'Son of the Wind' Lee Jong-beom throws first toss in San Francisco — in pictures

Baseball

Published: 28 Jun. 2024, 10:18 Updated: 28 Jun. 2024, 10:26

'Son of the Wind' Lee Jong-beom throws first toss in San Francisco — in pictures

Lee Jong-beom, father of San Francisco Giants center fielder Lee Jung-hoo, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California on Wednesday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Korean baseball legend Lee Jong-beom, the father of San Francisco Giants center fielder Lee Jung-hoo, threw the ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California on Wednesday — with his son catching the toss.

The elder Lee, known affectionately in Korea as the Son of the Wind, made the toss on the third night of a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs, in honor of Korean Heritage Night.

The younger Lee joined the Giants from the KBO's Kiwoom Heroes ahead of the 2024 MLB season and was en route to a breakout big league year before a season-ending shoulder injury in May. Still, he joined his father in dugout and on the diamond before Wednesday's game against the Cubs for what was presumably felt like a familiar round of catch — with an audience.

Lee Jong-beom is Korean baseball royalty.

Lee Jong-beom, center, stands in the dugout before the game on Wednesday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Lee Jong-beom, right, speaks with his son, San Francisco Giants center fielder Lee Jung-hoo before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California on Wednesday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Debuting with the Kia Tigers in the KBO in 1993 and with the Chunichi Dragons in Japan’s NPB in 1998, Lee senior trumped his son in the awards category, winning a Golden Glove in his rookie year and KBO MVP in his sophomore year.

A 13-time KBO All-Star (that makes him an All-Star every single year he played in the KBO), Lee Jong-beom won six Golden Gloves (one more than junior), KBO MVP, two Korean Series MVPs, was KBO batting champion and won four Korean Series titles with the Tigers. His No. 7 was retired by the Tigers in 2012.

Lee Jong-beom readies his throw. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Lee Jong-beom throws the ceremonial first toss, donning a jersey with his son's name on the back. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Lee Jong-beom was known as the Son of the Wind for his speed — a nickname Lee Jung-hoo has inherited as Grandson of the Wind — and is widely considered the best KBO player of the 1990s and one of the best KBO players of all time.

San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin, right, greets Lee Jong-beom before the game. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Lee Jung-hoo, left, and his father Lee Jong-beom pose for a photo before the game. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Wednesday wasn't the KBO legend's first cameo in San Francisco. He watched his son hit his first home run for the Giants in March.

BY MARY YANG AND JIM BULLEY [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]