Korean Baseball Organization
Encyclopedia
Korea Professional Baseball is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea
. The Korean romanization
is Hanguk Peuro Yagu (literally Korean pro baseball
), 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 teams. The teams are named after the companies or business conglomerates which own them. Korea Professional Baseball is one of two major sports leagues in South Korea, the other being the K-League
.
and the MBC Chungyong (now the LG Twins
) in Dongdaemun Stadium
, Seoul
. Then-president Chun Doo-hwan
threw the first pitch.
The inaugural teams were:
In 1985, the Sammi Superstars became known as the Cheongbo Pintos. The next year, 1986, saw some major changes, with the OB Bears
moving from Daejeon
to share the Seoul
's Jamsil Baseball Stadium
with MBC Blue Dragon
in Seoul
. A new team, the Binggeurae Eagles
, joined to replace vacancy of Daejeon
by OB's moving and expanding the league to seven teams. 1988 saw the Cheongbo Pintos change ownership again, becoming the Taepyeongyang Dolphins. In 1990, MBC Blue Dragon
became the LG Twins
and an eighth team was added, the Ssangbangul Raiders who represented the Jeollabuk-do
region.
There was little change in the 90's except for a few major sponsors: 1993 saw the Binggeurae Eagles become the Hanhwa Eagles
, in 1995 the Taepyeongyang Dolphins became the Hyundai Unicorns and the OB Bears in 1999 became the Doosan Bears
. Bigger changes were affected in 2000 when the Hyundai Unicorns moved from Incheon
to Suwon
, and a new team, the SK Wyverns
took their place in Incheon
. The Ssangbangul Raiders became defunct. In 2001, the Haitai Tigers became the Kia Tigers
.
In 2008, the Hyundai Unicorns franchise was sold, renamed the Woori Heroes and moved to Mok-dong in Seoul, after a disappointing season in 2007 both on and off the field. Despite winning championships in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004, fans never really took to the team after their move from Incheon. Also, while the franchises in Daegu
, Busan
, Gwangju
and Daejeon
did not have to compete with other teams for fans, the Suwon
-based Unicorns struggled to compete with the nearby Seoul
franchises.
Founding member the Kia Tigers
(formerly the Haitai Tigers) had won 10 of the 29 national championships.
Many of the players who excel in the Korean league go on to play for teams in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Current successful players in the NPB who have played for Korean teams in the past include Lee Seung-Yeop for the Yomiuri Giants
(former Samsung Lions
player), Kim Tae-Gyun
for the Chiba Lotte Marines
(former Hanwha Eagles player), Lim Chang-Yong
for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
, and Tyrone Woods
also for the Chunichi Dragons
(former Doosan Bears
player).
and Seoul
respectively, are clearly based in the Western region of Korea, despite representing the East. Unlike in the MLB, the Korean All-star game does not determine home-field advantage in the Korean Series
. The most recent Korean All-star game was played in Busan
and won 6-3 by the East team.
. Currently, the top four teams qualify for the post-season based on win/loss records. The team with the best record gains a direct entry into the Korean Series, while the other three teams compete for the remaining place in a step-ladder playoff system:
Any playoff games ending in an official tie are replayed, thereby raising the possibility of a close series containing more than the originally scheduled 5 or 7 games.
, with games limited to 9 innings. Starting from the 2009 season, tied games count as a loss for both teams for percentage calculation purposes; from 2002 until 2007 they were considered a "no game"; prior to this they counted as half a win and half a loss.
The league places a cap on the number of foreign players allowed on club rosters. The foreign player limit is currently set at two.
All teams use the designated hitter
rule.
Most successful clubs
Baseball in South Korea
Baseball in Korea was introduced in 1905 during the Korean Empire and spread afterwards. It is one of the most popular sports in the country.- See also :* Korea Baseball Association* Korea Baseball Organization* High school baseball in South Korea...
. The Korean romanization
Korean romanization
Korean romanization is a system for representing the Korean language using the Roman alphabet. In Korea, the Korean language is written using hangul, and sometimes hanja....
is Hanguk Peuro Yagu (literally Korean pro baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
), a league title which mirrors Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Korea Professional Baseball was originally founded with six teams in 1982 and currently has eight teams. The teams are named after the companies or business conglomerates which own them. Korea Professional Baseball is one of two major sports leagues in South Korea, the other being the K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
.
