Correspondence from Yasuhiro Nakasone, former Japan Prime Minister, to Peter O’Malley

Yasuhiro Nakasone was an accomplished Prime Minister in Japan from 1982-1987 and a fine ally to the United States. Nakasone sat with Peter O’Malley and he threw the first pitch at Dodger Stadium before a game on September 12, 1996, when Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo was the starting pitcher. Nomo pitched eight innings for the 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, then showed his respect by coming upstairs to meet the former Prime Minister. In Nomo’s next start on September 17, he threw his first no-hitter to defeat the Colorado Rockies on the road, a feat never duplicated in Colorado baseball history. In the letter, Nakasone praises O’Malley for his care of and concern for Nomo and all Dodger players.