Hideki Irabu (Japanese: 伊良部秀輝), born in Hyogo, Japan on May 15, 1969, is a former professional baseball player. Hyōgo Prefecture (兵庫県 Hyōgo-ken) is located in the Kinki region on Honshu island, Japan. ... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... A view of the playing field at Busch Stadium II St. ...

Irabu pitched for the Lotte Orions, who later became the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Pacific League from 1988 to 1996. The Chiba Lotte Marines (Japanese: ) is a professional baseball team in Japans Pacific League. ... The Chiba Lotte Marines ) are a professional baseball team in Japans Pacific League. ... The Pacific League (パシフィック・リーグ Pashifikku Riigu) is one of Japans two major professional baseball leagues (the other is the Central League). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

In 1997, the San Diego Padres purchased his contract from the Chiba Lotte Marines. Irabu however refused to sign with the Padres, saying he would only go with the Yankees. For the negotiating rights to Hideki Irabu the Yankees offered the Padres a choice of one from a list of players Brian Boehringer, David Weathers, Chris Cumberland, Andy Fox, and Matt Luke. The Padres would eventually include him as a player-to-be-named-later trade that involved Homer Bush and Irabu traveling to the New York Yankees in exchange for Rafael Medina and Ruben Rivera and $3 million in cash. The Yankees signed him to a $12.8 million, four-year contract and after only 8 minor league games the Yankees put him in their rotation. Major league affiliations National League (1969–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 6,19,31,35 Name San Diego Padres (1969–present) Ballpark PETCO Park (2004–present) Jack Murphy Stadium (1969-2003) a. ... The Chiba Lotte Marines ) are a professional baseball team in Japans Pacific League. ... Brian Edward Boehringer (born January 8, 1970 in St. ... John David Dave Weathers (born September 25, 1969 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee) is a major league pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. ... FoxTrot is a daily American comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Amend centering on the daily lives of the Fox family; Andy, Roger, Paige, Peter, and Jason. ... Matthew Clifford Luke (born February 26, 1971 in Long Beach, California) is a former first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball. ... Homer Giles Bush (b. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as Americans... Rubén Rivera Moreno (b. ... A Class A California League game in San Jose, California (1994) Minor baseball leagues are North American professional baseball leagues that compete at a level below that of Major League Baseball. ...

He played with the Yankees from 1997 through 1999, winning two World Series rings (1998, 1999), despite only pitching in one postseason game, and having no postseason decisions. George Steinbrenner publicly expressed disgust at his weight, at one point calling him a "fat pussy toad" after he failed to cover first base on a ground ball during a spring training game. Steinbrenner refused to let Irabu accompany the team to Los Angeles, but two days later apologized and allowed Irabu to join the team.[1] 1998 was his best season in MLB, featuring career bests in games started (28), complete games (2), innings pitched (173), wins (13), and ERA (4.06). 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Old Farts by the Sometimes-United Nations. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... George Steinbrenner, The Boss George Michael Steinbrenner III (born July 4, 1930 in Rocky River, Ohio) often known as The Boss, is the principal owner of the New York Yankees. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ...

After the 1999 season, he was traded to the Montreal Expos for Ted Lilly, Christian Parker, and Jake Westbrook. He started just 14 games for the Expos in 2000 and 2001 pitching 71⅓ innings with a 6.69 ERA and only 2 wins against 7 losses. In 2002 he signed as a free agent to pitch for the Texas Rangers as a closer. At the end of the year Irabu moved back to Japan to pitch in the Hanshin Tigers starting rotation for the 2003 season, helping the team win the Central League pennant for the first time since 1985. When Major League Baseball opened the 2004 season in Tokyo, he pitched against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Today Irabu is now retired and is living in California. The Montreal Expos (French: Les Expos de Montréal) were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 to 2004. ... Theodore Roosevelt Ted Lilly born (January 4, 1976 in Lomita, California), is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Toronto Blue Jays (since 2004). ... Jake Westbrook is a starting pitcher currently with the Cleveland Indians. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... In North American professional sports, particularly baseball, football, and basketball, a free agent is a team player whose contract with a team has expired, and the player is able to sign a contract with another team. ... Major league affiliations American League (1961-present) West Division (1972-present) Current uniform Ballpark Ameriquest Field in Arlington (1994-present) Major league titles World Series titles (0) None AL Pennants (0) None West Division titles (3) [1] 1999 â€¢ 1998 â€¢ 1996 Wild card berths (0) None [1] - In 1994, a players... The Hanshin Tigers ) are a popular Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, which are in the Central League. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: Central League (football) The Central League (セントラル・リーグ Sentoraru Riigu) is one of Japans two major professional baseball leagues (the other is the Pacific League). ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Major league affiliations American League (1998–present) East Division (1998–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 12 Name Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998–present) Ballpark Tropicana Field (1998–present) Major league titles World Series titles (0) None AL Pennants (0) None Division titles (0) None Wild card berths (0) None The...

Over the course of six MLB seasons, Irabu's career totals are 34 wins, 35 losses, 16 saves, 405 strikeouts, and a 5.15 ERA.

External links

• MLB.com: Hideki Irabu
• ESPN.com: Hideki Irabu
• Baseball-Reference.com: Hideki Irabu
• Baseball-Cube.com: Hideki Irabu