Meeting his long-lost biological father couldn’t save Hideki Irabu.
The former Yankees pitcher who was infamously labeled a “Fat Pus-sy Toad” by then-owner George Steinbrenner committed suicide in 2011. It was a culmination of a troubled life, and hardly anything changed when he met his father, a traveling Air Force veteran who had an affair with a Japanese woman, who gave birth to Irabu in 1969.
According to a story published Wednesday in Sports Illustrated, Irabu left Japan in 1997 partially because he thought if he could play for the Yankees, his father might find him. By leaving Japan, he broke the rules of the reserve clause, and set a precedent for so many Japanese players after him with what would turn into MLB’s posting fee.
Irabu made a loud, unfortunate debut in pinstripes in 1997 — pitching to a 7.09 ERA — and the $12 million contract bestowed by Steinbrenner even got him a mention on “Seinfeld.” (“How could you give 12 million dollars to Hideki Irabu?” screamed Frank Constanza.)
Despite winning a World Series in 1998, Irabu’s career had begun to be defined by stories of his chain-smoking between innings, excessive drinking and eating, and his awful work ethic. Yet it did get him noticed by his father. Steve Thompson eventually admitted his long-buried secret, and was eventually convinced by his second wife to head down to spring training to make contact with his son.
It was a disappointing meeting for Irabu, who thought he got his size and strength from his father — yet Thompson was just 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds compared with Irabu’s 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame. They needed a translator to communicate, and although Thompson occasionally would see Irabu’s wife and their two children, father and son had very little contact.
After leaving the Yankees, Irabu’s career flailed about for a while, with some time spent with the Expos and Rangers before going back to Japan and then late stints in some independent leagues. He attempted to get into a couple businesses, but none got too far off the ground.
According to SI, Irabu’s “periodic binge drinking became consistent.” Irabu was arrested for assault in Japan in 2008 and charged with a DUI in California in 2010. He also became dependent on medications, and a cocktail of chemicals was mixed with booze when he was found after hanging himself on July 27, 2011, at the age of 42.
Thompson soon after was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in July 2016 at the age of 81.