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Japanese Players in Major Leagues

Discussion in the Nichi-Bei forum
Japanese Players in Major Leagues
Sam Kauffman-san writes:


I went to ESPN.com and found a site where you could click on a country and find all the major league players from that country.  I clicked on Japan and found these players:  Craig House, Keith McDonald, and Dave Roberts.  They do not have typical Japanese names.  Two of them were born in Okinawa (I believe there is an American base there?).  Do you know if they are Japanese citizens or American citizens born in Japan?  Thank you.

Comments
Depends on parents
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Jun 22, 2001 3:49 AM | YBS Fan ]

Both of my children were born here in Japan, and they are both U.S. citizens.  The only way to be born a Japanese citizen (that I know of) is to have at least one parent be a Japanese citizen or of Japanese descent.


Since ESPN's Meikan ("registry") doesn't have the parents' names, I can't say that none of them don't have Japanese mothers.  (How many negatives can you use in a sentence?)  So, I'm afraid that there isn't enough information given there.


Not the best of answers, but hope it helps cure your curiosity.

--
[ Author: CFiJ | Posted: Jun 23, 2001 9:51 AM ]


Two born in Okinawa, where most of the US military in Japan is based, and one was born in Yokosuka, where a Naval base is located. So I'm guessing these guys are American citizens born on military bases. ESPN's directory doesn't seem to be organized by citizenship, only by place of birth.

Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: jpn+mlb | Posted: Sep 7, 2001 7:54 PM ]

Hi I am an Italian baseball fan and I am following japanese players in MLB. I was wondering if Hideki Matsui and Kazuo Matsui are considering playing in the MLB next year. Are there other japanese players considering such move?
thanks

Marco
Matsui and Matsui
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Sep 7, 2001 8:34 PM | YBS Fan ]

jpn+mlb-san wrote:
I was wondering if Hideki Matsui and Kazuo Matsui are considering playing in the MLB next year.

Both are considering it, but don't want to be bothered with it until the end of the season.

Actually, Seibu's Matsui Kazuo said a month or so ago that he didn't think he was ready. Of course, he was nursing a bad left ankle at the time, so I don't think it was a good time to ask him. Also, I was under the impression that he was getting rather fed up with getting asked that question. He wants to concentrate on the current season, not next year.

As for the Giants' Godzilla, I just don't see Watanabe-owner giving him up without a fight. It seems to me that he'll try to repeal free agency before letting his big hitter go.

Of course, I didn't think that Shinjo would go, so I could be completely off in my annalysis.

Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: Guest | Posted: Sep 8, 2001 12:24 PM ]

Hello Marco. I want to know if you have professional Italian leagues over there in Italy. What is the top league? What are the teams? Are there any minor leagues? Thank you.

P.S. Please do not edit this out Michael Westbay.
Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: Guest | Posted: Sep 15, 2001 12:45 AM ]

There is a semi-professional league and baseball is not very popular. There are are places where it's big (Bologna, Rimini, Nettuno near Roma) but we don't have regular TV coverage and little space on sports newspapers. We are one of the top nations in Europe with Netherlands.
bye
Marco
Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: Guest: Rob Teaker | Posted: Jan 29, 2002 5:39 AM ]

I heard that Hideki Matsui signed a new contract with the Giants, but anything new about Kazuo Matsui possibly playing in the states in 2002.
Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Jan 29, 2002 10:19 AM | YBS Fan ]

> I heard that Hideki Matsui signed a new contract with
> the Giants, but anything new about Kazuo Matsui
> possibly playing in the states in 2002.

This topic has come up several times before. This thread handles Godzilla (H. Matsui).

Kazuo stated that he was dissatisfied with his performance last season and declined to be posted. If he does well this season, expect him to be posted next Fall.
Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: kazusaya | Posted: Feb 6, 2002 3:09 PM ]

Yah, if Matsui and Matui play her in the US, it will be lot of fun for us. Well, any way, I will enjoy this season. Three guy will play at west coast. I may have chance to see Nomo pich and Ichiro hit.
Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: sigbotchan | Posted: Apr 18, 2004 11:51 PM ]

I believe that Dave Roberts' father, Dave Roberts (not sure of his middle name) used to play for Lotte (when they were still called "Orions"). Unfortunately, I left a book of statistics in Japan. You can find his widely distributed card (only one kind due to his brief career in MLB) from 1969 Topps. I have tried, but found it too difficult to find one at a reasonable price.

If I discount the Kaneda brothers, Roberts and George Altman are two of the first foreign-origin Orions to be tremendously successful for Lotte.

I am glad to see his son playing for Dodgers.

By the way, Papa-Roberts played before the golden-era of Lee-youdai, Leron and Leon. Leron's rookie card is available from 1970 Topps. It's a dual-pictured rookie card showing Jerry Reuss and him. Leon's cards are available from the early '70s minor league team sets and all-star set.

I'm sorry for talking about a different topic. I, therefore, believe that current Roberts is an American citizen.

Yuki Sei
Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: Guest | Posted: Jun 8, 2004 3:11 PM ]

1966 Topps card and 1963 National League rookie cards of Dave Roberts say he is from Panama. Therefore, Dave Roberts is American and Panamanian.
Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: Guest: blue_and_orange | Posted: Jun 10, 2004 4:57 AM ]

Dave Roberts (currently with the LA Dodgers) is half-Japanese. In an interview on the mlb.dodgers site, he said he only speaks a little Japanese, but he does go back to Japan every off-season to visit familly and friends.
Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: Guest: Mark Hargrove | Posted: Jul 21, 2004 8:16 AM ]

Are you sure he is half-Japanese? He does look like he could be half Asian.
Re: Japanese Players in Major Leagues
[ Author: Guest: Frank | Posted: Jul 29, 2004 6:00 PM ]

Yeah, his mom is Japanese. He was born in Okinawa. One of his baseball cards has a Japanese building (Bowman International) on it - one of my favorites. And I asked him once if he speaks any, he said "a little."
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