Charlie Manuel, a star in Japan and an American original, fighting for his life in hospital

TOKYO — I read with great concern of the failing health of Charlie Manuel, the former major league player and manager and star in Japan with the Yakult Swallows and the Kintetsu Buffaloes. Manuel made the news recently when he suffered a stroke while undergoing a medical procedure at a Florida hospital, with doctors saying “the next 24 hours were crucial” to his survival.

Manuel has suffered a whole host of medical problems during both his managerial career and subsequent retirement. He had survived a heart attack, quadruple bypass surgery, diverticulitis, diabetes and kidney cancer. He recently spent time in an intensive care unit due to complications from hernia surgery.