Yankees World Series Winner Matsui is MVP 2009

Japan nearly came to a standstill as millions watched on TV while Hideki Matsui, the man they know as Godzilla, led the Yankees to the World Series title. In a 7-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night, this is the first time the Yankees had won the championship in nine years, and the 27th World Series title overall in team history.

Hideki Matsui, 35, is a designated hitter for the New York Yankees. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. It's a combination that apparently works as he helped bring the NY Yankees to their 27th World Series win.

Hideki Matsui was born in Neagari, Ishikawa, Japan. Matsui originally batted right-handed as a child. However, when he started playing with his older brother and his friends, Matsui was such a good batter that his embarrassed brother insisted that he bat left-handed or stop playing with them. Matsui soon enough became an overpowering left-handed batter, and stayed on that side of the plate from then on.

Matsui signed with the Yankees in December 2002. A parade was held for him in Tokyo to celebrate his signing with the Yankees and many reporters and photographers followed him to MLB from his home in Tokyo. In his first Major League at-bat he hit an RBI single. His first game at Yankee Stadium, the 2003 Yankee home opener, was memorable as Matsui became the first Yankee to hit a grand slam in his first game at Yankee Stadium.

The World Series MVP Award is given to the player who is deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the World Series. Even though Matsui is the MVP and helped bring the NY Yankees to the World Series win, he will become a free agent within the next two weeks. With no need for a full-time DH, the Yankees are not likely to re-sign him.

So, an MVP doesn't guarantee a contract in the world of baseball. For Matsui, his victory will shine this week and hopefully fans will get a glimpse of him in Friday's parade in NYC.

Matsui could retire but it seems as if he is hoping to continue playing major league baseball.

"I hope so," he spoke to a crowd at Yankee Stadium after accepting his MVP award. "I love New York. I love the Yankees. I love the fans here."

Information on Friday's World Series Parade in NYC

Cheryl Phillips
HULIQ.com

sources: MLB, CNN, FOX