Soon spotted, he was approached by no fewer than eight Japanese pro teams. He signed with the Kintetsu Buffaloes but eventually had a falling-out with the team manager over his unconventional pitching. In baseball, as in other things, Japanese culture prefers conformity. That experience, plus a long-cherished desire to play in a U.S. major league, took Nomo to America. It's difficult for batters to pick up the ball.
Rivals are also impressed.
Nomo's first starts with the Dodgers, however, were anything but spectacular. The press and the big local Korean community fanned what was quickly dubbed Chan Ho-mania. But Park struggled on the mound, gave up too many walks and, after a little more than two weeks, was sent back to the Dodgers' minor league team in San Antonio. The team had spent all that money and there was all the hoopla. For Japanese, there was the added fillip of one of their countrymen beating the Americans at their own game.