By Kang Hyun-kyung
 |
I'm thrilled the Dodgers have made it all the way to an impressive comeback in the World Series to end their championship drought and fulfill their "unfinished business," following their unsuccessful pennant race last year.
Like other sports, Major League Baseball (MLB) has power to make things happen that otherwise would never.
The MLB "has united" my divided family. In my extended family, we have three baseball fans ― my youngest brother, his wife and me.
In the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the three of us each support different teams. My youngest brother is a fan of the Nexen Heroes, the club that once had plenty of sluggers. His wife, my sister-in-law, is a Doosan Bears fanatic.
I myself am kind of "a swing fan," which means there's no particular team I am psychologically affiliated with and my favorite teams change every season.
For instance, last year, my favorite club was the Samsung Lions because the baseball great Lee Seung-youp spent his last year in the club. Since his departure after the 2017 season, my loyalty has switched to the Suwon-based KT Wiz, not because I am a resident of the "Greater Suwon Area" in Gyeonggi Province, but because of super rookie Kang Baek-ho, who became a giant killer and thrilled baseball fans by smashing upset home runs against the regular season champion Doosan Bears.
Unlike our different affiliation with KBO League clubs, we are united over the MLB. The three of us share unwavering, single-minded support for the Dodgers because of Ryu.
The lefty pitcher, who is called "Ryu-ttung" or Ryu the cute fat by some baseball fans here, has real influence in Korea. His influence is evident, particularly online.
His name and other related words, such as the Dodgers or names of opposing teams he pitched against, pop up in the top 10 list of the real-time most-searched names on the nation's largest internet portal Naver whenever he pitches.
In case I miss one of his games for some reason, I first go to Naver to check the top 10 list to see whether it has his name or not. If it is and if his name tops the list, this means he won the game or executed dominant pitching that day.
When Ryu pitches well, Korean fans are excited. If he is pounded by batters of opposing teams, as he was in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin last Saturday (Seoul time), we Korea-based Dodgers fans feel let down.
Our family's Dodgers fan base is growing and thriving. Recently my 16-year-old niece, who previously knew nothing about baseball, became a Dodgers fan after watching Ryu's dominance in the game against the Colorado Rockies during the Chuseok holiday. At that time, our extended family gathered at my mother's home and watched the game together on TV. My niece was fascinated with the MLB game.
Ryu's scoreless seven-inning pitching that day was a Chuseok gift to Korean fans.
The Korean Major Leaguer is set to pitch in Game 2 of the World Series against the Red Sox on Thursday (Seoul time). He is the first Korean starting pitcher to throw in the pennant race. Previously there were two other Korean bullpen pitchers who threw in the World Series.
However, what makes Ryu's World Series debut special is maybe because his dramatic, healthy comeback came years after he underwent surgery on his arm and following rehab which prevented him from pitching for nearly three years.
Count us as Korea-based Dodgers fans. We admire Ryu and hope he can enjoy the World Series, rather than feeling pressure to prove something. I think he has nothing to prove. As a Korean Major Leaguer, he has already achieved a lot. Enjoy the World Series.
