Giants Memorial Game Draws 42,000 as Team Wears Nagashima’s No. 3

The Yomiuri Giants paid tribute to club legend Shigeo Nagashima on Saturday, staging a memorial game against the Hanshin Tigers at Tokyo Dome in which every Giants player wore the slugger’s famed and now-retired No. 3 jersey. The event drew more than 42,000 spectators, underscoring Nagashima’s enduring popularity two months after his death in June. Former Giants star Hideki Matsui opened the proceedings with a ceremonial first pitch, while another franchise icon, Sadaharu Oh, joined players and fans in a pre-game moment of silence and a video montage that featured Nagashima’s celebrated retirement speech. The tributes framed Nagashima as “Mr. Baseball,” a central figure in post-war Japanese sports culture. On the field, the Tigers defeated the Giants 3–0. After the final out, current players, club alumni and staff assembled near third base—Nagashima’s old position—to form a human number “3,” offering a final salute to the Hall of Famer. The Giants said they will hold a larger public farewell on 21 November at Tokyo Dome, with doors opening at 3 p.m. and closing at 7 p.m., giving supporters another chance to honor one of Japan’s most revered athletes.