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Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was found dead of an apparent suicide in the wealthy Los Angeles suburb of Rancho Palos Verdes, authorities said Thursday.
The body of Irabu, 42, was found at 4:25 p.m. PDT Wednesday, county sheriff's Sgt. Michael Arriaga said.
"He was found dead by an apparent suicide," he said.
Irabu lived in Rancho Palos Verdes but it was not immediately clear whether it was his home, the sergeant said.
Other details were not immediately released.
Messages left at the county coroner's office were not immediately returned.
Irabu has had a couple of run-ins with the law in the past three years.
In May 2010, Irabu was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in the Los Angeles suburb of Gardena. Police said he was stopped after his car drifted outside of traffic lanes and he nearly collided with a parked car. He posted $5,000 bail but it was not immediately clear whether he was criminally charged.
He was also arrested in Japan in 2008 on suspicion of physical assault after a run-in with a bartender.
Irabu played three seasons with the Yankees, two with the Montreal Expos and ended his major league career in 2002 with the Texas Rangers. He finished with a career 34-35 record and 5.15 ERA.
Irabu arrived in New York to much fanfare. After his Japanese rights were purchased by the San Diego Padres in 1997, Irabu refused to sign with them.
The Yankees eventually traded for Irabu and gave him a four-year, $12.8 million contract. He went 29-20 with a 4.80 ERA and picked up two World Series rings. However, he pitched in only one postseason game.
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner famously called Irabu a "fat toad" after the pitcher failed to cover first base in a spring training game in 1999. Steinbrenner refused to allow Irabu to accompany the team to San Diego but two days later relented and apologized.
Source: AP