Japan
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Hideki Irabu
Hirara, Japan
Archival Overview
Flamethrowing Japanese pitcher whose 99 mph fastball dominated Japan's Pacific League before he signed with the New York Yankees, winning two World Series championships.
Biographical Record
Hideki Irabu was born in Okinawa and raised in Hyogo Prefecture. Pitching for the Chiba Lotte Marines, he led the Pacific League in strikeouts three times and in ERA twice, clocking what was then the fastest pitch in Japanese baseball history at 99 mph (158 km/h).
In 1997, Irabu forced a historic trade to the New York Yankees, signing a $12.8 million contract. He won thirteen games in 1998 and eleven in 1999 as the Yankees won back-to-back World Series titles, paving the way for future Japanese pitching superstars in Major League Baseball.
Key Life Milestones
Fastest Pitch in Japanese Baseball History
Clocked at 158 km/h (99 mph) for Chiba Lotte, setting an all-time record in Nippon Professional Baseball.
World Series Champion with New York Yankees
Won 13 games for the historic 114-win Yankees team that swept San Diego in the World Series.
Memorial Guestbook & Tributes
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialLos Angeles, United States