Milestone Victory
By Yoon Chul
Korea Times Intern
SK Wyverns manager Kim Sung-keun earned his 1,000th career victory when his team defeated the Woori Heroes 8-0 Wednesday in Incheon.
Kim has compiled a 1,000-892-49 record while managing six teams over 17 seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). He coached the OB Bears (1984-1988), Pacific Dolphins (1989-1990), Samsung Lions (1991-1992), Ssang Bang Wool Rayders (1996-1999) and LG Twins (2001-2002), before becoming the Wyverns' manager in 2006.
Kim, who led the Wyverns to the Korean Series championship last season, became the first KBO manager to reach the 1,000-win mark since Kim Eung-ryong, who won 1,476th games with the Haitai Tigers and Samsung Lions before retiring in 2004.
Throughout his career, Kim Sung-keun has taken weak teams and rebuilt them successfully. But despite his success, he often resigned from jobs because of his refusal to allow team management to influence how he used players.
``A manager should not compromise with anyone,'' said Kim, whose Wyverns have the best record in the KBO this year at 65-34. ``A confliction for my players and baseball is not wrong. After that, the players can follow me with belief. I can take all responsibilities. The manager should help athletes to focus on their play.''
Kim, who left to coach the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan in 2005, did not win his first Korean Series title until last season.
``My 1,000th career victory comes after lots of failures and hardship," Kim said with a smile. "I almost gave up my goal but I didn't. I think it's great.''
The 1,000-victory milestone has been reached by 55 managers in U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) and 11 in the Japan league. Connie Mack holds the MLB record for most wins with 3,771, while Tsuruoka Kazuo has the most victories in the Japan league with 1,773.