By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Korean professional baseball legend Song jin-woo of the Hanwha Eagles has announced his retirement after a 21-year playing career.
The 43-year-old pitcher revealed Sunday he will now turn his focus to coaching.
``I have done my best,'' the legend said.
Song had been sent to the minors to see if he could regain his old form but it became clear to him that it was the end of the line.
``Song pitched in the second-tier league, but he didn't retake his original performance and decided to retire,'' an Eagles official said.
Song will likely be honored by the team later this season and will then go abroad for coaching training.
Song was remarkably steady over his 21-year career, building tremendous career statistics, becoming the league's top lefty and a franchise star for the Hanwha Eagles. In 671 appearances, he threw 3,003 innings, garnering a record of 210-153 and 103 saves. He also struck out 2,048 batters and has a lifetime ERA of 3.51.
He is the only pitcher to throw more than 3,000 innings and produce 200 victories with 2000 strikeouts. His record of 3,003 innings is particularly a testament to his durability and consistency. Over a 20-year career, it required an average of more than 150 innings per season. Only 11 pitchers in the KBO threw more than 150 innings last season. Among active players, Kim Won-hyung of the SK Wyverns (2,164 1/3) and Kim Soo-kyung of the Heroes (1650 2/3) are closest to Song's record.
His career numbers solidify his status as a Korean baseball legend in the eyes of fans.
The only player that's even close to Song's career numbers is Eagles player/coach Jung Min-chul who has 161 wins with 1,661 strikeouts in 2,394 2/3 innings. In strikeouts, retired pitcher Lee Kang-chul, formerly of the Kia Tigers, is second all time with 1,749.
Song debuted with the Binggre Eagles ― the predecessor of the Hanwha Eagles ― in 1989 and grabbed the best reliever award in 1990 piling up 11 wins and 27 saves and just two years later in 1992 the lefty won a league-high 19 games.
Song didn't always appear destined for a long and prosperous career. He won only six games in both 1997 and 1998 and there was talk then that he may retire. But he reinvented himself, changing from a power pitcher to a control pitcher and rebounded with 15 wins in 1999 and helped the Eagles to a league title that year as well. He won at least 10 games every season from 1999 to 2005 except 2003.
Song will also be remembered for the work he did for the game behind the scenes. Song became the first president of the Korea Professional Baseball Players Association (KPBPA) and helped improved conditions for younger and average players.
As the KBPA president he relationship with the league and teams was not always rosy. He clashed with management several times when fighting for players' rights.
``I am happy to have played until now. I've had 15 days to decide on retirement, and I'm sorry to retire when my team's record is bad,'' Song said.
Song reminisced about his most memorable moments in professional baseball.
``The most happy time is becoming the champion in 1999. I remember my pitching debut. At that time I shut out the Haitai Tigers ― a predecessor of the Kia Tigers ― in April 12, 1989. Two hundred wins and 2000 strikeouts are very important records, but when I set that record I didn't recognize the importance,'' added Song.
``Throwing 3,000 innings is the biggest impact I've left on the game, and more than 200 wins. How many pitchers throw more than 150 innings these days? That's why it is meaningful,'' the legend said.
``I hope that the young players do their best until the game ends. As they will not play baseball only one or two years, don't be disappointed. The sunny day will be come to all the players some day,'' the legend also said to potential juniors.
Players reacted to the news of Song's retirement, paying respect to his longevity and consistency.
``Producing more than 200 wins is huge. You'd need to grab at least 10 wins for 20 years to reach that,'' Samsung Lions manger Sun Dong-ryul said.
Song will soon move to Japan for coaching training. Even though his playing career has come to a close, baseball fans likely haven't seen the last of Song in the KBO.