KBO Hope search (1) - The best star of the 22-game winning streak myth, commentator Park Cheol-soon (Part 2)
By 2027, a baseball museum where the Korea Baseball Hall of Fame will be established is expected to be born. The much-talked-about baseball museum is scheduled to break ground in Busan's Gijang-gun this summer, with an opening expected in 2027. The exhibits to be included in the museum have been well collected and the Hall of Fame, which will occupy a place there, also needs preparation from now on. OSEN will conduct interviews with legendary stars who are expected to be the protagonists of the Hall of Fame as a special project. Additionally, the series titled 'KBO Hope search' will seek out promising players who will be responsible for the future of Korean baseball. [Editor’s note]
Park Cheol-soon (69) is a legendary pitcher of Korean professional baseball, leading the OB Bears (now Doosan Bears) to victory by recording 22 consecutive wins in the inaugural season of 1982. However, throughout his playing career, he suffered several injuries, earning the nickname 'Phoenix.' We heard about his baseball journey.
-Even then and now, the salaries of professional baseball players are high. At the time of his contract, his value was equivalent to the price of two apartments in Gangnam, which would be more than 10 billion won today....-
=Returning from the United States, he joined the Doosan Bears (formerly OB Bears) in 1982, receiving the highest salary at the time. The signing bonus of 20 million won was also the highest, and the annual salary was 24 million won, setting a record. Was it a satisfactory reward for leaving the major leagues?
▲It was an enormous amount compared to living in the minor leagues. It was the best treatment in Korean baseball, so I was satisfied. Combining the signing bonus and annual salary of 44 million won, it was a significant amount when an 18-pyeong apartment in Gangnam was 9 million won. I immediately bought a 25-pyeong apartment in Sinbanpo with the signing bonus and gave it to my parents, who supported me. I spent my newlywed life there. (At that time, the signing bonus limit was 20 million won, and the annual salary limit was 24 million won, making it the highest together with Kim Jae-bak (MBC Blue Dragons), who joined the professional league late. The average player’s annual salary then was about 12 million won.)
=What was the most memorable moment of your active career?
▲Winning the most games in the inaugural season (24 wins) and achieving 22 consecutive wins, as well as being crowned the inaugural champion, was the greatest moment. Achieving 24 wins in a season with fewer games (80 games per team) was an incredible feat. Moreover, having 22 consecutive wins (which remains the best record among Korea, Japan, and the U.S.) stands out as the most memorable. I also won the Korean Series and was named the first regular season MVP, making it the best year (voted as the unanimous regular season MVP, which still stands as another record). The retirement ceremony the team held for me in 1997 remains unforgettable.
=As a member of the Doosan Bears with a retired jersey number (21), how do you feel about your pride?
▲It's truly an honorable thing for me personally. The fact that I hold my jersey number permanently with the Bears is a source of pride and is the greatest honor for a player. I felt proud as it was a reward for the struggles I had endured. It was possible due to the support of fans and the consideration of the team. (For reference, the Doosan Bears designated the jersey number of catcher Kim Young-sin, who passed away early despite being a promising player, as the first permanent number in 1986, and also designated the number of the original star player, former manager Yoon Dong-kyun, as the second permanent number. However, it was deactivated midway due to the player rebellion case in 1994. Therefore, only two players, Kim Young-sin and Park Cheol-soon, have retired numbers with the Doosan Bears.)
=In contrast, what are the most painful memories and the moments you found difficult and regrettable?
▲I suppose I regret and feel sorry for the later years of my career. It was difficult knowing I could not play in normal condition and that I was causing trouble for the team. Therefore, I kept contemplating retirement, but the team’s support allowed me to have a touching retirement ceremony. Also, the time I received the diagnosis of 'It will be hard to walk anymore' after undergoing my second back surgery in the U.S. in 1987 was the most heartbreaking period.
=As mentioned earlier, you faced several injuries during your career, such as back and Achilles tendon ruptures. What was the driving force that allowed you to recover each time?
▲Support from my family, the Bears family, and fans became a great source of strength. The media also continued to cover and support me. When I returned home after surgery in the U.S. and was told that 'it would be hard to walk,' it was truly difficult, and I think I expressed all my frustration to the American doctor in English. I was furious, saying, 'My body is what I determine.' After returning, I couldn't sleep at night and was worried until it became 3 a.m., and that led to my determination. So I went to the Han River and started walking as the first step in my rehabilitation training. By not giving up and enduring through training, I began to walk again, regain lost muscle, and build strength, allowing me to return to the mound in 1988. Rehabilitation yields little progress and is a tough process, but perseverance leads to gradual recovery. Above all, the will to start again is the most important. Upon returning, the reporters gave me the nickname 'Phoenix,' and thanks to that, I experienced the joy of winning my second Korean Series in 1995.
=Who were the most challenging batters you faced during your career?
▲The sluggers Kim Bong-yeon, Kim Seong-han, and Lee Man-soo were particularly challenging. Nowadays, hitters like Park Byeong-ho can even hit inside pitches by bending their wrists, but back then, very few players could hit inside fastballs correctly. Especially, Lee Man-soo was the most annoying opposing batter. He could connect inside pitches with power, resulting in extra-base hits.
=What personal collectible do you cherish the most related to baseball? Trophies, balls, gloves, etc.
▲Most of the memorabilia from my playing days has been donated to the site where the baseball museum is being built. The remaining items are stored at my son's house. The MVP trophy I received in 1982 is hard to part with. It symbolizes the inaugural season of Korean professional baseball and is my first lifetime trophy, making it my most cherished collectible.
=I hear that the Korea Baseball Hall of Fame will be established in a few years. In my opinion, you seem like a strong candidate. What do you think?
▲I haven't even reached 100 wins; do I have the qualifications? I shone brightly in my first year but didn't play properly due to injuries, so in terms of records, I'm significantly lacking. However, considering the contributions made to the early development and popularity of Korean professional baseball, it might be a different story. (In the 1980s, the number of games was significantly less than now, so it is true that comparing current records is unfair. Additionally, Park Cheol-soon was also selected as a legend in the pitcher category for the 40th anniversary All-Star in the Korean professional baseball league chosen in 2022.)
=Do you have any advice you want to pass on to younger pitchers? And among the current juniors, is there a player who stands out?
▲I believe the training volume is significantly lacking compared to before. Especially in terms of physical fitness, a lot more needs to be built up. Physical strength is absolutely necessary to endure a long season. I also hope they have their own way of relieving stress. Using alcohol excessively or gambling is not acceptable, but reflecting on the game and enjoying a light drink is not a bad way to relieve stress.
Moreover, today’s pitchers tend to obsess over fastballs and rely too heavily on tricks (breaking balls). However, what's important is the ball's finish and stable command. No matter how fast the ball is, if it becomes a ball, it’s useless. Do you know when the most thrilling moment is for a pitcher? Many people think it’s a three-pitch swinging strikeout, but it's actually a three-pitch looking strikeout. If the batter is so overwhelmed they can't even think about hitting, they won't hit even if the pitch is right down the middle of the strike zone. Additionally, a pitcher must be able to throw inside fastballs. Turning the batter around with a looking strikeout is the most exhilarating moment for a pitcher.
I'm not saying this out of loyalty, but among today’s pitchers, one who stands out is Doosan Bears pitcher Kwak Bin. He truly possesses a great pitch. I believe he has the caliber to perform well in Major League Baseball. His fastball and breaking ball control stand out.
(Continued in Part 3)