On November 1, 1996 — A major league All-Star team opens an eight-game series in Japan with a 6 – 5 loss to the Japan All-Stars. Players include Cal Ripken, Jr., Sammy Sosa, Steve Finley, Brady Anderson, Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza, Hideo Nomo, Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez, and Shane Reynolds.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo is coming home However when he takes the mound Saturday Japanese fans are sure to have split loyalties Nomo will start for the major league all-star team in the second game of the US-Japan Super Major Series. “I want my fans who can’t travel all the way to America to come and see me pitch” Nomo told Kyodo News Nomo is one of nine pitchers for a US team that includes Cleveland Indians star reliever Jose Mesa and Denny Neagle acquired by Atlanta from Pittsburgh late in the season.
Nomo has had great success since leaving Japanese baseball two years ago He pitched a no-hitter Sept 17 at Colorado and finished his second season at 16-11 The opening game today will pit Pat Hentgen of the Toronto Blue Jays against Japan’s star pitcher Masaki Saito of the Yomiuri Giants.
Nomo will pitch again in the sixth game at Koshien Stadium near his hometown of Osaka in western Japan But what Japanese fans really want to see is Nomo face Japan’s star slugger Ichiro Suzuki of the Orix BlueWave the club that won the Japan Series last week.
Suzuki led the Japanese leagues in hitting at 356 this season That’s close to Seattle Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez who also is in Japan for the games Rodriguez led the majors at 358 in his first full season.
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