ERA in 54 games. Language skills Murakami could barely speak or understand English when he first came to the United States, and always had a dictionary on hand to communicate with teammates. When promoted to the majors, he was told to go to New York City (where the San Francisco Giants were playing), and was given his plane ticket on the spot. In New York, he signed a major league contract even though he could not read a single word written on the contract. The authors of 1973's semi-satirical reference, The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book, stated that Murakami was "with the possible exception of Yogi Berra, the only major league ballplayer who did not speak English." After retirement, he became a TV commentator for NHK television. He spent over a decade as a founding board member for the Special Olympics Japan promoting understanding about people with mental disabilities in Japan. He served as an advisor to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Japan and organized an annual golf charity competition that raises funds for good causes, including for victims the 9/11 terrorist attack. He promoted diversity by serving as the manager of Japan's national women's baseball team.� Source: Speech by Masanori Murakami on April 22, 2008 at the �American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. Notes External links , Alexander Kleinberg, MLB.com, 24 December 2001. Japanese league stats and info of Masanori Murakami 1944 births Fresno Giants players Hanshin Tigers players Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States Living people Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from Japan Nankai Hawks players Nippon Ham Fighters players People from Ōtsuki, Yamanashi Baseball people from Yamanashi Prefecture San Francisco Giants players Fellows of the American Physical Society