No Mo' Nomo

In a bit of sad news to Dodger fans, former National League Rookie Of The Year Hideo Nomo officially retired today. The day's been coming for quite a while now but it's still a shame nonetheless.

I can still remember the buzz surrounding the team with the first MLB import from Japan came to town. Everyone was rooting for a return of Fernandomania and while it never reached that level, it was a very special time to be a Dodger fan. From the crazy controversy surrounding the hesitation delivery to the league having to decide if someone who played professionally in another country was eligible for the ROTY trophy, Nomo seemed to always have a buzz around him.

Nomo's greatest moment as a Dodger came when he threw a no-hitter in Coors Field - a feat that I still find amazing even in the age of the humidor balls. Anyone who can throw a no-no in Denver has some serious shit in their arsenal.

Even after he was gone from the Dodgers, I still rooted for him to keep his career going but it looks like it finally reached the end. Earlier in the season when there was a lot of speculation that he was going to be hanging them up soon, many Dodger fans were hoping the team would re-sign Nomo for a "tribute" start or two. With the team in the middle of a divisional race, I don't expect that to happen but bopefully there will be a tribute night for him so the Dodger fans can let him know what he meant to the team and the community.

Thanks for the memories, Hideo.