When I came to Japan, I wanted to do one of three things: to manage a championship team, get into the Hall of Fame, and to shake hands with the emperor. I thought that meeting with the emperor would be impossible but when I was was a scout with the Giants, my wife and I met the emperor and the empress in Los Angeles. The audience was in a small room with eight others. When we were introduced, I automatically stuck my hand out because I was in Los Angeles. And he shook my hand! The empress talked with my wife for over five minutes! As they were walking out of the room, the empress looked at me and took a practice swing! There she was the empress in the nice kimono and all that, give me this batting stance!