First there was Fernando-mania during the 80's. Then in 1995, Hideo Nomo came over from Japan and took the league by storm with his unique "tornado" delivery.
That year he was the starting pitcher in the MLB All-Star game and also took home the 1995 National League Rookie of the Year Award.
He would go on to have an up and down career that was highlighted by two no-hitters... only the fourth pitcher in MLB history to pitch a no-hitter in both the American League and National League.
In twelve MLB seasons, he won 123 games and struck out 1,918 batters. Those statistics won't land him in Cooperstown, but there's no denying the fact that he made his mark on baseball.
His success attracted other Japanese baseball players like Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, and Yu Darvish to cross the Pacific and test out their skills against the best in the world.
Long live Nomo-mania!
Happy Monday and sayonara!
I was in 5th grade when Nomomania hit, and I remember my whole Little League team imitating him.
ReplyDeleteLol... had it been ten years earlier, I would have been imitating him too.
DeleteI was a Dodgers fan in the early to mid 90's (D-Backs weren't around until 1998) and I was a huge Nomo fan! He was also part of the Dodgers back to back to back to back to back Rookie of the Years!
ReplyDeleteAre all those graded Nomos part of your collection, Fuji? Wow, that is an impressive showing and puts some shame on my Nomo collection.
ReplyDeleteYeah... they were recent additions. They were $7/each... except for the Upper Deck, Select Certified, and Japanese Zenith. They were $8, $8, and $9. I figured that's the same price it costs to have them graded... so pulled the trigger.
DeleteI really got to agree with you there Fuji... I'm not a Dodgers fan. I've never been a Dodgers fan. And I will never be a Dodgers fan.
ReplyDeleteThose are fantastic rookie cards. Fantastically graded too. I just posted my Cespedes, btw. ; )
ReplyDeleteGreat cards...though I've always found horizontal graded cards to look a little strange.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. Wasn't sure how to scan them.
Deletei remember staying up late to watch Nomo pitch...and listen to Vin Scully...
ReplyDeleteNice cards, I didn't know you were the kind of guy who gets some of his cards graded (unless you bought them like that).
ReplyDeleteI know you probably aren't but, this blog post strikes me as maybe you're hinting that you're rooting for Team Japan in this year's WBC.
*Sorry if that sentence didn't make sense, my brain doesn't work on days ending with y.
I've never had a card graded in my life. I just came across these and the price was right. As for the WBC... I always root for Team USA and Team Japan. I love the fact that this year there are no MLB players on the Japan squad... should make things interesting for them.
Deletethe dodgers had some american guys with unique windups, too - like rick sutcliffe.
ReplyDeletenice nomos.
I remember Sutcliffe... but can't remember his windup. I'll have to track it down on YouTube.
DeleteI'm happy to say that as a Dodger fan, who has always been a Dodger fan and will never not be a Dodger fan, that I have all those Nomos.
ReplyDeleteNot graded, of course. I don't believe in that.
;-D
DeleteI was mildly indifferent to the Dodgers, until they picked up Greinke and McGwire. Now I'm a little worried, ha ha!
ReplyDeleteI really wanted his 96 SLU soooooo bad. Never got it. The only one I ever found was his 98 SLU in his warm up jacket
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same boat as you... I have the 98 piece, but want the 96. Looks like you can buy the 96 figure off of eBay for $7.50.
Deletenomo-san will always be the most sought after japanese player for my collection. he really was great...and even though you characterized his career as "up and down", i never saw it that way.
ReplyDeletehe always was bad-ass to me.
that is some Nomo Collection! I was too young to really remember the Nomo craze but I do have a few oddball items featuring Hideo.
ReplyDeleteNice, I have a Nomo Jersey card that highlights my baseball collection!
ReplyDelete