History
The first game was played on March 27, 1982 between Samsung LionsSamsung 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 the MBC Chungyong (now the LG Twins
LG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
) in Dongdaemun Stadium
Dongdaemun Stadium
The Dongdaemun Stadium, was in Seoul, South Korea and included a multi-purpose athletics stadium, a baseball park and other sports facilities. It was located near the Dongdaemun or Great East Gate and the surrounding Dongdaemun market and had many vendors selling athletics-related goods...
, 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...
. Then-president Chun Doo-hwan
Chun Doo-hwan
Chun Doo-hwan was a ROK Army general and the President of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. Chun was sentenced to death in 1996 for his heavy-handed response to the Gwangju Democratization Movement, but later pardoned by President Kim Young-sam with the advice of then President-elect Kim Dae-jung,...
threw the first pitch.
The inaugural teams were:
- Samsung LionsSamsung LionsSamsung 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...
, based in DaeguDaeguDaegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the... - Haitai TigersKia TigersKia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0...
, based in GwangjuGwangjuGwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister... - Lotte GiantsLotte GiantsThe Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate....
, based in BusanBusanBusan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world... - MBC Blue DragonLG TwinsLG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
, based in SeoulSeoulSeoul , 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... - OB BearsDoosan BearsThe Doosan Bears are a professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. They are a member of the Korean Baseball Organization....
, based in DaejeonDaejeonDaejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the... - Sammi Superstars, based in IncheonIncheonThe Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
In 1985, the Sammi Superstars became known as the Cheongbo Pintos. The next year, 1986, saw some major changes, with the OB 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....
moving from Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
to share the 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...
's Jamsil Baseball Stadium
Jamsil Baseball Stadium
Jamsil Baseball Stadium is a baseball stadium in Jamsil 1-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The stadium holds 30,265 people and was built from April 1980 to July 1982. It makes up the Jamsil Sports Complex along with the nearby Seoul Olympic Stadium, and hosted the baseball events during the...
with MBC Blue Dragon
LG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
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...
. A new team, the Binggeurae Eagles
Hanhwa Eagles
The Hanwha Eagles , incorporated as the Hanwha Eagles Professional Baseball Club , are a South Korean professional baseball club based in Daejeon. As a member club of Korean Baseball Organization, the Eagles compete in the Korea Professional Baseball League. The Eagles' home ballpark is Daejeon...
, joined to replace vacancy of Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
by OB's moving and expanding the league to seven teams. 1988 saw the Cheongbo Pintos change ownership again, becoming the Taepyeongyang Dolphins. In 1990, MBC Blue Dragon
LG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
became the LG Twins
LG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
and an eighth team was added, the Ssangbangul Raiders who represented the Jeollabuk-do
Jeollabuk-do
Jeollabuk-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Jeolla province, and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea...
region.
There was little change in the 90's except for a few major sponsors: 1993 saw the Binggeurae Eagles become the Hanhwa Eagles
Hanhwa Eagles
The Hanwha Eagles , incorporated as the Hanwha Eagles Professional Baseball Club , are a South Korean professional baseball club based in Daejeon. As a member club of Korean Baseball Organization, the Eagles compete in the Korea Professional Baseball League. The Eagles' home ballpark is Daejeon...
, in 1995 the Taepyeongyang Dolphins became the Hyundai Unicorns and the OB Bears in 1999 became 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....
. Bigger changes were affected in 2000 when the Hyundai Unicorns moved from Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
to Suwon
Suwon
Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A major city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety"....
, and a new team, the SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:...
took their place in Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
. The Ssangbangul Raiders became defunct. In 2001, the Haitai Tigers became the Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0...
.
In 2008, the Hyundai Unicorns franchise was sold, renamed the Woori Heroes and moved to Mok-dong in Seoul, after a disappointing season in 2007 both on and off the field. Despite winning championships in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004, fans never really took to the team after their move from Incheon. Also, while the franchises in Daegu
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
, Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, Gwangju
Gwangju
Gwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister...
and Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
did not have to compete with other teams for fans, the Suwon
Suwon
Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A major city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety"....
-based Unicorns struggled to compete with the nearby 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...
franchises.
Founding member the Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0...
(formerly the Haitai Tigers) had won 10 of the 29 national championships.
