This photo taken on September 21, 2024 shows Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the US, pointing to an autograph from 1965 by Hall of Fame great Hank Aaron in a collection of memorabilia, before an interview with AFP in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo. Shohei Ohtani last week made Major League Baseball history but it was Masanori Murakami who laid the groundwork 60 years ago when he became the first Japanese player in MLB. Now 80 and with a twinkle in his eye, Murakami says Ohtani is a "model" baseball player and the perfect ambassador for Japan. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP) / TO GO WITH: baseball-JPN-MLB-Murakami-OhtaniI, INTERVIEW by Andrew MCKIRDY (Photo by RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: A fan plays baseball in the parking lot before the Oakland Athletics game against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 25, 2024 in Oakland, California. The final Athletics game at the Coliseum will be played on September 26. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: A fan plays baseball in the parking lot before the Oakland Athletics game against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 25, 2024 in Oakland, California. The final Athletics game at the Coliseum will be played on September 26. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Baseball Hall of Famer and former Oakland Athletics player Rickey Henderson signs autographs before the Oakland Athletics game against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 25, 2024 in Oakland, California. The final Athletics game at the Coliseum will be played on September 26. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Baseball Hall of Famer and former Oakland Athletics player Rickey Henderson signs autographs before the Oakland Athletics game against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 25, 2024 in Oakland, California. The final Athletics game at the Coliseum will be played on September 26. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Ryan Pepiot #44 of the Tampa Bay Rays works up a baseball while pitching in the first inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on September 24, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: San Diego Padres players come onto the field after the Padres beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 in a baseball game September 22, 2024 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: Chicago White Sox players look out from the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, September 22, 2024 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)