Hideo Nomo was an international sensation when he broke onto the major league scene in 1995. Nomo was MLB’s first breakout Japanese star and was known for his signature long wind up and baffling stuff. After a scorching start to his career, he eventually fizzled out, but still managed 123 wins.
Although Nomo will never sniff the Baseball Hall of Fame, according to former teammate Paul Lo Duca he would be on the first ballot if there was one for drinking beer. Lo Duca recently appeared on The Favorites podcast and told a story about one instance where Nomo challenged the team trainer to a beer drinking contest on a cross-country team flight. The trainer ended up cashing out after 18 beers, but Nomo powered through, downing 35 brew dogs before the flight landed.
Incredibly, a hammered Nomo walked off the plane and was inexplicably the first one up at 8 AM the next morning for a team trip to go meet the Iron Chef. It may be a more incredible comeback story than Kirk Gibson’s World Series home run.
Listen to LoDuca tell this bananas tale from life on the road in the bigs.
Stop what you’re doing.
You need to take 60 seconds and listen to former @Dodgers great @paulloduca16 tell a legendary baseball story to @BlackjackFletch pic.twitter.com/ViggAH91Jn
— The Favorites Podcast (@TheFavoritesPod) February 22, 2019