It has been known for months now that the Yankees planned to sign Hideki Matsui to a one day contract in order to allow him to retire as a Yankee, but now we have details about the ceremony and how it will actually work.
According to a press release via email, the first 18,000 fans that attend Sunday's game will receive a Hideki Matsui bobblehead that depicts him holding his 2009 World Series MVP Award. Then, before the game, he will sign a minor league contract to officially rejoin the Yankees organization.
The ceremony will begin a half hour before the schedule game time with a video montage on the video board. Matsui will then enter on a golf cart in center field and be driven down the third base line to home plate. There will be a desk and chair there along with Brian Cashman, Assistant GM Jean Afterman, and Matsui's parents. He will sign his retirement papers and will be presented with a framed 2009 New York Yankees jersey. Hideki Matsui will then throw out the ceremonial first pitch at around 1 pm and the ceremony will be complete.
It sounds like a bizarre ceremony, but people love Matsui, so I'm sure it will be enjoyable to watch. It's a great ending to a great Yankee career and hopefully this won't be the last we see of the man they call Godzilla. Maybe he plans to work with players or maybe he simply wants to ride off into the sunset from here, either way let's all enjoy the day.