Multiple sources across the web are reporting that former New York Yankees, Montreal Expos, and Texas Rangers pitcher Hideki Irabu was found hung in an apparent suicide earlier today. He was 42. Irabu who was originally purchased by the Padres from the Chiba Lotte Mariners of Japan’s Pacific Coast League refused sign with San Diego and was traded to the New York Yankees where he began his big league career in 1997. Irabu underachieved for most of his career in the states with his best year coming in 1998 when he went 13-9 with a 4.06 ERA for the Yankees. He finished his career going 5-15 over three seasons with the Expos and Rangers before going back to Japan to finish out his career. In 2009 Irabu came back to the states signing with the Long Beach Armada of the Golden League. You can watch his welcoming press conference below. Baseball card collectors will remember the 1997 Hideki Irabu Bowman Chrome Rookie being one of the most sought after rookie cards of the 1990’s when Irabu first hit the major leagues.