is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He played for the

Hiroshima Toyo Carp The is a professional baseball team based in Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan. They compete in the Central League of Nippon Professional Baseball. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda ...

in – and the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

in . He returned to the Carp in 2010. Takahashi was born in

Yokohama, Kanagawa is the second-largest city in Japan by population and the most populous municipality of Japan. It is the capital city and the most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a 2020 population of 3.8 million. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of T ...

, Japan. On February 6, 2009, Takahashi declared himself a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

and expressed his desire to play in Major League Baseball. He later signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

. Takahashi signed a minor league contract with the

on March 30, 2009, and was called up to the Major Leagues on April 26. He made his MLB debut on May 2, coming into the game in the middle of the third inning to replace

Óliver Pérez Óliver Pérez Martínez (born August 15, 1981) is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, ...

. Takahashi became only the third player in the post-

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

era to make his MLB debut at age 40 or older, joining

Satchel Paige Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige (July 7, 1906 – June 8, 1982) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Negro league baseball and Major League Baseball (MLB). His career spanned five decades and culminated with his induction in ...

(42 for the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...

in ) and

Diomedes Olivo Diomedes Antonio Olivo Maldonado (January 22, 1919 – February 15, 1977), nicknamed " Guayubin" for his hometown, was a Dominican professional baseball player and scout. The left-handed pitcher appeared in 85 Major League Baseball pitched ove ...

(41 for the Pittsburgh Pirates in ). Takahashi was released by the Mets on October 20, 2009.

References

External links

* 1969 births Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Hiroshima Toyo Carp players Japanese baseball coaches Japanese baseball players Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States Living people Major League Baseball players from Japan New York Mets players Nippon Professional Baseball coaches Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Baseball people from Yokohama {{japan-baseball-pitcher-stub