The reason why the legendary master visits the ballpark even after 60 years of graduation

Jul 03, 2024

Former coach Kim Eung-yong posed at Mokdong Baseball Stadium on the 3rd. Photo = Reporter Na Yuri

"If you try to come and watch, you're out. That's why I came to the first game."

'Elephant' director chuckled. Former coach Kim Eung-yong visited the site of Cheongryonggi to cheer for his alma mater.

Former manager Kim watched the 79th Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship and the weekend league King Wangjung match (co-hosted by the Chosun Ilbo, Sports Chosun, and the Korea Baseball Softball Association) at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul on the 3rd. He is currently from Kaesong High School and past Busan Commercial High School. Although it has been nearly 65 years since graduating from school, he has consistently provided scholarships to his alma mater's baseball team, continuing to support and pay attention.

Born in 1939, I watched each and every play of my high school juniors with incredibly healthy age this year.

"In the past, I used to get a house near Kaesong High School and live with the pleasure of watching baseball team training from a distance every day. I haven't seen you for about three years because of the aftermath of COVID-19, and I'm here to see you play after a long time. No, I was going to go to the national competition, but I was eliminated in the first round every time. I came to watch the first game today."

Kaesong High School lost 0-4 to Cheongdam High School on the same day and failed to advance to the second round unfortunately. However, starting pitcher Jang Hyun-bin was praised by his seniors for throwing a strong pitch with two runs in six innings. Former manager Kim Eung-yong said, `Did Gaesung High School have such a pitcher. I couldn't see it well until now, but it's really good to see you throw it today."

Former coach Kim Eung-yong watches the first round match of the blue dragon flag at his alma mater Gaeseong High School. Photo = Reporter Na Yuri

Also "All the high school players these days have a good physique, and they're really good at throwing balls in real life. Most of the pitchers can't throw strikes to professionals, and some of them are better than professionals," he said, watching high school players with affection.

I couldn't help but talk about the old days. The 1950s, when the aftermath of the Korean War did not disappear. The entire team trained with three balls in the Busan High School baseball team. "The teacher gave me just one new ball a week. The new ball was used by pitchers for a week, and after a week, hitters received it and practiced batting. Even if the ball was torn apart because it couldn't get tattered, he nailed it and reattached it, and then put another tape on it and played baseball like that. On the day of the national competition, all students collected 10 won each to make membership fees for the baseball team. With that money, the whole school went to Seoul by train. It was like that then," he recalled. Now, high school baseball players have been brilliant, going overseas for off-season training and doing individual training at lesson halls, but their passion and dreams for baseball are the same as then and now.

Kim Eung-yong, manager of the Haitai Tigers. Sports Chosun DB

When asked which team's game he watches most closely, Kim, who said he also watches professional baseball games every day, expressed his unwavering affection, saying, `But I've been with the (KIA) Tigers for the longest time.' He led 18 seasons as manager of the Haitai Tigers, half of which he achieved a remarkable feat of winning nine times. Then "Director Lee Bum-ho was doing well. "I watch KIA games every day, and when I think KIA is losing today, I immediately turn the channel to Samsung (Lions) games." After leaving the Tigers, he lifted his long-cherished win at Samsung and later spent the honor of becoming the first club president, a game.

Now that he has stepped down from the field, interest in baseball is still the driving force behind 'Elephant Manager'.

Former coach Kim Eung-yong left such a pep talk to his juniors at Gaeseong High School.

"I'm still an amateur, so I hope you don't dwell too much on winning or losing, and make a lot of fun memories." And I hope you study hard. Even if you are a baseball player, you should study hard because you are a student. That way you can become a bigger player."

youll@sportschosun.com