Home > Sports > Baseball

KBO 40 Legends: The OGs

Published: 20 Sep. 2022, 18:58 Updated: 21 Sep. 2022, 10:02

Clockwise from top left: Park Chul-soon, Lee Man-soo, Kim Sung-han and Baek In-chun. [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.

High on that list are the OGs, four of the biggest stars from the KBO's 1982 debut season.

Park Chul-soon

OB Bears pitcher Park was the KBO MVP in the inaugural 1982 season, capitalizing on his career in the Minors to lead the Bears to the pennant title and top the league in wins, ERA and winning rate that season.

Park Chul-soon [KBO]

Lee Man-soo

Samsung Lions catcher Lee hit the first home run in KBO history on opening day in 1982, and then went on to top the league for the next three years. He was the first slugger to reach 100 and 200 career home runs.

Lee Man-soo [KBO]

Baek In-chun

Baek was a player-coach for MBC and the most consistent batter for average that the league has ever seen. His .412 batting average for the 1982 season remains the only time anyone has ever hit over .400.

Baek In-chun [KBO]

Kim Sung-han

Haitai utility man Kim took utility to a whole new level in 1982, batting and pitching with a .305 batting average and 13 home runs alongside a 2.79 ERA with 10 wins and a shutout.