With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Hideki Irabu, former Yankees pitcher, found dead in Rancho Palos Verdes
27 Feb 2002: Hideki Irabu of the Texas Rangers poses during media day at Charlotte County Stadium in Port Charlotte, Florida.
(
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
)
Listen
0:51
Hideki Irabu, former Yankees pitcher, found dead in Rancho Palos Verdes
Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was found dead Wednesday in Rancho Palos Verdes. The county sheriff says he apparently killed himself. He was 42.
Irabu was billed as the Japanese version of Nolan Ryan when he arrived in the U.S. in 1997, and in his first game for the Yankees, he struck out nine men and got the win. The fans in Yankee Stadium gave him a standing ovation, some bowing with both hands over their heads. It was his finest moment in the majors.
Bobby Valentine, one of his former managers said, “He was a work in progress. It just didn't progress the way he had planned or the way some people planned.” Irabu wound up with a 34-and-35 record and a 5+ ERA for three teams.
Off the field, he was arrested for assaulting a bartender in Japan in 2008 and was arrested for driving drunk in Gardena last year. Valentine said “I think he was one of his own worst enemies.”
Sponsored message
The manager said he got a little sick to his stomach when he heard of Irabu’s death.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
