Hideki Irabu dies; apparent suicide

[prophet]

Yahoo is reporting that former Yankee Hideki Irabu was found dead in his home of an apparent suicide. Sad news. Was indifferent towards him as a player, but as a human being, this is sad news. prayers to his family.

[FoxyFoxes]

Feel bad for him and that he didn't seek help before it went to this.

[razzzorsharp]

He made 12.8 million in a contract with the Yankees so he made a good chunk of money playing. Whether he still has it or not is unknown and in a lot of these cases money doesn't seem to be much of a factor.

[RockCoCougars]

I remember him starting a Sunday night ESPN game against the Brewers right after he signed. I believe that he spit at the fans or something.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Sad stuff. RIP. Thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.

[pebadger]

I remember him starting a Sunday night ESPN game against the Brewers right after he signed. I believe that he spit at the fans or something.

 

My only real memory of Irabu is that I was at that game and it was the only time I ever sat along the first base side in County Stadium.

[RockCoCougars]

I remember him starting a Sunday night ESPN game against the Brewers right after he signed. I believe that he spit at the fans or something.

 

My only real memory of Irabu is that I was at that game and it was the only time I ever sat along the first base side in County Stadium.

I believe that he got knocked around a little and the fans were on him pretty good. Do you remember him doing anything? I'm thinking that I may have combined this game with another incident he was involved in.

[RockCoCougars]

My memory is a little better than I thought. A Google search revealed this:

 

http://articles.nydailyne...litter-spit-hideki-irabu

[FoxyFoxes]

If anything that article sure brings back memories of the team. Vina/Rillo/Niellsen........Then Girardi was playing. NIce stuff. Too bad about the guy though seems a bit like a ZAmbrano type.

[pebadger]

Yeah, he got hit around pretty good. The game was a really big deal at the time, and with it being Sunday Night, the Yankees, the Brewers being the Brewers, it was a good time at the old ballpark.

[bucksbeat]

Sorry to hear. Read a tweet from Buster Olney that Irabu was always a depressed individual when he covered him.

 

Wasn't Hideki known for wearing magnets under his uniform when pitching?

[kestrel79]

I was at that game at County Stadium. A guy on our softball team in 8th grade was a big Yankee fair weather fan and it was fun seeing him get lit up. Some good names in the article. Ah the 'crew of my childhood. Vina, Cirillo, Matheny, Nilsson.

[1992casey]

Here's the box score of Irabu's July 20, 1997, start at County Stadium.

 

Source: Retrosheet.org (link includes play by play)

Game Played on Sunday, July 20, 1997 (N) at County Stadium

NY A 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 8 0
MIL A 0 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 x - 6 7 0

[b]BATTING[/b]

New York Yankees [b]AB R H RBI BB SO PO A[/b]
Jeter ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Kelly 2b 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 5
O'Neill rf 4 1 2 1 0 1 5 0
Martinez 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Hayes 3b 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 0
Duncan dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
Curtis cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 0
Whiten lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
Girardi c 2 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
Irabu p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Lloyd p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
[b]Totals[/b] 33 2 8 2 1 5 24 7

[b]BATTING - [/b]
[b]2B:[/b] Kelly (5,off Karl); O'Neill (31,off Karl); Curtis (8,off Karl).
[b]GDP:[/b] O'Neill (12,off Karl).
[b]Team LOB:[/b] 5.

[b]BASERUNNING - [/b]
[b]CS:[/b] Girardi (3,2nd base by Karl/Matheny).

Milwaukee Brewers [b]AB R H RBI BB SO PO A[/b]
Vina 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 3
Huson lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Mieske lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cirillo 3b 3 2 1 2 1 0 0 4
Nilsson 1b 4 1 2 3 0 0 10 1
Burnitz rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 3 0
Valentin ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 3
Williams cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 0
Newfield dh 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
Matheny c 2 1 1 1 0 0 5 1
Karl p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
[b]Totals[/b] 30 6 7 6 3 4 27 12

[b]FIELDING - [/b]
[b]DP:[/b] 1. Vina-Valentin-Nilsson.

[b]BATTING - [/b]
[b]2B:[/b] Vina (7,off Irabu); Nilsson (20,off Irabu); Williams (16,off Irabu).
[b]HR:[/b] Nilsson (12,3rd inning off Irabu 1 on 1 out).
[b]SH:[/b] Matheny (8,off Irabu).
[b]Team LOB:[/b] 4.

[b]BASERUNNING - [/b]
[b]SB:[/b] Williams (14,3rd base off Irabu/Girardi).

[b]PITCHING[/b]

New York Yankees [b]IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP[/b]
Irabu L(2-1) 6.2 7 6 6 3 2 1 30
Lloyd 1.1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4
[b]Totals[/b] 8 7 6 6 3 4 1 34

 

Milwaukee Brewers [b]IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP[/b]
Karl W(4-10) 9 8 2 2 1 5 0 34

 

[b]Umpires:[/b] HP - Larry McCoy, 1B - Jim Evans, 2B - Chuck Meriwether, 3B - Laz Diaz

[b]Time of Game:[/b] 2:38 [b]Attendance:[/b] 29333

[bucksbeat]

All the memories... Even on the Yankees side. Ex-Brewers Graeme Lloyd and Charlie Hayes...

[Mike2k33]

I remember that game because I was in Nevada all of July 97 and this was the only Brewer game I got to see. Forgot that Scott Karl went the distance though.

[StearnsFTW]

Good God, Jeter played with Mariano Duncan?

 

He is ooooold.