Los Angeles Dodgers icon Hideo Nomo will receive the inaugural Hall of Fame Sports Pioneer Medal at the 22nd Asian Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Los Angeles on Nov. 5.
Asian Hall of Fame is a cultural, educational and research institution established in 2004 which “advances Asian and Native legacy to promote cross-cultural collaboration, strengthen interracial synergy, and inspire achievement across communities.”
Former Los Angeles Dodgers president Peter O’Malley, who headed the team from 1970-1998, will present the award to Nomo at the ceremony.
“Asian Hall of Fame proudly honors Hideo Nomo (Los Angeles Dodgers) as the inaugural recipient of the Hall of Fame Sports Pioneer Medal,” Asian Hall of Fame wrote via Facebook.
“Hideo Nomo’s groundbreaking MLB career opened doors for generations of Japanese players and transformed the landscape of professional baseball.”
Who is Hideo Nomo?
Nomo is a baseball pioneer who became the first Japanese major leaguer to permanently relocate to MLB. He was the second-ever Japanese playing to play professionally in the big leagues, following the San Francisco Giants’ Masanori Murakami, but is credited for paving the way for Japanese players in MLB.
Nomo made his debut with the Dodgers in 1995, and pitched in parts of seven seasons with the Dodgers while also featuring for the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Devils Rays, New York Mets and Kansas City Royals.
During his seven seasons in Los Angeles, Nomo made 191 starts while posting a 3.74 ERA, striking out an even 1,200 batters in 1,217.1 innings pitched.
He threw one of his two no-hitters with the Dodgers, and earned his sole All-Star appearance during his rookie year with the team in 1995.
Now, more than 30 years after his debut, Japanese-born players are a mainstay across the league—but especially with the Dodgers. LA has carved out a core of key players from the NPB, bringing in Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki over from NPB and signing Shohei Ohtani as soon as he hit the free agency market.
While Nomo is long retired, his legacy on the game and his importance to opening MLB’s doors to Japan more than warrant his reception of the Hall of Fame Sports Pioneer Medal.
