Baseball in South Korea

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Korean baseball player Kim Hyun-soo in the outfield during the 2009 World Baseball Classic. KoreaWBC2009.jpg
Korean baseball player Kim Hyun-soo in the outfield during the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Baseball is believed to have been introduced to Korea in 1905 by American missionaries during the Korean Empire, after which it gradually attained prominence. [1] [2] After the division of the Korean Peninsula into North Korea and South Korea in 1945 and the further destabilisation of the Korean War from 1950–53, baseball has become one of the most popular sports in South Korea. North Korea, under isolationist leadership, does not have the same level of investment in baseball as South Korea. There are 10 professional teams in South Korea's KBO League. Baseball season runs from March to October.

Contents

History

Before the Korean war

American missionaries brought baseball to Korea in the 19th century. In 1896, U.S. Marines played exhibitions against teams of Americans expatriates and the Seoul Athletic Club. The sport flourished in the period of Japanese rule, [3] though ethnic Koreans faced playing restrictions, as baseball was seen as a potential tool of Korean nationalism. During the Japanese occupation, Korean players were only allowed to play in tournaments sponsored by Japanese companies. [4]

In December 1921, a team of American Major League players stopped in Seoul during a tour of Asia, and a Korean team was assembled to play against them. The Koreans were defeated, 23-3. [5] Various Korean cities also participated in the Japanese intercity baseball tournament, from its inception in 1927 until 1942. [6] In 1940 and 1942 Seoul won the tournament, defeating (respectively) the teams of Dalian and Osaka. At least one Korean played against a Babe Ruth-led team of American MLB all-stars which toured Japan in 1934. [3]

Post-war period

The 1980s marked the beginning of the professional baseball era in South Korea. In 1982, the MBC Chungyong, Lotte Giants, Samsung Lions, OB Bears, Haitai Tigers, and Sammi Superstars were launched, as was the highest-level league that they composed, the Korea Baseball Championship. [7] This league continues to be South Korea's major league, and has expanded to 10 teams.

The sport reached a new level of popularity when pitcher Chan Ho Park made his debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994. [8] Park achieved a great deal of success in his Major League Baseball career, and paved the way for the American success of fellow South Korean players such as Hee-seop Choi, Byung-hyun Kim, Bong Jung-keun, Shin-Soo Choo, Hyun-jin Ryu, Jung-ho Kang, and Ha-seong Kim.

It is also played widely on the local high school and collegiate level, as well as in a farm league (the Korea Baseball Futures League).

Baseball's South Korean governing body is the Korea Baseball Organization, a member of the International Baseball Federation and the organization responsible for the nation's participation in such international competitions such as the Olympics, World Baseball Classic and the Asian Games. The KBO also manages Korea's national team.

South Korea rose to prominence on the international baseball scene in the mid-2000s, finishing second in the 2009 World Baseball Classic to its arch-rival Japan. The team won the bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and the gold medal against Cuba at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. At the end of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, South Korea ranked fifth in the WBSC World Rankings. [9]

In March 2024, two regular-season Major League Baseball (MLB) games were played in Seoul, between the Los Angeles Dodger and San Diego Padres; [10] each team won one game. [11]

Films

TV Drama

Music

See also

Baseball organizations and leagues

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chan Ho Park</span> South Korean baseball player (born 1973)

Chan Ho Park is a South Korean former professional baseball pitcher. Park was the first South Korea-born player in MLB history, and the first South Korean player to be named an MLB All-Star. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB), the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League. As of 2023, he has the most career wins of any Asia-born pitcher in history (124), having passed Hideo Nomo for that distinction in 2010. During his playing days, Park stood 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall, weighing 210 pounds (95 kg).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lotte Giants</span> Baseball club from South Korea

The Lotte Giants are a South Korean professional baseball team based in Busan. They are a member of the KBO League. The Lotte Giants are owned by Lotte Corporation.

The KBO League, known as the Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most successful team, having won 11 of the 42 championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kia Tigers</span> Korean baseball team in Gwangju, South Korea

Kia Tigers are a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982 and based in the southwestern city of Gwangju. Until 2001, they were known as the Haitai Tigers. The Tigers are a members of the KBO League and are the most successful team in Korean baseball, having won the national Korean Series championship 11 times with a perfect 11–0 record. Their home stadium is Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gocheok Sky Dome</span> Baseball stadium in Seoul, South Korea

The Gocheok Sky Dome (Korean: 고척스카이돔) is a domed baseball stadium located in Gocheok-dong, Seoul, South Korea. It is the home ballpark of KBO club Kiwoom Heroes. The stadium is primarily used for baseball and has a capacity for 16,744 spectators for baseball games. The stadium replaced Dongdaemun Baseball Stadium and opened on 15 September 2015. It also serves as a concert venue, with a capacity for around 25,000 spectators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kwang-hyun Kim</span> South Korean baseball player

