Heartwarming Quotes by Tsuyoshi Shinjo

You're the coolest guy in the world. Don't let anyone see you in pain. (Words he said to his fellow pitcher Darvish, who played through an injury in the 2009 Japan Series)

 

Hard work lasts a lifetime. The big moment comes onlly once. Opportunity apppears only a split second.

 

If I’d asked anyone for advice, they would’ve definitely told me to stay safe, so I didn’t ask anyone. My dad even told me, “There’s no way you’ll make it in the Major Leagues,” but I didn’t care at all—if anything, it just fired up my competitive spirit.

 

There are limits to physical strength, but no limits to mental strength.

 

I’ll admit this now, but but when I was still playing, I didn’t want anyone to see me practicing. So I’d practice before everyone else arrived, then go home to get dressed up and drive to the stadium just in time for the game, making sure the fans and reporters saw that. I was actually practicing every day, though.

 

I want to be seen as a hitter who delivers when it counts.

 

Do you all have dreams? If there’s even a 1% chance, you can make it happen. I’m going to start training today and try to become a professional baseball player once again. Let’s all take on a new challenge.

 

It’s a hassle, but putting in the effort and working hard day in and day out is actually really fun. I felt like, “So this is what happiness is.” If I had money, I could just hire someone else and not have to lift a finger myself. But for the first time, I realized that would be boring.

 

People often say that everything in my life up to now, starting with my challenge to make it to the Major Leagues, was only possible “because I’m Shinjo.” But everyone must have something they’re better at than others. Yet most people just think about it in their heads and never take action, right? I succeeded because I actually took action.

 

I’ve made three dreams come true so far. My childhood dream was to become a professional baseball player. My dream after becoming a pro was to go to the Major Leagues. And my dream was to win the Japan Series. I’ve achieved all three, but looking back now, I think those dreams were pretty small.

 

Potential isn’t something anyone else gets to define for you. Never accept the limits others set for you.

 

The very purpose of professional baseball is nothing more than to add a little color to the lives of the people living in that town, or to enrich their monotonous daily lives just a little bit. Keeping in my heart who I’m making smile behind the scenes, I’ll keep charging ahead true to myself!

 

If you enjoy it, you’re sure to succeed.

 

I want you to cheer yourself up by thinking, ‘My mistakes aren’t really a big deal.’ After all, a life without any mistakes isn’t really that fun. When you mess up and then manage to solve the problem through your own efforts, you feel a huge sense of relief and joy, don’t you?”

 

I believe that as long as you keep trying and trust yourself, a path will definitely open up—even if everyone around you thinks you’re an idiot.

 

I want to win by grinning and making my opponent lose their temper.

 

People who lead others to success take on challenges with the understanding that things won’t always go as planned.

 

My baseball career is nearing its end. Today, I promise everyone that I’ll keep chasing that white ball with a bright and joyful spirit.

 

I’ve always acted according to my inner voice.

 

I’ve always made it a rule to “do at least one fun thing I can do today, every day.” Even if you’ve been short on cash, there are still plenty of fun things you can do that day, right?

Even during my playing days, I didn’t always have a high salary. At first, I was broke and had to borrow money from my teammates (laughs). My monthly take-home pay was 120,000 yen, and I couldn’t even afford a 7,000-yen bat.

 

But since I loved baseball, I practiced harder than anyone else. When everyone else was huffing and puffing with a 110-kilogram barbell, I’d lift a 135-kilogram one. I did four times as much practice after games as everyone else. Even if you’re not blessed with money, if you think of it as “fun,” you can do anything.