Many of the players who excel in the Korean league go on to play for teams in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Current successful players in the NPB who have played for Korean teams in the past include Lee Seung-Yeop for the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
(former 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...
player), Kim Tae-Gyun
Kim Tae-Kyun
Kim Tae-Kyun is a South Korean first baseman who plays for the Chiba Lotte Marines in the Nippon Pro Baseball league. He bats and throws right-handed.-Amateur career:...
for the Chiba Lotte Marines
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
(former Hanwha Eagles player), Lim Chang-Yong
Lim Chang-Yong
Lim Chang-Yong is a South Korean right-handed closer who plays for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Nippon Professional Baseball.He is widely known as the fastest sidearm pitcher in baseball history who can throw a 160 km/h four-seam fastball...
for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
is a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League.The Swallows are named after their corporate owners, the Yakult Corporation. From 1950 to 1965, the team was owned by the former Japanese National Railways and called the Kokutetsu Swallows; the team was then owned by the newspaper Sankei...
, and Tyrone Woods
Tyrone Woods
Tyrone Woods is a Nippon Professional Baseball first baseman who is currently a free agent. He was the 5th pick of the Montreal Expos in the MLB draft as a high school third baseman. His debut year showed no indication of the heights he would reach as a pro player...
also for the Chunichi Dragons
Chunichi Dragons
The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and 2007 Asia Series.-History:...
(former 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....
player).
Season structure
Currently, each team plays 133 games in the regular season. Each team plays every other team 19 times.All-Star Game
On the 17th of July every year, the best players participate in the Korean All-Star game. The teams participating are divided into two regions: East (SK, Samsung, Doosan, Lotte) and West (Kia, Hanhwa, LG and Heroes). The titles 'East' and 'West' do not directly correspond to the geographical regions of the teams involved, as both SK and Doosan, being from IncheonIncheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
and 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...
respectively, are clearly based in the Western region of Korea, despite representing the East. Unlike in the MLB, the Korean All-star game does not determine home-field advantage in 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....
. The most recent Korean All-star game was played in Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
and won 6-3 by the East team.
Playoffs
Korea Professional Baseball season culminates in its championship series, known as the Korean SeriesKorean 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....
. Currently, the top four teams qualify for the post-season based on win/loss records. The team with the best record gains a direct entry into the Korean Series, while the other three teams compete for the remaining place in a step-ladder playoff system:
- Semi-playoff: 3rd vs. 4th; best 3 out of 5 games
- Playoff: 2nd vs. winner Semi-playoff; best 3 out of 5 games (reduced from 7 games starting from 2009)
- Korean Series: 1st vs. winner Playoff; best 4 out of 7 games.
Any playoff games ending in an official tie are replayed, thereby raising the possibility of a close series containing more than the originally scheduled 5 or 7 games.
Rules
Traditionally, Korea Professional Baseball games have a maximum number of extra innings before a game is declared an official tie. The KBO abolished this limit for the 2008 season, however it was reinstated in 2009, with a 12-innings limit imposed during both regular season and playoff games. However, no extra innings are played in the first game of a double-headerDoubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
, with games limited to 9 innings. Starting from the 2009 season, tied games count as a loss for both teams for percentage calculation purposes; from 2002 until 2007 they were considered a "no game"; prior to this they counted as half a win and half a loss.
The league places a cap on the number of foreign players allowed on club rosters. The foreign player limit is currently set at two.
All teams use the designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
rule.
