Godzilla Takes the Bronx: The Inside Story of Hideki Matsui [Hardcover]

Jerry Beach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 9, 2004

Before the start of the 2003 baseball season, the most celebrated baseball player in Japan signed a deal with the most celebrated baseball franchise in the world. In his first game at the most celebrated stadium in the history of sports, he worked the count full...and hit a grand slam! With the nickname of "Godzilla", an affinity for the press, and the largest stage in the world for a baseball player to play on, Hideki Matsui is already on his way to becoming an American and Japanese icon. In this book, veteran baseball writer Jerry Beac details each of Matsui;s headline-worthy ups and downs while also detailing his evolution into international icon and sporting role model

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

There's nothing "inside," really, about the story of the Japanese baseball player who joined the Yankees last season: there's no personal information about Matsui, and the text is taken completely from newspaper and other accounts of the 2003 season. There's a lot of repetition and many cut-and-paste moments. With all that, it's hard not to enjoy the review of Matsui, whose professional and stoic approach to being part of the rock-star Bronx Bombers is chronicled from his grand slam in his first Yankee home game to his making the last out against the Fish in the playoffs. There's much about Japanese baseball (cited almost entirely from Whiting's You Gotta Have Wa ) and about the Japanese media madness that followed Matsui (and the Mariners' Ichiro) throughout his first season in this country. Add this to Yankee fans' winter reading list. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Beach's smooth-flowing portrayal of Matsui reveals a likable, humble, but relentlessly determined athlete. (Steven Goode, Hartford Courant )

It's hard not to enjoy the review of Matsui, whose professional and stoic approach of being part of the rockstar Bronx Bombers is chronicled from his grand slam in his first Yankee home game to making his last out against Fish in the playoffs. Add this to your Yankee fans' winter reading list. (GraceAnne A. DeCandid Booklist )

Beach does a good job of describing the athlete's ups and downs during his rookie season, explaining Matsui's rationale for leaving his homeland to play in arguably the toughest ballpark in the majors. Baseball enthisiasts will enjoy this player bio. (Library Journal )

Traces Matsui's transition from national icon of epic proportions, to a rookie proving his mettle. (New York Sportscene )

Beach, a veteran New York baseball writer since 1977, guides the reader through a season filled with highs, lows, culture shock and hard-earned respect. (Tampa Tribune )

The unauthorized yet definitive look at Hideki Matsui's rookie season with the Yankees. (lloyd Carroll Good Times Magazine )

Beach documents the outfielder's first season with the New York Yankees in great detail. (Jim Allen The Daily Yomiuri )

With skills honed by years of fundamental baseball in Japan and now exposed to the greater freedom of the major leagues, the best Japanese players are flourishing. (New York Times )

The story of his meteoric rise in Japan, how he decided to cross the ocean to the U.S. major leagues, and how to immediately win the affection of the often-critical Yankee fans. (Sports Collectors Digest )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (April 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589791134
• ISBN-13: 978-1589791138
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,647,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Godzilla have great pesonality., October 22, 2004

By 

taka(Japanese (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Godzilla Takes the Bronx: The Inside Story of Hideki Matsui (Hardcover)

I think it is natural that Godzilla get to be parson written by many books. In second year as NY Yankees, he blashed up his potensial ability:the homerun over 30, almost 3.00 average and over 100 RBI. I have tought it was natural that he extended hisself figure. Because he got many beseball title in Japan: the homerun king over 50, MVR, RBI king....

But I did not think that he get to be the fourth batter of Yankees. Certainly he was the fourth batter in Yomiuri Giants Tokyo, however Japanese think that the skill gap between Japanese baseball and MLB is clear. I think so too. But in the second year, he obtained the fourth batter in Yankees, the top team over the world.

U.S.A people may think why Japanese are excited to Japanese major leaguers. I think that Japan is a island country enclosed in the sea, additionaly a single race nation unlike U.S.A.

But the truth Godzilla's wonderful things is not only his baseball playing ability, but also his nice character and pesonality. I hear that he is very popular with U.S.A children. I think that he is loved by children because of his truth personality. I think that the men that can see through the truth goodness is children rather than adults because they have pure mind. In fact he have done many charity activity, besides, he have done the activity personally, not public: the donation for intellectual disorder men, the donation for the victims of the Hanshin big earthquake(Hanshin Daishinsai).

And he never refuse the press interview even if whether that is Japanese media or foreign media. He take the interview every day neverthless his lost game or no hit game.

in old days when he was high school student, he advanced to high school baseball championship(Koukou Yakyuu). In those days, other highshool students was fear for Matsui's incredible power hitting, and his opponent team gave him the consecutive intensional five walking, it was natural that his team lost the game. The ordinaly person will be very angly. But after the game, his face was very calm and he said such[I can understand the motive of the opponent team, and If the team did not the intensional walking, I that exist now will not exist(at that time he played as Japanese professional player).
I think that he have great personality.

Thank you for reading poor writing.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sports Book, May 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Godzilla Takes the Bronx: The Inside Story of Hideki Matsui (Hardcover)

As baseball becomes a very international sport, this will take its place as one of the well written and enjoyable sports books that documents this occasion....

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Godzilla Takes The Bronx, June 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Godzilla Takes the Bronx: The Inside Story of Hideki Matsui (Hardcover)

I purchased this book, because my husband and I are both Yankee fans. and have been following the Yankees for many many years..

This book - has all the qualities of becoming a best seller.. The writing is excellent. and the author.. Jerry Beach, captures Hideki Matsui, in ways.. that we, as Yankee fans..just want more and more info on this very valuable player.. I would hope to see a second book, on this player, as his career with the NY Yankess continues..

I give this book(as does my husband) a 5 STAR Rating.. It's a great book.. and we have both thoroughly enojoyed it..

Jerry Beach, is an author to follow.. because his writing style.. made this book a GREAT READ!!!!