All-Star Game sees an old hand as third-base coach

The All-Star Game involves a lot of entertaining moments, but one highlight for fans on Saturday at the Suwon KT Wiz Park was watching Hanwha Eagles manager Kim Sung-keun act as the third baseman coach for the Nanum All-Star team.

Kim, 72, is the oldest among current KBO managers. But for the All-Star Game, Nexen Heroes manager Yeom Kyung-yup was selected to lead the Nanum All-Star team after leading his club to the runner-up spot behind the Samsung Lions last year.

Nanum is comprised of players from the Nexen Heroes, NC Dinos, LG Twins, Kia Tigers and Hanwha Eagles.

Before the All-Star Game, Yeom told reporters that Kim would serve as third-base coach for two innings. But other managers expressed concern that the former SK Wyverns and Samsung Lions manager could be seriously injured by a line drive. Twins manager Yang Sang-moon insisted that he or Tigers manager Kim Ki-tae should take his role.

But Kim refused the younger managers’ offers, saying he would play the third-base coach and joking that he looked forward to signaling with his fingers.

Kim, however, never got a chance to signal. Although he did play as the third-base coach, there was no need to sign - none of the Nanum All-Star team batters were able to make it to first base until the second inning, as they were shut out by Dream All-Star starting pitcher Yoo Hee-kwan.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON [joo.kyungdon@joongang.co.kr]