Kwang-hyun Kim is a South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the SSG Landers of the KBO League. He has also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Below is a partial list of Minor League Baseball players in the Los Angeles Dodgers system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyun-jin Ryu</span> Korean baseball player (born 1987)

Hyun-jin Ryu is a South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League. He has also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Dong-yol</span> South Korean baseball player (born 1963)

Sun Dong-yol is a South Korean retired baseball pitcher and former manager. He was a pitcher in the KBO League and Nippon Professional Baseball, and the former manager of the Samsung Lions and the Kia Tigers in the KBO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBO Futures League</span> Korean second-tier baseball league

KBO Futures League or Korea Baseball Futures League is South Korea's second level of baseball, below the KBO League. It serves as a farm league with the purpose to develop professional players on-demand to play in the KBO League. The league consists of two divisions — the Southern League and the Northern League. These leagues are governed by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The league plays an 80-game season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byung-ho Park</span> South Korean baseball player (born 1986)

Byung-ho Park is a South Korean professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman for the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He previously played for the LG Twins and Kiwoom Heroes, and Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). In the KBO, Park had two consecutive seasons with 50 home runs (2014–2015) and was the home run title winner for four consecutive seasons (2012–2015). He holds the KBO record for runs batted in during a single season, with 146 RBI in 2015.

Choi Dong-won was a South Korean pitcher in the KBO League who played for the Lotte Giants and Samsung Lions. Choi batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Busan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posting system (KBO)</span>

The posting system is a baseball player transfer system that operates between Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and the Major League Baseball (MLB). The system is based on the original posting system that was put in place between MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 WBSC Premier12</span> International baseball competition in 2015

The 2015 WBSC Premier12 was an international baseball championship sponsored by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), the inaugural event of the WBSC Premier12. It was held from November 8 to 21 in Taiwan and Japan. The South Korean national team won the championship, and split a US$1 million prize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ha-seong Kim</span> South Korean baseball player (born 1995)

Ha-seong Kim is a South Korean professional baseball shortstop for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). Kim was drafted 41st overall by the Nexen Heroes in the 2014 Korea Baseball Organization Draft. He made his KBO debut with the Heroes in May 2014 and won the KBO Golden Glove Award in 2018, 2019 and 2020. In December 2020, Kim signed with the San Diego Padres, and made his MLB debut in 2021. In 2023, Kim became the first Korean-born player to win a Gold Glove Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoshinobu Yamamoto</span> Japanese baseball player (born 1998)

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes. Yamamoto is a three-time Pacific League Most Valuable Player, Eiji Sawamura Award, and a three-time Triple Crown winner. Yamamoto is the first player in the history of professional baseball to win the Triple Crown in three consecutive years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zach Reks</span> American baseball player

Zachary Joseph Reks is an American professional baseball outfielder in the San Diego Padres organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers. He has also played in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants.

Woo-suk Go is a South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in the KBO League for the LG Twins. He competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Asian Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MLB Seoul Series</span> Major League Baseball series in Seoul, South Korea

The MLB World Tour: Seoul Series, known for sponsorship purposes as the MLB World Tour: Seoul Series presented by Coupang Play, is a series of Major League Baseball (MLB) games played in Seoul, South Korea. It is part of the MLB World Tour series of games played outside of the United States and Canada.

References

  1. ↑ ""국내야구 첫 보급은 19세기말"". sports.news.naver.com.
  2. ↑ "Archives". Los Angeles Times .
  3. 1 2 Jeong, Andrew (27 December 2017). "What's That Rocketing Into the North Korean Sky? A Baseball!". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. ↑ Jungah Choi (11 October 2022). Ramshaw, Gregory; Gammons, Sean (eds.). Baseball and Cultural Heritage. University Press of Florida. pp. 128–141. ISBN   9780813070216.
  5. ↑ Reaves, Joseph (2006). Gmelch, George (ed.). Baseball Without Borders: The International Pastime. University of Nebraska Press. p. 96.
  6. ↑ ja:都市対抗野球大会 (朝鮮)
  7. ↑ "Korea.net".
  8. ↑ "Chan Ho Park Player Page". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "WBSC World Rankings". WBSC.org. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023.
  10. ↑ "Los Angeles Dodgers Schedule". MLB.com. 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  11. ↑ Boeck, Scott; Yomtov, Jesse (March 21, 2024). "Dodgers vs. Padres highlights: San Diego wins wild one, Yamamoto struggles in MLB Korea finale". USA Today . Retrieved March 21, 2024.
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