By Alastair Himmer TOKYO, Dec 28 (Reuters) - No longer the fearsome, fire-breathing "Godzilla" of old, injury-ravaged Hideki Matsui retired from baseball with his head held high and as a huge source of national pride for Japan. The 38-year-old slugger, World Series MVP in 2009 with the New York Yankees, helped put Japanese baseball on the map after the trail-blazing Hideo Nomo and mercurial Ichiro Suzuki had enjoyed success across the Pacific. In one interview, Matsui said he batted right-handed as a child but when he began playing with his older brother and friends, he was so good his embarrassed sibling forced him to switch hands. He never looked back, thereafter hitting left-handed and...
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