Nagashima Shigeo has set out. I think it was the last three weeks that all baseball players once again thought about “me and Nagashima-san.”

When the reporter received the number 3 at a youth baseball tournament, he remembered that his teammate's father told him, “It's Nagashima, that's good.” It had already been more than a dozen years since he retired. This was when Seibu's young number 3, Kiyohara Kazuhiro, was playing a great role in the baseball world. When he is involved in baseball, he unwittingly becomes “Nakashima-san, number 3.” I'm sure there are many people who have had similar experiences. Even just talking about jersey numbers shows how special he was.

What about the players now? What is the feeling of actually carrying a “3” in the world of professional baseball? I wanted to ask infielder Oyama Yusuke (30), who has been ranked third in Hanshin since joining the team.

“Even from the baseball world, it's a very big number. I was playing third place and third place, so of course I know that's the number. I think it's a great happiness to be able to play baseball with this number.”

He has been a right-handed slugger since college, and his main job is third baseman. Even after becoming a professional, he mainly defended third base, and has been the fourth batter for a long time. There are many parts that overlap with Mr., who was synonymous with “4th batter, third baseman,” but he has never felt any pressure.

The reason is, “I'm presumptuous. I'm not that kind of player.” It's so great that you don't feel anything in comparison. Finally, he was in the 2001 season when he was coaching the Giants, and he is apparently in a first grade of elementary school, and he has a faint memory of that. Of course, he knows his great footprints and achievements.

While wearing this number on the ground was described as “happiness,” in reality, more direct feelings come first. “I want to make the number I've given you well. Since I've received it from the team, I want to do my best. In Japan, single-digit numbers really have meaning. I really feel that way.” He is expected to be the team's face, and the responsibility for being given the young number is imprinted in his heart.

The Giants will hold a memorial match at Tokyo Dome on August 16th. Everyone fights wearing number 3. The opponent is Hanshin. There is only one man in Tatejima who carries the same number. It may be a special day that will be a different way to focus on “3” from before.[Kashiwara Makoto]



Nagashima Shigeo, who was a Giants manager, showed off his uniform wearing his number 3 uniform (February 12, 2000)

Nagashima Shigeo, who was a Giants manager, showed off his uniform wearing his number 3 uniform (February 12, 2000)