On the morning of 3rd June 2025, the baseball world woke up to the loss of one of its most cherished legends—Shigeo Nagashima. He passed away on Wednesday at the age of 89 due to pneumonia. The Yomiuri Giants legend was so revered that he was known to many as “Mr. Pro Baseball”; after all, he had brought baseball into the hearts of millions.

Long before the rise of modern-day baseball icons like Shohei Ohtani or Ichiro Suzuki, it was Nagashima, the face of Japanese baseball. From 1958 to 1974, he had helped to popularize baseball as television made its way to reach Japanese homes. Playing for the Yomiuri Giants, Nagashima formed the legendary “ON Cannon” duo with Sadaharu Oh. Their powerful duo helped the Giants’ dominance in the 1960s and 1970s.

And now, after all these years, the man who instilled baseball fever is being remembered by another Japanese phenom who was deeply inspired by him. The Los Angeles Dodgers star’ Shohei Ohtani was utterly moved by Nagashima’s passing. He took it to Instagram and shared some heartfelt photos with his 9.5 million followers. He captioned, “May your soul rest in peace.” The emotional ripple extended beyond the world of baseball.

The 57-year-old Yuji Nagata, wrestling legend from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, also paid tribute. “I woke up this morning and learned of the passing of Shigeo Nagashima. I would like to pray for his soul to rest in peace once again… With this sadness in my heart, I will do my best today as well.” he noted.

His career was filled with heartwarming moments. However, the most iconic was “Emperor’s Game” on 25th June, 1959—it’s the first pro baseball game that was attended by Emperor Hirohito.

His legacy was lived through his four children. His eldest son, Kazushige, who played in the NPB. In fact, back in 1988, Nagashima was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. It was an absolute tribute to a man who has transformed baseball into a national passion. Speaking of tribute, across social media, the entire baseball world and beyond has come together in this time of grief.

Fans mourning to Nagashima’s passing

From 1958 to 1974, Nagashima’s career with the Yomiuri Giants was remarkable. He has revolutionized baseball’s popularity in Japan. He put up impressive numbers too. His batting average was .305, with 444 home runs and 1,522 RBIs, and it certainly speaks volumes. It’s safe to say that he has brought baseball into people’s living rooms.

As it should be, fans placed Nagashima among the greats of Japanese baseball: “The historical greats who supported Japanese baseball! Rest in peace!💐” Nagashima has several achievements to his name. He was the Rookie of the Year in 1958 and even secured five MVP awards. He has defined the golden era of Japanese baseball.

Anyone who followed Nagashima’s journey knows it. “He loved baseball. May your soul rest in peace.” Baseball has certainly remained the center of his life.

Ohtani’s Instagram tribute reminded fans of the generational bridge Nagashima has built for Japanese phenoms: “Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures, Shohei. I’m sure Nagashima will be happy too. 😭”  Watching two generations of legends in one frame was overwhelming for the Japanese nation.

Nothing can better encapsulate Nagashima’s impact on baseball: “A man who lifted the professional baseball world.” Nagashima was a symbol of baseball’s excitement and showmanship, undoubtedly.

He had a limited public appearance, yet his pictures with Ohtani were cherished by fans: “I treasure this picture. May Shigeo Nagashima rest in peace.” More than mourning, fans are holding onto the legacy he had built in his era.

As the baseball world bid him farewell, his passing is something that has left a void in many.