Tuesday, July 26, 2011

A Great Summer Afternoon Read: The Lost Yankee

Over the last couple of years Durham Bulls fans have seen the famous Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa a number of times. Most recently, we saw him at the DBAP on June 26 when the Bulls touched him up for 3 runs in a six-inning start for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

Back in 2007 the Yankees paid $26 million just to bid for Igawa's services and then signed him to a $20 million contract. He pitched 16 games in the majors and has spent the years since pitching for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and AA Trenton in the minors.

Bill Pennington of the New York Times has written a fascinating story, The Lost Yankee, that is a terrific read. Igakawa still lives in New York City and, for home games, is driven to either Scranton or Trenton each morning by his chauffeur/interpreter. He seems to have a very, very strange life driven by some sense of obligation to fulfill his original contract with the Yankees.

Enjoy.

[Thanks to Bill K. for putting me on to this story.]

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