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| Outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First name: Tsuyoshi Last name: Shinjo Nicknames: Prince of Tigers, Space Man Birthdate: January 28, 1972 Birthplace: Fukuoka, Japan* Height: 6'1" Weight: 185 lbs. Position: Center field Jersey Number on the Tigers, Mets, and Giants: 5 Jersey Number on the Fighters: 1 Bats: right Throws: right MLB Debut: April 3, 2001 New York Mets Signed with New York: December 11, 2000 Signed with SanFrancisco: December 16, 2001 Signed with New York: January 11, 2003 * The background image is a photo of Fukuoka. |
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| 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Click here to download a realplayer video clip of a Giants@Dodgers game from the 2002 season. It is a preview clip advertising for MLBtv which features Shinjo! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In Hanshin: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo played for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan for ten years (1991-2000). He started off playing infield but switched to outfield in 1993. He won seven Gold Gloves for his outfielding and was a 4-time Japan Central League All-Star (1994, 1997, 1999, 2000). Shinjo was the All-Star series MVP Honors in 1999 and 2000 and was Best-Nine Centerfielder twice in his career. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Shinjo info: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo graduated from Nishinihon Fuzoku High prefecture in 1990. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo owned and operated his own personal website http://www.shinjyo5.net, but it appears to be for sale now. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo wrote an autobiography entitled Dreaming Baby, published by Kodansha, 1,200 yen per copy (about $12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 Minor Leagues |
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| Shinjo makes an appearance in the movie Two Weeks Notice. A scene at a Mets game is shown and Shinjo (who was on the Giants at the time) is shown at bat. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo appeared in a commercial for the Giants' home stadium, Pac Bell Park, with other Giants who did not speak English as a navtive language. The park's motto was, "Say 'hey', come out and play." Shinjo's part was to say, "Running down a flyball is my favorite play, " in Japanese. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo has an interest in fashion, and even modeled for a GQ magazine in spring 2001. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo mentioned in an interview that he cried during the movie the Green Mile. In that same interview, KTVU FOX 2, July 14 2002, he also mentioned that he did not think the Carls Jr. bobble heads were very flattering (he said it in a good natured way, laughing a little.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo was the second Japanese-born player on the Giants and the second Japanese-born position player to join the MLB. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo met Shiho in 1993, and after eight years of going steady, they were married in December 2000. (Good for them, I hope they are happy together!) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo was the first Japanese-born position player in the national league, the first Japanese-born player to hit a grand slam in the Major Leagues (on May 17, 2002), and the first Japanese-born player to play in the World Series. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shinjo has a jinx when young fans are at games. In August 2001, he hit a homerun when the Tokyo Little League champions came to watch the game at Shea Stadium. In a July 2002 intereview, Shinjo said, "when I see a young fan, for example a 12-or 13 year old girl wearing my armband in town, I strongly feel, yes, I will definitely hit and get on the base for her in the next game." Also in July 2002, Shinjo hit a homerun after meeting Todd Zeile's 8-year-old son, Garrett, before the game who had dyed his hair blond to be like Shinjo. In August 2002, Shinjo went 2 for 3 in San Francisco's third game against the Mets at Pacbell. Before the game, Shinjo had met with a group of middle school students from Osaka and Kobe. - Very special thanks to Melody and the fans at the Shinjo Fan Forum for this one! (^_^)b domo arigato gozaimashita | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||