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Lee Jong-beom

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For the South Korean webcomic artist, seeLee Jong-beom (artist).
Lee Jong-beom
Shortstop,Outfielder
Born:(1970-08-15)August 15, 1970(age 53)
Gwangju,South Korea
Batted:Right
Threw:Right
Professional debut
KBO:April 10, 1993, for theHaitai Tigers
NPB:1998, for theChunichi Dragons
Last appearance
NPB:2001, for the Chunichi Dragons
KBO:May 26, 2012, for theKia Tigers
KBO statistics
Batting average.297
Hits1,797
Home runs194
Runs batted in730
Stolen bases510
NPB statistics
Batting average.261
Hits286
Home runs27
Runs batted in99
Teams
As player

As coach

Career highlights and awards
KBO

International

Lee Jong-beom
Hangul
이종범
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Jongbeom
McCune–ReischauerYi Chongbŏm
In thisKorean name,the family name isLee.

Lee Jong-beom(Korean:이종범,Hanja:Lý chung phạm; born August 15, 1970) is a formerSouth Koreanprofessionalbaseballplayer who played for theKia Tigers(formerly the Haitai Tigers) in theKBO Leagueand theChunichi Dragonsin Japan from 1998 to 2001. He is nicknamed "Son of the Wind"(바람의 아들) for his speed.[1](He was also known as "Baseball Genius"[2]and the "KoreanIchiro".)[citation needed]Lee is widely considered one of the bestfive-tool playersin Korean baseball history, and the best all-around KBO player of the 1990s.[1]

Lee was the 1994KBO League MVP,a 13-time KBO All Star, and a six-time winner of theKBO League Golden Glove Award.He holds the single-season stolen base record in the KBO, with 84, and once hit.393 in a season, second-best all-time. Lee also won theKorean Series Most Valuable Player Awardtwice (his Tigers won fourKorean Serieschampionships). Lee's number 7 was retired by the Kia Tigers in 2012.

He started his career atshortstop,where he played through 1997, and mainly playedoutfielderin later years.

Career

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Lee Jong-Beom's number 7 was retired by theKia Tigersin 2012.

Lee graduated fromGwangju Jeil High School,where he excelled in baseball,[3]leading his team to theCheongryonggichampionship as a senior.[2]

He burst onto the KBO scene as a rookie shortstop in 1993, leading the league in runs, stealing 73 bases, being named to the All-Star team, winning aGolden Glove Award,and leading the Tigers to theKorean Serieschampionship. During the Series, Lee hit.313 (9 hits in 29 at-bats) with three steals, and was given theKorean Series Most Valuable Player Award.

His sophomore season was just as impressive, as he hit.393 (second all-time in the KBO toBaek In-chun,who hit.412 in 1982), led the league in hits and runs, and stole a league-record 84 bases.[2]That year he won theKBO League Most Valuable Player Awardand his second Golden Glove.

Lee played only a half-season's worth of games in 1995 due to commitments for military service, which is mandatory for all male South Korean citizens over 18.[4]

In 1996, Lee led the league in runs and again won a Golden Glove. The Tigers prevailed in the Korean Series, with Lee again receiving the series MVP award.

Lee had a "30-70 season" in 1997, in which he hit 30 home runs and stole more than 70 bases (73 in total).[5]He led the league in runs, picked up another Golden Glove, and his Tigers again won the KBO championship.

Lee moved to theNPBin 1998, playing for theChunichi Dragonsfrom 1998 to 2001. Over four seasons in the NPB, Lee hit a disappointing.261 with a total of 27 home runs, 99 RBI, and 53 stolen bases (he was alsohit by a pitchand broke his elbow in 1998).[2]While in the NPB, Lee shifted from shortstop to the outfield.

After a slow start in Japan in 2001, Lee returned to the KBO and the Tigers. He returned to form in 2002–2004, winning two more Golden Glove awards, leading the league in doubles in 2003, and in runs in 2004. Despite this, he voluntarily took a pay cut after the 2004 season.[2]

Playing for the bronze medal-winning Korean team in the2006 World Baseball Classic,Lee had six doubles and hit.400, and was named as an outfielder to the All WBC Team (alongsideKen Griffey Jr.andIchiro Suzuki).

In April 2012, prior to opening day, Lee announced his retirement from baseball; at that point, he was the KBO's oldest active player.[6]

Over his KBO career, he accumulated 510 stolen bases (second all-time toJeon Jun-ho),[7]winning four Gold Gloves as a shortstop and two as an outfielder, and never missing a single All Star Game during his professional career in Korea.

Post-playing career

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Lee served as a coach for theHanwha Eaglesin 2013–2014.

In 2016, he appeared onKing of Mask Singeras Fly a Cute Little Chick.

Personal life

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Lee is married to Jeong Jeong-min.[2]Their sonJung-hoo Leeis anMLBplayer for theSan Francisco Giants,and won theKBO League Rookie of the Year Awardin 2017.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abYoo Jee-ho (July 4, 2020)."2nd-generation KBO star wants to see more sons of ex-players thrive".Yonhap News Agency.
  2. ^abcdefChang Hye-soo; Limb Jae-un (April 25, 2005)."Kia Tigers outfielder invigorated after last season's slump, pay cut".Korea JoongAng Daily.
  3. ^Keh, Andrew (Oct 2, 2015)."School Spirit May Be Metaphysical for South Korean Baseball Players".The New York Times.
  4. ^KIM HYO-KYUNG; PARK SO-YOUNG (April 16, 2019)."Military service looms over KBO".Korea JoongAng Daily.
  5. ^"Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo takes lessons learned from legendary father to MLB".Yonhap. Dec 16, 2023.Lee owns three of the 10 highest steals totals in league history, having swiped 73 bags in 1993 and 64 in 1997.
  6. ^"Lee Jong-beom, oldest active baseball player, announces retirement".Yonhap.April 2, 2012.
  7. ^Hyun-kyung, Kang (2017-07-21)."KT Wiz outfielder seeks to become all-time leader in stolen base".The Korea Times.
  8. ^"Power rankings, top players, key storylines and more: Everything you need for KBO opening day".ESPN.com.2020-05-04.Retrieved2020-05-07.
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