Ken Takahashi
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He also played for them in - & the New York Mets
in .
Takahashi was born in Yokohama
, Kanagawa
, Japan
. On February 6, , Takahashi declared himself a free agent
and expressed his desire to play in Major League Baseball. He later signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
with the Toronto Blue Jays
.
Takahaski signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets
on March 30, , and was called up to the Major Leagues on April 26. He made his MLB debut on May 2, coming into the game in the middle of the third inning to replace Óliver Pérez
. Takahashi became only the third player in the post-World War II era to make his MLB debut at age 40 or older, joining Satchel Paige
(42 for the Cleveland Indians
in ) and Diomedes Olivo
(41 for the Pittsburgh Pirates
in ).
Takahashi was released by the Mets on October 20, 2009.
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in .
Takahashi was born in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Kanagawa
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. On February 6, , Takahashi declared himself a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and expressed his desire to play in Major League Baseball. He later signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
.
Takahaski signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
on March 30, , and was called up to the Major Leagues on April 26. He made his MLB debut on May 2, coming into the game in the middle of the third inning to replace Óliver Pérez
Oliver Pérez
Óliver Pérez Martínez is a left-handed pitcher currently in the Washington Nationals organization.-San Diego Padres:...
. Takahashi became only the third player in the post-World War II era to make his MLB debut at age 40 or older, joining Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige
Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige was an American baseball player whose pitching in the Negro leagues and in Major League Baseball made him a legend in his own lifetime...
(42 for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in ) and Diomedes Olivo
Diomedes Olivo
Diomedes Antonio Olivo Maldonado was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of three seasons in the majors, between and , for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals...
(41 for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in ).
Takahashi was released by the Mets on October 20, 2009.