Sadaharu Oh to retire from mananging

[Honus Wagner Rules]

It sounds like it is a good time for Oh to retire and enjoy his golden years.



FUKUOKA, Japan (AP)—Japanese baseball great Sadaharu Oh will step down as manager of the Softbank Hawks at the end of the 2008 season.

The 68-year-old Oh, who hit a record 868 home runs over 22 seasons when he played for the Yomiuri Giants, cited health concerns Tuesday as his reason for leaving the team.

“I want to thank everyone for their support over the years,” Oh said. “I think it is best for the team if changes are made.”

Oh was sidelined for the second half of the 2006 season due to stomach cancer. He had his stomach removed in a successful operation in July 2006.

Despite being picked by many to finish first, the Hawks are 61-71 with three ties, and are currently fifth in the six-team Pacific League standings.

Oh led Japan to the title at the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. He also guided the Hawks to the Japan Series title in 1999 and 2003, and served as Yomiuri Giants manager for five years from 1984.

“I had 50 years in baseball and it was a great ride,” Oh said. “I chose one road and it always kept me excited and fulfilled.”

In his playing days, Oh was part of a powerful batting duo with Yomiuri third baseman Shigeo Nagashima. Known as the O.N. Cannon, the two players helped the Giants to nine straight Japan Series championships between 1965-73.

[spark240]

Good luck enjoying those golden years without a stomach. :eek:

[hellborn]

Good luck enjoying those golden years without a stomach. :eek:

Hey, classy reply. Maybe you'll survive cancer some day and somebody will make snotty comments about it.
:banghead:

This could be a cover up for bring asked to leave, since the team has been disappointing...it would be very difficult for a team in Japan to publicly fire a man of Oh's prominence, especially given his health problems. I sure hope that Oh's health is not seriously deteriorating.
I'm glad that Oh won titles with the Hawks, but I know that he was bitterly disappointed to not manage the Giants to a title. Despite his great success, Oh has never quite gotten his due...Nagashima was always more popular than him, and did manage the Giants to championships (in his 2nd tenure there). It certainly didn't help his case in Japan that Oh is part Chinese.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Hey, classy reply. Maybe you'll survive cancer some day and somebody will make snotty comments about it.
:banghead:

This could be a cover up for bring asked to leave, since the team has been disappointing...it would be very difficult for a team in Japan to publicly fire a man of Oh's prominence, especially given his health problems. I sure hope that Oh's health is not seriously deteriorating.
I'm glad that Oh won titles with the Hawks, but I know that he was bitterly disappointed to not manage the Giants to a title. Despite his great success, Oh has never quite gotten his due...Nagashima was always more popular than him, and did manage the Giants to championships (in his 2nd tenure there). It certainly didn't help his case in Japan that Oh is part Chinese.
Also, Oh managed Japan to the WBC title in '06. I think he gets his due in a more subdued way.

[fireNedCo]

Hey, classy reply. Maybe you'll survive cancer some day and somebody will make snotty comments about it.
:banghead:

This could be a cover up for bring asked to leave, since the team has been disappointing...it would be very difficult for a team in Japan to publicly fire a man of Oh's prominence, especially given his health problems. I sure hope that Oh's health is not seriously deteriorating.
I'm glad that Oh won titles with the Hawks, but I know that he was bitterly disappointed to not manage the Giants to a title. Despite his great success, Oh has never quite gotten his due...Nagashima was always more popular than him, and did manage the Giants to championships (in his 2nd tenure there). It certainly didn't help his case in Japan that Oh is part Chinese.

bingo.

I hate to say it, but countries like japan and around that region, racism is still a part of their culture amongst each other, and Oh's playing day wasn't any easier for him being a part chinese. many great chinese or korean heritaged players suffered a great deal under ethnically biased japanese culture of their nippon league, and I find it so ironic that some of their folks screaming racism for not considering ichiro a some kind of living legend in northwest- where I live.

[fireNedCo]

Also, Oh managed Japan to the WBC title in '06. I think he gets his due in a more subdued way.

they didn't deserve to win the first WBC.

they lost two out of three to south koreans badly. I thought south korean team's first baseman lee was the MVP of the whole tournament.

an we need to move the WBC after our WS to have a chance in it. before pre-season is a bad time for our players to be prepared.

having said all that,

Mr. Oh, I congratulate you on your retirement, and being the first man to be a japanese national hero with chinese sir name. that alone must broke away many taboos of japan. GO OH!

[G.Costanza]

bingo.

I hate to say it, but countries like japan and around that region, racism is still a part of their culture amongst each other, and Oh's playing day wasn't any easier for him being a part chinese. many great chinese or korean heritaged players suffered a great deal under ethnically biased japanese culture of their nippon league, and I find it so ironic that some of their folks screaming racism for not considering ichiro a some kind of living legend in northwest- where I live.

I don't know how "ironic it is"(if anything hypocritical). What would the contarary be? That they have no racist people? Every race has rascist folks. Its like saying no race has jealous people or alchoholics. Why would you "hate" to state truth?