TheSamsung Lions(Korean:삼성 라이온즈)[1]are a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in the southeastern city ofDaeguand are members of theKBO League.Their home stadium isDaegu Samsung Lions Park.They have won theKorean Championshipeight times, and also finished as runners-up on eleven occasions. The Samsung Lions are the first team to win four consecutive Korean Series titles (2011–2014), and are also the first team to win the regular season league title for five consecutive years (2011–2015).

Samsung Lions
삼성 라이온즈
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueKBO League(1982–present)
LocationDaegu
Ballpark
Established1982;42 years ago(1982)
League championships2001, 2002, 2005, 2006,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015
Korean Series championships1985, 2002, 2005, 2006,2011,2012,2013,2014
Former ballparksDaegu Baseball Stadium(1982–2015)
ColorsBlue, white and grey
Retired numbers10,22,36
OwnershipCheil Worldwide
(Samsung's subsidiary)
ManagerPark Jin-man
Websitewww.samsunglions
Uniforms

History

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The Samsung Lions were founded in 1982 as one of the original sixKBO Leagueteams. They won their first championship in 1985, going 40-14-1 in the first half and 37-18 in the second half for a total of 77–32 for the best one-seasonwinning percentagein KBO League history (a record that still stands). The 1985 team had two 25-game-winners on their staff,Kim Si-jinandKim ll-young;as the Lions were winners of both half-season pennants that year, noKorean Serieswas held and the Lions were declared champions outright.[2]

The Lions would also win the championship in 2002, 2005 and 2006, having the best record in each one of those years. In 2010,Ryu Jung-ilwas hired as the new manager of the Samsung Lions. He led the team to the best record in the league and its fifth KBO title in 2011. After the KBO League, the Samsung Lions won theAsian Serieschampionship. The Samsung Lions became the first team to win the pennant race, the Korean Series, and the Asian Series in the same year.

In 2012, one of the most notable players on the team,Lee Seung-yuop,returned to South Korea from Japan. With his help, the Samsung Lions won their sixth championship in the 2012 season. They won another two championships in 2013 and 2014, for a total of eight Korean Series championships.[3][4]In 2016, Samsung Lions moved to their new stadium,Daegu Samsung Lions Park.[5]

