Park Yong-taek reflected on the process of joining 'Ultimate Baseball' and envisioned the future of his baseball life.
Park Yong-taek appeared on the YouTube channel 'Jung Geun-woo's Baseball Life,' which was released on the 24th, reminiscing about his first time with 'Ultimate Baseball,' saying, "I received a call from Producer Jang Si-won, and the first thing he said was, 'You can play baseball well, right?' I thought, 'This guy is making a mistake.'" He continued, "I said yes immediately at our first meeting. He told me to have fun with baseball. When I said, 'I don't want to play around with baseball,' he replied, 'Just hit well.'"
Park Yong-taek said, "The most frequent interview question I had during retirement was, 'When was the happiest moment while playing baseball?' I often answered, 'I don't think there were happy moments,' and 'Ultimate Baseball' was a program I thought I should enjoy and have fun with baseball. That thought lasted only two games," confessing that he discovered himself doing his best as a baseball player on the field.
He added, "No matter how much I tried to have fun, it felt like play was not possible. I started to feel stressed, wondering, 'Why do I have to feel stressed while playing baseball again?' and thinking, 'It's natural to feel stressed while playing baseball' coexisted. When Jung Geun-woo remarked that Park Yong-taek is "someone who can play baseball until he dies as long as he is given a bat," Park Yong-taek expressed confidence, saying, "Honestly, I think I could hit until I'm 70."
Park Yong-taek said, "To be honest, until I step onto the field, I really want to play. And in the end, I want to finish 'Ultimate Baseball' by saying, 'Thank you so much. Thank you for the great memories and unforgettable moments in my life.'"
On that day, Park Yong-taek also mentioned his direction after retiring from active duty. He stated, "Taking away any conditions, what I can do well and enjoy is hitting. I clearly have an idea of how I would like to be utilized by those using me, and I hope that is something I can do well. I think it might be more fitting to be involved in team management rather than as a coach or manager. I believe that's what makes sense for both the viewers and the players."
That day, Park Yong-taek picked the best moment of 'Ultimate Baseball,' mentioning the last game of 2023, the match against the Choi Kang Monsters and the University All-Stars. At that time, Park Yong-taek canceled his post-season broadcasting to participate in the game and led his team to victory with a two-run home run. Park Yong-taek said, "My daughter Sol-bi came for the first time as an adult, bringing her friends. I hit 213 home runs in professional baseball, and there are some memorable ones, but that one was on par with them."
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