play the game

スタッフとしての巨人入りが期待されていた松井秀喜氏がヤンキースのゼネラルマネジャー特別顧問に任命されました。大リーグでプレーした日本人選手がメジャー球団のフロント入りするのは史上初めてのことだそうです。
本文のplay the gameには「規則に従って行動［競技, 試合］をする」や「正々堂々とふるまう, 公明正大に行う」という意味があります（『プログレッシブ英和中辞典』小学館）。“He really knew how to hit,” Girardi said. “Really knew how to play the game.”という部分からは，松井氏がバッティング技術だけでなく，人間性でも評価されていることがわかります。（Koyamamoto）

Yankees Hire Hideki Matsui as Adviser to General Manager
SARASOTA, Fla. — Hideki Matsui broke a barrier of sorts when he became the first slugger from Japan to have a successful major league career. Now he is embarking on a new career as an executive with the Yankees.
The Yankees announced Tuesday that Matsui had been hired as a special adviser to General Manager Brian Cashman. His duties will include traveling throughout the minor leagues to advise players, managers and coaches on hitting. He will work with Cashman and Gary Denbo, the Yankees’ vice president for player personnel.
... Matsui hit 140 home runs and compiled an .852 on-base plus slugging percentage in seven years with the Yankees. Known as a clutch hitter and run producer, he averaged 85 runs batted in with the Yankees and was named the most valuable player of the 2009 World Series. He went on to play three years with the Angels, the Athletics and the Rays.
“He really knew how to hit,” Girardi said. “Really knew how to play the game.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/11/sports/baseball/yankees-hire-hideki-matsui-as-adviser-to-general-manager.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=mini-moth®ion=top-stories-below&WT.nav=top-stories-below&_r=0