Ex-Yankee Irabu arrested over assault

AFP, August, 2008

TOKYO (AFP) — Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was arrested at a bar in Japan Wednesday for attacking the manager and wreaking havoc after his credit card failed, police said.

The retired 39-year-old Japanese player, who was unpopular with many US fans for his rough manners, was arrested on the spot in the bar in the western metropolis of Osaka at 5:30 am (2030 GMT), police said.

Irabu admitted that he had drunk around 20 jugs of beer and was infuriated when the machine did not read his credit card, a police official told AFP by telephone.

The former pitcher grabbed the bar's 22-year-old manager by the collar, pushed him against the wall and yanked his hair, the official said. He also threw ashtrays and beer bottles, prompting staff to call...