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Yankees World Champions

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Six years ago, there was a parade in the city of Tokyo to celebrate Hideki Matsui's impending arrival to the major leagues following his signing by the Yankees.

On Friday, the streets of New York City will be packed for a ticker-tape parade for the franchise's 27th World Series title, and although the focus will be on prominent Yankees Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira, fans certainly can't forget the incredible performance by their designated hitter Wednesday night.

Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBI in one game, accomplishing the feat in a 7-3 title-clinching Game 6 against the 2008 champion Philadelphia Phillies.

"My first and foremost goal when I joined the Yankees was to win the world championship," Matsui said through interpreter Roger Kahlon. "Certainly it's been a long road and very difficult journey. I'm just happy that after all these years we were able to win and reach the goal that I had come here for."

Matsui belted a two-run homer in the second inning and added a two-run single in the third, both off Pedro Martinez, and then drilled a two-run double off J.A. Happ in the fifth, helping New York to a 7-1 lead. He became the first Japanese player and first full-time designated hitter to win the World Series MVP. The six RBI ties the mark set by the Yankees' Bobby Richardson in an October 8, 1960 Game 3 victory against Pittsburgh, a series in which New York lost in seven games.

In the final season of a four-year, $52 million contract, Matsui saved his best for ultimately the last game of 2009. The 35-year-old, a three-time MVP of the Japanese Central League (1996, 2000 and 2002), and nicknamed Godzilla for his hitting power, had a huge series, going 8-for-13 with three homers and eight RBI.

"I'm certainly aware that I represent Japan in that sense as a baseball player," said Matsui. "But more so in my mind, I feel that I am a member of the Yankees. I'm a Yankee baseball player. So that's always in my mind more so. As far as how I look at this World Series and being a champion, I guess it's hard to make a comparison. When I was in Japan, that was the ultimate goal, and that's what you strive for. Being here, winning the World Series, becoming world champions, that's what you strive for here. So I can't really make a comparison."

It's been an incredible ride in the Bronx for Matsui. In his first game at Yankee Stadium in 2003, he became the first player in franchise history to belt a grand slam in his first home game. He nearly won the Rookie of the Year award during that 2003 season, the first of his two straight All-Star selections. So durable early on, he didn't miss a game over his first three seasons in the majors. Matsui, though, played in just 51 games in 2006 and 93 in 2008 before smacking 28 homers and 90 RBI during the regular season in 2009.

His eight RBI were the most for a Yankee in a single World Series since Reggie Jackson drove in eight in both 1977 and 1978. In addition to Richardson in 1960 and Matsui Wednesday, the only other Yankee with a six-RBI game in the postseason was Bernie Williams in Game 1 of the 1999 ALDS.

Due to be a free agent, Matsui was asked after the game if he'll be a Yankee in 2010.

"I have no idea right now," he said.

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