VIDEO: Remembering the Emotional Scene When Hideki Matsui Returned to Yankee Stadium for 2009 World Series Ring
By Adam Weinrib
No Yankee outside of perhaps Alex Rodriguez meant more to the team's most recent World Series run than Hideki Matsui. Godzilla grew into a firebreathing monster most Octobers, but his very best was reserved for the Philadelphia Phillies that fall. Even without a guaranteed DH spot on the road, the veteran tattooed Philly pitching, hitting a ridiculous .615 in 13 at-bats, collecting a trio of homers (one of the pinch-hit variety) and eight RBI. After that season, Matsui cashed in, signing a one-year deal with the Angels at the age of 36, the Yanks acting awfully Belichick-ian in the process. But when he returned to New York to get his ring, it was clear no love had been lost.
Just watching Hideki Matsui receive his ‘09 WS ring. Definitely not getting emotional. Nope, I’m fine. Quarantine is going great! pic.twitter.com/x8FYZwQzBS
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) April 4, 2020
Waterworks.
Matsui's exemplary Yankee career was capped off by a force-of-nature October, and he was never quite the same after one more solid 2010 season in California. The Yankees chose right when they let both him and Johnny Damon walk (technically), but a one-year deal for '10 would've done their repeat bid a whole lot of good.
Clearly, chemistry would've been positively impacted, judging from the A-Rod hug above.