The story made headlines on the front page of several Japanese sports newspapers Jan. 25: The Yomiuri Giants in a money trade bought the contract of catcher Katsunori Nomura from the Hanshin Tigers, and just why would the transfer of a back-up backstop who, in fact, did not play a game at the varsity level for the Tigers in 2003, make it on Page 1?
The Yomiuri Giants have given catcher Katsunori Nomura a chance to step out of his famous father's
shadow.
Because of his name, his famous father and the family's history of opposing the Giants over the past 45 years, that's why.