KBO 40 Legends: 1982 world champions

Baseball

Published: 20 Sep. 2022, 20:51

KBO 40 Legends: 1982 world champions

Clockwise from top left: Jang Hyo-jo, Kim Si-jin, Kim Jae-bak and Han Dae-hwa. [KBO]

The KBO on Monday announced the final four members of the league’s “40 Legend” team, a round-up of the top 40 KBO players of all time that has been slowly compiled since the All-Star game in July.

Players were chosen for the 40-man squad from a list of 177 candidates, including all former Golden Glove and Korean Series MVP winners, as well as any pitchers who had recorded 800 appearances with 100 wins, 150 saves and at least one 20-win season and any batters who had appeared in 2,000 games, hit 200 home runs, 2,000 hits and had at least one 40-home run season.

All active players, including those playing overseas, were excluded.

The start of the KBO in 1982 coincided with the 1982 Amateur World Series, essentially the world championships of baseball. Four of the biggest stars of the era came through for Korea during that tournament.

Jang Hyo-jo

Jang, the KBO’s all-time on-base percentage leader, at .427, won four batting titles in a five-year period in the early 1980s. A Lions legend, Jang remains the only player to win three consecutive batting titles.

Jang Hyo-jo [KBO]

Kim Si-jin

Kim, another early Lions legend, was the first KBO pitcher to reach 100 career wins. He pitched a 25-win season in 1985, which remains the third-best single season win count in KBO history.

Kim Si-jin [KBO]

Han Dae-hwa

Han plied his trade with the Tigers, but is perhaps best known for his national team achievements. His eighth-inning three-run homer in the final of the 1982 World Series secured Korea’s win over Japan.

Han Dae-hwa [KBO]

Kim Jae-bak

Kim didn’t even have to swing the bat to secure his spot in Korean baseball history, laying down a jumping squeeze bunt to bring home the tying run in the 1982 World Series final.