Participating Teams
| Team | City | Manager | Founded | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.... |
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... |
 Kim Jin-Uk |
|
||
| Hanwha Eagles | Daejeon Daejeon Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the... |
Han Dae-Hwa Han Dae-Hwa Han Dae-Hwa is a former South Korean third baseman and the current manager of the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization.- External links :... |
|
||
| Kia Tigers Kia Tigers Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0... |
Gwangju Gwangju Gwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister... |
Sun Dong-Yeol Sun Dong-Yeol Sun Dong-Yeol is a retired pitcher in the Korea Professional Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball, and is New manager of Kia Tigers in the Korea Professional Baseball... |
|
||
| Lotte Giants Lotte Giants The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate.... |
Busan Busan Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world... |
Yang Seung-Ho |
|
||
| LG Twins LG Twins LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group... |
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... |
Kim Ki-Tae Kim Ki-Tae Kim Ki-Tae is a former South Korean baseball player who played for the Ssangbangwool Raiders, Samsung Lions and SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization.... |
|
||
| Nexen Heroes | 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... |
Kim Si-Jin Kim Si-Jin Kim Si-Jin is a retired pitcher in the Korea Baseball Organization, and the current manager of the Heroes in the KBO.-Amateur career:... |
|
||
| 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... |
Daegu Daegu Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the... |
Ryu Joong-Il |
|
||
| SK Wyverns SK Wyverns SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:... |
Incheon Incheon The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City... |
Lee Man Soo |
|
||
| Expansion Team Expansion team An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion 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:****... |
Changwon Changwon Changwon is a city in and the capital of Gyeongsangnam-do in South Korea. Changwon city is 8th most populous city in South Korea, with a 2010 established population of 1,089,039. It encompasses a land area of on southeastern of South Korea. The population of Southeastern part of Korea, that... |
Kim Kyung-Moon Kim Kyung-Moon Kim Kyung-Moon is the manager of the NC Dinos, and a former catcher in the Korea Baseball Organization.-Playing career:... |
2011 (will play in 2013) | ||
Defunct Teams
| Team | City | Joined | Ceased Operations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ssangbangul Raiders | Jeonju Jeonju Jeonju is a city in South Korea, and the capital of Jeollabuk-do, or North Jeolla Province. It is an important tourist center famous for Korean food, historic buildings, sports activities and innovative festivals.- History :... |
1991 | 1999 |
| Hyundai Unicorns | Incheon Incheon The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City... (1982~1999) 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... (2000~2007, de facto Suwon Suwon Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A major city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety".... ) |
1982 | 2008 |
Stadiums (2011)
| 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.... |
Hanwha Eagles | Kia Tigers Kia Tigers Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0... |
Lotte Giants Lotte Giants The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate.... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamsil Baseball Stadium Jamsil Baseball Stadium Jamsil Baseball Stadium is a baseball stadium in Jamsil 1-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The stadium holds 30,265 people and was built from April 1980 to July 1982. It makes up the Jamsil Sports Complex along with the nearby Seoul Olympic Stadium, and hosted the baseball events during the... |
Daejeon Baseball Stadium Daejeon Baseball Stadium Daejeon Baseball Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Daejeon, South Korea. Built in 1965, the stadium is located in Busa-dong, Jung-gu, in southern Daejeon. It is currently used mostly for baseball games and is the home stadium of Hanhwa Eagles. The stadium holds 10,500 people... |
Mudeung Baseball Stadium | Sajik Baseball Stadium Sajik Baseball Stadium Sajik Baseball Stadium is a baseball stadium in Sajik-dong, Dongnae-gu, Busan, South Korea. It was built in 1985 and is the home of the Lotte Giants. It has a seating capacity of 28,500. It is known as a mecca for Korean Baseball.-See also:*Lotte Giants... |
| Capacity: 27,500 | Capacity: 10,500 | Capacity: 13,872 | Capacity: 28,500 |
| LG Twins LG Twins LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group... |
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... |
SK Wyverns SK Wyverns SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:... |
Nexen Heroes |
| Jamsil Baseball Stadium Jamsil Baseball Stadium Jamsil Baseball Stadium is a baseball stadium in Jamsil 1-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The stadium holds 30,265 people and was built from April 1980 to July 1982. It makes up the Jamsil Sports Complex along with the nearby Seoul Olympic Stadium, and hosted the baseball events during the... |
Daegu Baseball Stadium Daegu Baseball Stadium Daegu Baseball Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Daegu, South Korea. It is currently used mostly for baseball games and is the home stadium of Samsung Lions. The stadium holds 13,941 people and was built in 1948.... |
Munhak Baseball Stadium Munhak Baseball Stadium Munhak Baseball Stadium is a baseball stadium in Incheon, South Korea. It is the home stadium of SK Wyverns. The stadium holds 28,500 people and was built in 2001. It is adjacent to Incheon Munhak Stadium.- See also :... |
