◆Mynavi All-Star Game 2026: All Pacific vs. All Central (29th, Toyama)

Nippon-Ham Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo performed a headfirst slide reminiscent of the legendary home steal he did at the 2004 All-Star Game. In the fourth inning, with the score tied 4-4, he was in charge of first base when consecutive hits by Wakatsuki and Murabayashi put runners on first and third with no outs. On the second pitch to hitter Takizawa, Shinjo attempted a double steal, and Wakatsuki scored the go-ahead run. Manager Shinjo, in sync with Wakatsuki, ran to home plate from his position as first base coach and performed a headfirst slide, bringing laughter to the stadium.

Manager Shinjo won the MVP award in the 2004 All-Star Game for his first solo stolen base. Before the game, he modestly said, "The All-Star Game is mainly about the players," but he thrilled the fans in Toyama with his own showmanship.

In the first game, he appeared wearing an oversized Nippon-Ham cap when starting line-up was announced, exciting the crowd. After the game, he said, "I think there are fans and players in Toyama who want to see me, so I'd like to show myself by standing as first baseman coach."

◇Tsuyoshi Shinjo and the All-Star Game

▼He made his debut in 1994 while playing for Hanshin Tigers Tigers, and stole a base as a stolen base in the first game.

▼In 1999, he earned his first MVP award with a go-ahead hit and the game-winning home run, which was the first home run of the All-Star Game, in the third game.

▼In 2000, he hit a home run out of the park in the third game in Nagasaki.

▼In 2004, he made his debut as a Pacific League player for Nippon-Ham Fighters. He stole home and won the MVP award.

▼In 2005, he showed off diamond-encrusted spike worth 5 million yen in the first game, and in the second game, he predicted Home Run with his "golden bat," but grounded out to second base.

▼In 2006, he wore a rainbow-colored bat and an electronic scoreboard belt.

▼25 years ago, he made his debut as a coach and led the Pacific League to a resounding victory by scoring 5 runs with a batting lineup he assembled using a "gachapon lottery" that he himself devised. In the 4th inning, when he took over as third base coach, he showed off an astonishing signal by lighting up "squeeze" on custom-made electronic sunglasses that he had ordered for 1.6 million yen.

▼In the 2014 season, he appeared wearing an oversized cap when starting line-up was announced for the first game (at Tokyo Dome). He was assigned as the first base coach.