Hideki Matsui retires as a Yankee

Hideki Matsui's baseball career in the United States ends the same way it began: as a member of the New York Yankees.

Matsui retired as a Yankee on Sunday, as he signed a one-day minor league deal with the team and later inked his retirement papers in a ceremony before the Yankees faced the Rays at Yankee Stadium.
Matsui officially retired in December, but went through this process to ensure that his final day in baseball would be as a member of the Yankees, who he played seven seasons for.

"I think this moment will be a moment I never forget," Matsui said through an interpreter prior to the game. "To be able to retire as a member of the team which I aspired to and I looked up to, I think there's nothing more fulfilling."

The Yankees began the ceremony on Sunday by flashing "Thank You Hideki!" across the video board in center. Highlights of Matsui's career were displayed, and Matsui was driven along the warning track from center field to home plate as the fans gave him a standing ovation.

Flanked by his father, mother and brother, Matsui sat at a desk behind home plate and signed his retirement papers to officially retire as a Yankee. Matsui was given a framed jersey by longtime teammate Derek Jeter, and the Yankees came out to congratulate Matsui.

Matsui, 39, also threw out the first pitch while wearing his No. 55 jersey and a Yankees hat. Fans received Matsui bobbleheads, and the bleacher creatures included Matsui in their roll call.

"Hideki represents everything the Yankees aspire to be and that's a credit to his family and his country," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "We're very thankful that you were here as a Yankee as well. This day is a proud one for us because we have a chance to retire Hideki as a New York Yankee."

The Yankees signed Matsui in 2002 after a prolific career with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, which earned him the nickname "Godzilla" for his prowess as a power hitter. Matsui played seven seasons with the Yankees from 2003-09, and played an instrumental part in the team's success during that time.

Teammates all respected Matsui for his professional approach, his presence in the clubhouse, and his willingness to do whatever it took to stay in the lineup. Before breaking his left wrist on May 11, 2006, Matsui played in 1,768 consecutive games dating back to his time in Japan.