Mokdong Baseball Stadium Mokdong Baseball Stadium Mokdong Baseball Stadium is a stadium located in Seoul, South Korea. The stadium is home of the Nexen Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization. The stadium has a capacity of around 18,000 people. This stadium is facility of Mokdong Sports Complex- See also :... |
Capacity: 27,500 | Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: 27,800 | Capacity: 14,000 |
Champions
1982-2000
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2001—
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Most successful clubs
| Club | Champions | Runners-Up | Winning Seasons | Runners-Up Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIA Tigers Kia Tigers Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0... |
1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2009 2009 Korean Series The 2009 Korean Series was the 27th edition of Korea Baseball Organization's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff is played between the KIA Tigers and the SK Wyverns... |
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| 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... |
1985, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2011 2011 Korean Series The Best-of-7 2011 Korean Series began on Tuesday, October 25th, at the Daegu Baseball Stadium in Incheon. It featured the Samsung Lions, who had claimed homefield advantage by finishing in first place at the end of the regular season, and the SK Wyverns, who finished second during the regular... |
1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 2001, 2004, 2010 2010 Korean Series The 2010 Korean Series began on Friday, the 15th of October, at the Munhak Baseball Stadium in Incheon. It featured the SK Wyverns, who had claimed home ground advantage by finishing in first place at the end of the season, and the Samsung Lions, who had finished second and had defeated the Doosan... |
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| Hyundai Unicorns (defunct) | 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004 | 1994, 1996 | ||
| 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.... |
1982, 1995, 2001 | 2000, 2005, 2007 2007 Korean Series The 2007 Korean Series began on Monday, the 22nd of October, at the Munhak Baseball Stadium in Incheon. It featured the SK Wyverns, who had claimed home ground advantage by finishing in first place at the end of the season, and the Doosan Bears, who had finished second and had swept the Hanhwa... , 2008 2008 Korean Series The 2008 Korean Series began on Monday, the 26th of October, at the Munhak Baseball Stadium in Incheon. It featured the SK Wyverns, who had claimed home ground advantage by finishing in first place at the end of the season, and the Doosan Bears, who had finished second and had defeated the Samsung... |
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| SK Wyverns SK Wyverns SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:... |
2007 2007 Korean Series The 2007 Korean Series began on Monday, the 22nd of October, at the Munhak Baseball Stadium in Incheon. It featured the SK Wyverns, who had claimed home ground advantage by finishing in first place at the end of the season, and the Doosan Bears, who had finished second and had swept the Hanhwa... , 2008 2008 Korean Series The 2008 Korean Series began on Monday, the 26th of October, at the Munhak Baseball Stadium in Incheon. It featured the SK Wyverns, who had claimed home ground advantage by finishing in first place at the end of the season, and the Doosan Bears, who had finished second and had defeated the Samsung... , 2010 2010 Korean Series The 2010 Korean Series began on Friday, the 15th of October, at the Munhak Baseball Stadium in Incheon. It featured the SK Wyverns, who had claimed home ground advantage by finishing in first place at the end of the season, and the Samsung Lions, who had finished second and had defeated the Doosan... |
2003, 2009 2009 Korean Series The 2009 Korean Series was the 27th edition of Korea Baseball Organization's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff is played between the KIA Tigers and the SK Wyverns... , 2011 2011 Korean Series The Best-of-7 2011 Korean Series began on Tuesday, October 25th, at the Daegu Baseball Stadium in Incheon. It featured the Samsung Lions, who had claimed homefield advantage by finishing in first place at the end of the regular season, and the SK Wyverns, who finished second during the regular... |
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| LG Twins LG Twins LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group... |
1990, 1994 | 1983, 1997, 1998, 2002 | ||
| Lotte Giants Lotte Giants The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate.... |
1984, 1992 | 1995, 1999 | ||
| Hanwha Eagles | 1999 | 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 2006 | ||
| Nexen Heroes | ||||
| Ssangbangul Raiders (defunct) |
See also
- Korea Baseball OrganizationKorea Baseball OrganizationThe 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...
- Korea Baseball Futures LeagueKorea Baseball Futures LeagueFutures League is the 2nd highest level below that of Korea Professional Baseball in South Korea. It has a role as a farm league, whose the purpose is to develop players available to play in Korea Professional Baseball league on demand. Futures League consists of two small leagues that are...
- List of current Korea Professional Baseball team rosters
- Players from South Korea in Major League Baseball
- List of baseball stadiums in South Korea
- List of professional sports leagues
- Sport in South KoreaSport in South KoreaSouth Korea has traditional sports of its own, but sports imported from the West are predominant.-Traditional sports:There are various forms of folk dancing still practiced in Korea. Although not commonly considered a sport, traditional mask dance drama is physically demanding.Kite flying is...
- K-LeagueK-LeagueThe Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...