 losses), the most wins, swept titles such as the Golden Glove Award and Best Nine, and also shone as the Rookie of the Year.
2000：14 wins, 7 losses, defense rate 3.97 (Pro 2year)
In the 2000 season, which was the team's first teenage opening pitcher, he won his first victory in the second game (April 7).
Pitcher Matsuzaka, who marked 14 wins (7 losses) in his second season, won the title of the most wins for the second consecutive year and the most strikeouts for the first time.
2001：15 wins, 15 losses, ERA 3.60(Professional3year)
Pitcher Matsuzaka, who achieved 15 wins (15 losses) in 2001, became the first high school graduate rookie to win the most wins from a rookie for three consecutive years. He also won the Sawamura Prize.
*In addition, he won the most strikeouts, best nine, and golden glove.
A promotional poster for the "Monday Para League" (held on Mondays), which started in 2001. It was held until 2005.
In August, pitcher Matsuzaka already won 10 wins.
year 2002：6win 2 lose defense rate 3.68(Pro 4year)
IharaIn 2002, the Lions, who welcomed new manager Haruki and renewed their uniforms, showed overwhelming strength and won the league championship for the first time in four years.
Lions news that tells the opening game of 2002.
It was pitcher Matsuzaka who reached the opening with thorough adjustment.
Pitcher Matsuzaka also got off to a good start with six straight wins from the opening.
However, in the match against Osaka Kintetsu on May 13, he injured his right elbow and withdrew from the front line. Even in the Japan Series, he spent an unwilling season without being able to show his original pitching.
2003 years：16 wins and 7 losses, defense rate 2.83(Pro 5year)
In 2003, when the "Matsuzaka generation" college graduates joined the team as rookies, Matsuzaka made a comeback with 16 wins.
297 team batting average and 100 RBI quartet.Fukuoka Daiei's "Die Hard Batting Line" (at that time) also showed a stable pitch.
In May 2003, he won the monthly MVP award for the third time.
(July, 1999,April 2002(Also awarded in May)
As if to vent the frustration of the previous year when he could not perform as expected, he continued to win.
Pitcher Matsuzaka extended his winning streak to 10. In June, the first half of the season, he reached 10 wins as early as possible.
2004 years：10 wins and 5 losses, defense rate 2.90(Pro 6year)
In 2004, he won the best ERA and the Golden Glove Award. He also participated in the Summer Olympics in Athens, where he won a bronze medal.
The Seibu Lions finished the season in 2nd place, but won the playoffs and the Japan Series to win the league title and the best in Japan.
(* At that time, the playoff ranking was the final ranking of the season.)
2005: 14-13, 2.30 ERA(Pro 7year)
Matsuzaka, who had 14 wins in 2005,He was selected to represent Japan in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) held before the 2006 season began. He won 3 wins as an ace, won the MVP, and contributed to the "world's best".
※Recorded most strikeouts in 2005 and won a Golden Glove
2006: 17-5, 2.13 ERA(Pro 8year)
In June 2006, achieved a total of 100 wins as a professional. The 191st game pitching is the fastest tie record since the introduction of the draft system.
Photo courtesy:Seibu LionsAfter that, he was transferred to the Boston Red Sox after posting. In 2007, he won the world championship and played an active role, but after that he suffered from injuries for a long time.
In 2020, he returned to his old club, Saitama Seibu Lions, and his career as a player came to an end.
Photo courtesy:Seibu Lions
Daisuke Matsuzaka Pitcher's career record
NPB total: 114 wins 65 losses ERA 3.04
MLB total: 56 wins 43 losses ERA 4.45
Japan-US total: 170 wins 108 losses ERA 3.53
At "LIONS THANKS FESTA2021" to be held at MetLife Dome on Saturday, December 4, it was decided that pitcher Matsuzaka's retirement ceremony will also be held.
At the retirement press conference, what kind of words will the monster of Heisei say, "I want to convey my feelings to the fans once again," and say goodbye to the ground?
[Interview cooperation]
Seibu Railway Co., Ltd.
Seibu Lions Co., Ltd.
