Sadaharu Oh
Sadaharu Oh
Sadaharu Oh, also known as Wang Chen-chih, is a retired Japanese–Chinese baseball player and manager who played 22 seasons for the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseballfrom 1959 to 1980. Oh holds the world lifetime home run record, having hit 868 home runs during his professional career. He established many NPB batting records, including runs batted in, slugging percentage, bases on balls, and on-base plus slugging. In 1977, Sadaharu Oh became the first recipient of the People's Honor award. He...
NationalityJapanese
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth20 May 1940
CountryJapan
I was really surprised the American team lost to the Mexican team.
I was really surprised that the American team lost to the Mexican team, because we thought somehow the Americans would be the world's best. And because of that notion, when we lost the second game in the second round, we never thought that we would be able to be playing in the next round here.
Since Korea won two games, we felt we had to win tonight's game. And Tamura's three-run home run in the first inning took off the pressure.
I did mention small ball, but I didn't think we'd need it in this round because we are the most powerful team. In Asia, we're strong and we have speed and we were able to show that tonight. When we get to the United States, we may have to change our tactics.
It's just unimaginable that this could have happened, or this did happen, in the U.S. where baseball is very famous and popular. And it's a pity that it was overruled.
It's unfortunate the play was overruled. It's just unimaginable this could have happened, this did happen, in the United States, where baseball is very famous and very popular.
There was a wrong impression of Ichiro that he is sort of selfish. But as people can see, he really committed himself to this team, and he put so much time into this.
They've been supporting us so much. That's why we were able to accomplish this. So we'd like to share this great moment with all those fans back home in Japan and also here.
We struggled to score runs against some very good pitching.
We respect that they fought their heart out to show the best game ever.
I had confidence I could use him. I didn't have any doubt.
Before speaking about whether to turn it down or not, I don't think I've got an official offer.
In the future, I hope to have this Classic as the football World Cup, something many more countries can join.
Tomorrow if we can win, we'll be happy. What happened (on Sunday), happened. It's in the past now and it's time to move on.