Season-by-season records

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Season Stadium League Finish Regular season Postseason Awards
Rank Games Wins Losses Draws Win% BA HR ERA
1982 Daegu Baseball Stadium KBO 2/6 2/6 40 26 14 0 .650 .266 57 2.70 LostKorean Seriesvs.OB Bears(1–1–4)
1/6 40 28 12 0 .700
1983 KBO 4/6 5/6 50 21 26 3 .447 .263 90 3.42 Did not qualify Lee Man-soo(MVP)
2/6 50 25 24 1 .510
1984 KBO 2/6 1/6 50 32 18 0 .640 .270 78 3.35 LostKorean Seriesvs.Lotte Giants(3–4)
5/6 50 23 27 0 .460
1985 KBO 1/6 1/6 55 40 14 1 .741 .276 97 2.98 Not held[a]
1/6 55 37 18 0 .673
1986 KBO 2/7 1/7 54 39 15 0 .722 .276 74 2.95 Wonplayoff vs.OB Bears(3–2)
LostKorean Seriesvs.Haitai Tigers(1–4)
4/7 54 31 22 1 .585
1987 KBO 2/7 1/7 54 33 21 0 .611 .300 105 3.58 LostKorean Seriesvs.Haitai Tigers(0–4) Jang Hyo-jo(MVP)
1/7 54 31 23 0 .444
1988 KBO 3/7 5/7 54 23 30 1 .435 .278 85 4.18 Lostplayoff vs.Binggrae Eagles(0–3)
2/7 54 33 20 1 .620
1989 KBO 4/7 4/7 120 57 58 5 .496 .272 96 4.42 Did not qualify
1990 KBO 2/7 2/7 120 66 52 2 .558 .263 131 4.13 Wonsemi-playoff vs.Binggrae Eagles(2–0)
Wonplayoff vs.Haitai Tigers(3–0)
LostKorean Seriesvs.LG Twins(0–4)
1991 KBO 3/8 3/8 126 70 55 1 .560 .272 108 4.23 Wonsemi-playoff vs.Lotte Giants(2–1–1)
Lostplayoff vs.Binggrae Eagles(1–3)
1992 KBO 4/8 4/8 126 67 57 2 .540 .265 124 4.55 Lostsemi-playoff vs.Lotte Giants(0–2)
1993 KBO 2/8 2/8 126 73 48 5 .599 .268 133 2.95 Wonplayoff vs.LG Twins(3–2)
LostKorean Seriesvs.Haitai Tigers(2–1–4)
Kim Seong-rae(MVP)
Yang Joon-hyuk(ROTY)
1994 KBO 5/8 5/8 126 60 64 2 .484 .260 106 3.47 Did not qualify
1995 KBO 5/8 5/8 126 60 60 6 .500 .250 94 3.90 Did not qualify Lee Dong-su(ROTY)
1996 KBO 6/8 6/8 126 54 67 5 .448 .249 88 4.23 Did not qualify
1997 KBO 3/8 4/8 126 66 53 7 .552 .277 165 4.23 Wonsemi-playoff vs.Ssangbangwool Raiders(2–1)
Lostplayoff vs.LG Twins(2–3)
Lee Seung-yuop(MVP)
1998 KBO 3/8 2/8 126 66 58 2 .532 .268 143 4.32 Lostplayoff vs.LG Twins(1–3)
1999 Magic League 4/8 1/4 132 73 57 2 .562 .273 207 5.16 Lostplayoff vs.Lotte Giants(3–4) Lee Seung-yuop(MVP)
2000 Dream League 3/8 3/4 133 69 59 5 .539 .269 177 4.64 Lostplayoff vs.Hyundai Unicorns(0–4)
2001 KBO 2/8 1/8 133 81 52 0 .609 .277 162 4.39 LostKorean Seriesvs.Doosan Bears(2–4) Lee Seung-yuop(MVP)
2002 KBO 1/8 1/8 133 82 47 4 .636 .284 191 3.92 WonKorean Seriesvs.LG Twins(4–2) Lee Seung-yuop(MVP)
2003 KBO 4/8 3/8 133 76 53 4 .589 .284 213 4.37 Lostsemi-playoff vs.SK Wyverns(0–2) Lee Seung-yuop(MVP)
2004 KBO 2/8 2/8 133 73 52 8 .584 .269 132 3.76 Wonplayoff vs.Doosan Bears(3–1)
LostKorean Seriesvs.Hyundai Unicorns(2–3–4)
Bae Young-soo(MVP)
2005 KBO 1/8 1/8 126 74 48 4 .607 .268 111 3.83 WonKorean Seriesvs.Doosan Bears(4–0) Oh Seung-hwan(ROTY)
2006 KBO 1/8 1/8 126 73 50 3 .593 .255 73 3.33 WonKorean Seriesvs.Hanwha Eagles(4–1–1)
2007 KBO 4/8 4/8 126 62 60 4 .508 .254 86 3.71 Lostsemi-playoff vs.Hanwha Eagles(1–2)
2008 KBO 4/8 4/8 126 65 61 0 .516 .258 92 4.42 Wonsemi-playoff vs.Lotte Giants(3–0)
Lostplayoff vs.Doosan Bears(2–4)
Choi Hyoung-woo(ROTY)
2009 KBO 5/8 5/8 133 64 69 0 .481 .275 146 4.98 Did not qualify
2010 KBO 2/8 2/8 133 79 52 2 .594 .272 118 3.94 Wonplayoff vs.Doosan Bears(3–2)
LostKorean Seriesvs.SK Wyverns(0–4)
2011 KBO 1/8 1/8 133 79 50 4 .612 .259 95 3.35 WonKorean Seriesvs.SK Wyverns(4–1) Bae Young-seop(ROTY)
2012 KBO 1/8 1/8 133 80 51 2 .611 .272 89 3.44 WonKorean Seriesvs.SK Wyverns(4–2)
2013 KBO 1/9 1/9 128 75 51 2 .595 .283 113 3.99 WonKorean Seriesvs.Doosan Bears(4–3)
2014 KBO 1/9 1/9 128 78 47 3 .624 .301 161 4.52 WonKorean Seriesvs.Nexen Heroes(4–2)
2015 KBO 2/10 1/10 144 88 56 0 .611 .302 176 4.70 LostKorean Seriesvs.Doosan Bears(1–4) Koo Ja-wook(ROTY)
2016 Daegu Samsung Lions Park KBO 9/10 9/10 144 65 78 1 .455 .293 142 5.65 Did not qualify
2017 KBO 9/10 9/10 144 55 84 5 .396 .280 145 5.90 Did not qualify
2018 KBO 6/10 6/10 144 68 72 4 .486 .288 146 5.19 Did not qualify
2019 KBO 8/10 8/10 144 60 83 1 .420 .256 122 4.64 Did not qualify
2020 KBO 8/10 8/10 144 64 75 5 .460 .268 129 4.78 Did not qualify
2021 KBO 3/10 2/10 144 76 59 9 .563 .267 133 4.30 Lostplayoff vs.Doosan Bears(0–2)
2022 KBO 7/10 7/10 144 66 76 2 .465 .270 103 4.29 Did not qualify
2023 KBO 8/10 8/10 144 61 82 1 .427 .263 88 4.60 Did not qualify
2024 KBO 2/10 2/10 144 78 64 2 .549 .269 185 4.68 Wonplayoff vs.LG Twins(3–1)
LostKorean Seriesvs.Kia Tigers(1–4)
  1. ^The 1985 Korean Series was not played, as the Samsung Lions finished first in both parts of the regular league season and were thus declared champions outright.

