Kim Kyung-Moon
Encyclopedia
Kim Kyung-Moon (born November 1, 1958) is the manager
of the NC Dinos
, and a former catcher in the Korea Baseball Organization
.
who threw and batted right-handed, attended Korea University
in Seoul
, South Korea
. After graduation, he was signed by the OB Bears, which later became Doosan, and directly took the starting catcher position on the team as a rookie in Korean professional baseball
's first year in 1982. Kim eventually led his team to the first Korean Series
Championship in the KBO
history, along with his battery mate Park Chul-Soon
who won 22 consecutive games in the regular season.
In his 10-year major league career in KBO, Kim batted
.220 with 6 home run
s, 126 runs batted in
, 119 runs
, 329 hits
, 60 doubles
, 1 triple
, and 17 stolen base
s in 700 games.
Kim was not a very good hitter, batting around the Mendoza Line
during his ten seasons, but is considered one of the best defensive catchers of all time.
to study coaching under Bobby Cox
in the Atlanta Braves
until when he was hired as a coach for the Samsung Lions
. He was bullpen coach for the 1994 Samsung Lions
and remained there until the 1996 season. In 1998, Kim returned to the Bears and worked as bullpen and bench coach until the 2003 season.
On October 10, , Kim was named manager of the Bears, replacing Kim In-Sik
, who had won two Korean Series
titles with the Bears. He led the Bears to their two-year consecutive postseason appearance (2004 and 2005).
On October 30, , the Doosan Bears
extended Kim's contract by three years, through . In the 2006 season, Kim failed to make the 3rd consecutive postseason appearance for the Bears, but in the 2007 season, he led his team to the Korean Series
once again since 2005.
After the 2007 season Kim was named the manager of for the South Korea national baseball team, and in August he participated in the 2008 Olympic Games
held in Beijing
, China
. There Kim led the South Koreans to the gold medal, beating heavily favored Cuba
, which had won the gold medals at the three previous Olympics.
On June 13, , Kim was quit manager of the Bears.
On August 31, , Kim was named 1st manager of NC Dinos
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the NC Dinos
NC Dinos
NC Dinos is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 2011 . Their home stadium is Masan Baseball Stadium in Changwon.-External links:****...
, and a former catcher in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
.
Playing career
Kim, a former catcherCatcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
who threw and batted right-handed, attended Korea University
Korea University
Korea University is a prestigious nonsectarian, private research university located primarily in Seoul, South Korea, and one of the SKY universities, a historical acronym used in South Korea to refer to Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. Founded by Lee Yong-ik in...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. After graduation, he was signed by the OB Bears, which later became Doosan, and directly took the starting catcher position on the team as a rookie in Korean professional baseball
Korean Baseball Organization
Korea Professional Baseball is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The Korean romanization is Hanguk Peuro Yagu , a league title which mirrors Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Korea Professional Baseball was originally founded with six teams in 1982 and currently has eight...
's first year in 1982. Kim eventually led his team to the first Korean Series
Korean Series
The Korean Series is the championship series of the Korea Baseball Organization. It has been held since the KBO's first season in and is the final series of in the post-season play-offs. From , the winner of the Korean Series goes on to play in the Asia Series....
Championship in the KBO
Korean Baseball Organization
Korea Professional Baseball is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The Korean romanization is Hanguk Peuro Yagu , a league title which mirrors Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Korea Professional Baseball was originally founded with six teams in 1982 and currently has eight...
history, along with his battery mate Park Chul-Soon
Park Chul-Soon
Park Chul-Soon is a former South Korean pitcher in the Korean professional baseball league who played for the OB Bears. Park batted and threw right-handed...
who won 22 consecutive games in the regular season.
In his 10-year major league career in KBO, Kim batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.220 with 6 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 126 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, 119 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 329 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 60 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 1 triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 17 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s in 700 games.
Kim was not a very good hitter, batting around the Mendoza Line
Mendoza Line
The Mendoza Line is an expression in baseball in the United States, deriving from the name of shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of incompetent hitting...
during his ten seasons, but is considered one of the best defensive catchers of all time.
Managing career
After retirement as a player in 1991, Kim went to Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
to study coaching under Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager...
in the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
until when he was hired as a coach for the Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium...
. He was bullpen coach for the 1994 Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium...
and remained there until the 1996 season. In 1998, Kim returned to the Bears and worked as bullpen and bench coach until the 2003 season.
On October 10, , Kim was named manager of the Bears, replacing Kim In-Sik
Kim In-Sik
Kim In-Sik is a former manager of the Korean Baseball Organization...
, who had won two Korean Series
Korean Series
The Korean Series is the championship series of the Korea Baseball Organization. It has been held since the KBO's first season in and is the final series of in the post-season play-offs. From , the winner of the Korean Series goes on to play in the Asia Series....
titles with the Bears. He led the Bears to their two-year consecutive postseason appearance (2004 and 2005).
On October 30, , the Doosan Bears
Doosan Bears
The Doosan Bears are a professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. They are a member of the Korean Baseball Organization....
extended Kim's contract by three years, through . In the 2006 season, Kim failed to make the 3rd consecutive postseason appearance for the Bears, but in the 2007 season, he led his team to the Korean Series
Korean Series
The Korean Series is the championship series of the Korea Baseball Organization. It has been held since the KBO's first season in and is the final series of in the post-season play-offs. From , the winner of the Korean Series goes on to play in the Asia Series....
once again since 2005.
After the 2007 season Kim was named the manager of for the South Korea national baseball team, and in August he participated in the 2008 Olympic Games
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...
held in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. There Kim led the South Koreans to the gold medal, beating heavily favored Cuba
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
, which had won the gold medals at the three previous Olympics.
On June 13, , Kim was quit manager of the Bears.
On August 31, , Kim was named 1st manager of NC Dinos
NC Dinos
NC Dinos is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 2011 . Their home stadium is Masan Baseball Stadium in Changwon.-External links:****...
External links
- Career statistics and player information from the KBO official website