Card Of The Week May 3

I started watching the documentary "Beyond the Game: Samurai 2026 World Baseball Classic" last week on Netflix and I noticed something a little subtle at one point.  It was during Samuri Japan's game against Korea and Seiya Suzuki had just hit his second home run of the game to put Japan up 4-3.  There's a couple shots of the dugout where, if you watch closely, you'll see someone slip in to stand next to Shohei Ohtani.  The next shot shows both Ohtani and that someone raising their right arms in unison.

That someone was Samurai Japan coach Nobuhiro Matsuda, long time Fukuoka Softbank Hawk (and brief Yomiuri Giant).  Matsuda had a post-home run routine of thrusting his right arm in the arm and yelling "Atsuo!" or "Hot Man!".  He and Ohtani were doing the same routine to celebrate Suzuki's home run.

Here's a card for Matsuda's schtick from the "Nickname Catchphrase" insert set from the 2024 BBM Professional Baseball 90th Anniversary set (#NC12):