Team

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Current roster

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Korean Baseball League MVP

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Player Records (batter)

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Batting average

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1983Jang Hyo-joAVG.369
1984Lee Man-sooAVG.340
1985Jang Hyo-joAVG.373
1986Jang Hyo-joAVG.329
1987Jang Hyo-joAVG.387
1993Yang Joon-hyukAVG.341
1996Yang Joon-hyukAVG.346
1998Yang Joon-hyukAVG.342

Home runs

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1983Lee Man-soo27 HR
1984Lee Man-soo23 HR
1985Lee Man-soo22 HR
1987Kim Seong-rae22 HR
1993Kim Seong-rae28 HR
1997Lee Seung-yuop32 HR
1999Lee Seung-yuop54 HR
2001Lee Seung-yuop39 HR
2002Lee Seung-yuop47 HR
2003Lee Seung-yuop56 HR
2007Shim Jeong-soo31 HR
2011Choi Hyoung-woo30 HR

Retired numbers

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The first number retired by the Samsung Lions organization was number 22, in honour of catcher and sluggerLee Man-soo,who played for the team from 1982 to 1997, and was later a coach with theChicago White Soxof theMLBand theSK Wyverns.Lee was a five-timeKBO League Golden Glove Award-winner with the Lions, won theKBO League MVPin 1983,[6]and the hittingTriple Crownin 1984. The second number retired by the Samsung Lions organization was number 10, in honour of left-handed batterYang Joon-hyuk,who played for the team from 1993 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2010.[6]Yang led the league in batting four times, and holds six career batting records (including at one time the home run record with 351, now surpassed byLee Seung-yeop).[6]The third retired number, 36, was retired in honour ofLee Seung-yuop,who has spent 15 seasons with the club and is the all-time KBO League leader in home runs with 467.[7]Lee also holds the KBO records for runs scored, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, and OPS.


Yang Joon-hyuk
RF, DH

Lee Man-soo
C

Lee Seung-yuop
IF

Managers

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References

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General
  • "Complete league history and statistics"(in Korean).Korean Baseball League.Retrieved8 September2017.
Specific
  1. ^삼성라이온즈(in Korean). Samsung Lions official website.Retrieved23 March2012.
  2. ^Young Hoon Lee, Rodney Fort, editors.The Sports Business in The Pacific Rim: Economics and Policy(Springer, Oct 31, 2014)p. 178.
  3. ^"Samsung wins 3rd straight title in Game 7".The Korea Observer. 2 November 2013.Retrieved2 November2013.
  4. ^Nam Hyun-woo (21 November 2014)."Lion King! Samsung wins 4th straight KBO title".The Korea Times.Retrieved23 March2016.
  5. ^Jung, Yunsik (22 March 2016)."삼성 라이온즈 파크' 개장…" 국내 최고 시설 "[Samsung Lions Park is opened] (in Korean). news.sbs.co.kr.Retrieved13 November2016.
  6. ^abc레전드[History -> Legends] (in Korean). Samsung Lions.Retrieved13 November2016.
  7. ^"Legendary slugger homers twice in final game".Yonhap News Agency. 3 October 2017.Retrieved3 October2017.
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