From the S&S archives:
Yastrzemski spikes talk of rich offer to play in Japan

TOKYO — Carl Yastrzemski, a power hitter for the Boston Red Sox, will not be playing baseball in Japan next year.

In an interview with Pacific Stars and Stripes Friday, Yastrzemski cleared up rumors that he was here for negotiations with Japanese ball clubs.

A Japanese newspaper, Nikkan Sports, wrote this week that Yaz was offered $100,000 to play here with the Chunichi Dragons and reported that the Japanese ball club was set to negotiate with the Red Sox for Yastrzemski.

"Actually, I wasn't planning to come this far," said Yastrzemski. "My wife and I were going to Hawaii for a vacation. Bob Woolf and his wife, very good friends of ours for the past several years, suggested we visit Japan. Bob made a few calls and here we are."

Woolf is a prominent Boston attorney and a financial representative of more than 300 pro athletes — but he normally does not handle Yastrzemski's business affairs.

"Something that led to our coming here was that I didn't realize how big baseball was in Japan, nor did I realize how well Yastrzemski was known here," said Woolf.

"When we got a couple of calls in the States saying that they (the Japanese) might like Carl to endorse a product, or do a commercial, or become involved, I thought they were kidding. So when Carl said he was going to Honolulu, I said, 'Let's go to Japan and talk to these people, anyway, and see what everything is all about.' "

How did the rumor get started involving Yaz and the Chunichi Dragons?

"The only thing that I can figure that might have started any rumor that I was going to play baseball here would be the fact I have a good relationship with Wally Yonamine," said Yaz.

Yonamine is the Dragons' manager and he has been acquainted with Yastrzemski for the past five years. Knowing that Yaz was in Tokyo, Yonamine got together with the Bosox star.

"The Yonamines are great people and have helped us overcome the language barrier. They have shown us places in Japan tourists don't usually see. They've made our visit here in Japan much more enjoyable," said Yaz.

"Once we (Yaz and Wally) were spotted together — the first day in Japan — and three separate photos were taken. Those pictures had to be spliced together to get Wally and I together, because at no time were we photographed together," said the 1967 Triple Crown winner.

This explains a photo used by a Japanese newspaper which further mushroomed the rumors that Yaz was here negotiating. The photo showed Yaz together with Yonamine and Dragons owner Takeo Koyama at a Tokyo hotel.

"Wally has asked me about different American ballplayers. I understand the Japanese are leery about signing foreigners right now — not so much about their ability, but are the ballplayers reliable people?" Yastrzemski said,

"I guess they got burned in the past."

The recent case of Joe Pepitone comes to mind. The ex-major leaguer signed a fat contract with the Yakult Atoms but played in only a few games and flew back to the states.

The Japanese teams are interested in American players who might consider coming to Japan to play out the remaining years of their careers.

"I was spending lots of time with Wally answering questions about 10 ballplayers' names he had in mind, hoping that one or two of them would be interested in coming to Japan to play for the Dragons.

"Everything just mushroomed into crazy things ... writers following us, photographers following us, following Wally and waiting at his house. The whole thing is crazy," continued Yaz.

"Wally's scared to be with us now," said Woolf.

"They're speculating falsely and it's getting Wally in trouble, so he's saying, `Gee, I better not be with you.' This is upsetting, because we enjoy being with him, we enjoy his company," Woolf said.

Does Yastrzemski deny all reports of coming to Japan to play ball?

"I haven't talked to anyone here in Japan as far as money or any type of contract. Every person I run into, just talking off the cuff and just kidding around, said they would love to have me play here.

"Naturally, it would be a great thing for them and also for me. But I haven't talked with anyone. Besides, if I had plans of coming here to negotiate with the Japanese, the first person to know about it would be Richard O'Connell, executive vice-president and general manager of Boston."

Does Woolf think it's possible for a top major league star to come to Japan before his career is on the downgrade?

"I think it's only a matter of time before there are top star American players coming to Japan. I think the whole attitude of the people, of the Baseball Congress and even the owners, is changing radically toward the reserve clause in the United States which binds a player to a certain team.

"I think that five years ago, that if you would have mentioned fighting the reserve clause, or trying to play for another league, it was unheard of." Woolf represented hockey's Derek Sanderson, who jumped from the NHL's Boston Bruins to the WHA's Philadelphia Blazers. "Now I think the owners are gradually leaning toward the fact that ballplayers should have a little more freedom to be playing where they can.

"Yastrzemski five days ago said he never dreamed of playing here, never even had a thought of playing here. But coming here and seeing Japan, seeing the Japanese people and seeing the environment, cleared up the misconceptions that we had, which were tremendous. The average American doesn't know you can walk the streets of Tokyo perfectly safe. They think it's like New York City. They think it's just horrible.

"The respect that the Japanese have for one another is just amazing," Woolf said. "Under these circumstances, I can foresee a lot of players of top major league stature coming here if they are allowed to do so. I even think Yastrzemski, if he were allowed to do so, might give it some consideration."

Would Yaz ever come to Japan to extend his baseball career?

"I would never play baseball in Japan unless I can play well. I would not go there just to extend my career. It would have to be when I'm able to play and do my job.

"There is a great deal of pride involved in baseball for me," he added. "I would never go out and play just to take money just because I've made a name for myself. I want people to remember me being able to do all things — hit, run and throw."