The atmosphere was electric when Shigeo Nagashima waved to the crowd at Tokyo Dome on July 3 before and during that evening's Yomiuri Giants-Hiroshima Carp game.
"Mr. Giants" or "Mr. Japanese Baseball" or just "Mister," the most popular figure in the history of the game in this country, was making his first public appearance since suffering a stroke a year and a half ago.
Nagashima, just by his presence, inspired the Giants for whom he played (1958-1974) and managed (1975-1980 and 1993-2001) and the 43,763 spectators in attendance, as he waved from the owner's box below the Big Egg's upper deck.