On March 15, 2025, Tsuyoshi Wada, once one of Japan's celebrated baseball pitchers, was honored at his retirement commemorative match at the Mizuho PayPay Dome, marking the conclusion of his illustrious 22-year professional baseball career.
Wada, who retired at the end of last season, took to the mound one last time, facing off against Kenta Kiyomiya of the Nippon-Ham Fighters. With commanding presence, Wada struck out Kiyomiya on just four pitches, concluding the game as he had so many others throughout his career. Following the match, the stadium buzzed with emotion as fans, friends, and family gathered for the retirement ceremony.
The ceremony itself was rich with tributes. Present were some of the sport's heavyweights, including Chairman Sadaharu Oh and Manager Hiroki Kokubo, who along with Wada's family, presented him with bouquets. He expressed heartfelt gratitude during his 13-minute speech, which reflected on his years spent wearing the uniform. Wada shared, "I really feel I was able to live my baseball life for 22 years," signaling both fulfillment and reflection as he acknowledged the end of this chapter.
His wife, Kasumi, was also acknowledged during the speech, where he humorously remarked, "Kasumi, you should retire too. Congratulations." This personal touch highlighted not only his dedication to the sport but also the support he received from his family throughout his career.
Encapsulating Wada’s impressive career, the ceremony included video messages from notable figures. Giants coach Toshiya Suginouchi, former pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Akihiro Yano, coach of Hanshin, delivered sentiments celebrating Wada’s contributions to baseball. Wada also received heartfelt praise from his former coach at Waseda University, Mitsuru Nomura, who highlighted his evolution from player to ace.
After the emotionally charged speeches, Wada took one final walk around the field, greeted by warm applause and cheers from fans as players from both teams formed a circle to toss him up nine times, symbolizing his achievements and contributions to the sport. The grand finale saw Wada delivering his last pitch—a 134km/h fastball—before stepping down from the mound one final time, honoring his audience with a deep bow.
His accomplished career began when he joined the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (now Softbank Hawks) after graduating from Yokohama High School and Waseda University. During his inaugural year, he marked 14 victories and received the Rookie of the Year award. Wada quickly became known for his consistent performance, achieving five consecutive seasons with double-digit wins and recording 165 wins across both Japanese and U.S. leagues by the end of his career.
Among his accolades are five league championships and six Japan Series titles achieved during his tenure with the Hawks, solidifying his legacy as one of the franchise's greats. Following his retirement announcement after the 2024 season, Wada transitioned to work as an advisor with the ball club’s general headquarters.
The retirement match did not only serve as Wada's farewell but also as a reflection of the love and respect he garnered throughout his career. Audience members received complimentary ‘Tsuyoshi Wada pitcher message cards’ as tokens to commemorate the day, encapsulating the fanfare surrounding the occasion.
On the field, the game itself saw Softbank taking the victory over the Nippon-Ham Fighters with a final score of 4-2. The outcome was secured during the sixth inning after Nakamura's tying hit and followed up by Hirose with two runs to take the lead. Wada’s legacy echoes not only within the walls of Mizuho PayPay Dome but within the heart of every fan who witnessed his extraordinary talent on the diamond.