Choo Shin-soo, who broke the boundaries between Asians, what do you think is the most glorious moment in his career and in Major League Baseball?
“Choo Choo Train” Choo Shin-soo (42 years old) ended his great career of 24 years. On November 7, Choo Shin-soo’s retirement press conference was held at the Ambassador Hotel Gyeongwonjae in Songdo, Incheon. On that day, SSG teammates Kim Kwang-hyun and Choi Jung, as well as team staff, attended the event, which was attended by more than 100 media officials.
In particular, at the retirement ceremony that day, Choo Shin-soo’s No. 17 jersey and the jerseys of major league teams such as the national team were revealed. In addition, the “Legendary Moments TOP5” that Choo Shin-soo personally selected as the most impressive moments in his career was released, attracting people’s attention.
He started his professional career in 2001 and participated in a total of 2,814 games in Major League Baseball and the KBO League. During his 24-year career as a player, his long baseball career finally ended this season.
Choo Shin-soo made his professional debut in 2001. He played in 1,652 games in 16 seasons in Major League Baseball and achieved .275, 1,671 hits, 218 home runs, 782 RBIs, 961 runs, and 157 stolen bases. . He also achieved the record of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases three times, which is a symbol of a good hitter.
As 2014 is approaching, the seven-year, US$130 million contract signed with the Texas Rangers was the highest contract for an Asian player at the time. It was still the highest contract for any Korean player in the MLB. amount contract. Since then, Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco) followed Choo Shin-soo and signed a contract for $113 million in 2024, breaking the $100 million mark, but still failed to surpass Choo Shin-soo.
As an Asian player, he overcame prejudice and discrimination on the top league stage, where no one except Suzuki (retired) had great success, and broke boundaries by being active on the field for a long time as a representative player of Major League Baseball. Choo Shin-soo is synonymous with “Hersplay”. Major League Baseball fans who were attracted by Choo Shin-soo’s performance fell in love with Choo Shin-soo with the nickname “Chu Shin-soo Train”.
For Choo Shin-soo, among the most impressive moments, although the TOP5 was somewhat unexpected, it was also a choice that resonated with people. Choo Shin-soo selected being selected as a candidate for the Roberto Clemente Award as a Texas Ranger player in 2020 as one of his most glorious moments.
Regarding the reason, Choo Shin-soo said, “Although it is something other than baseball, I don’t know 100% of the details of player Roberto Clemente’s life, but I have heard about player Lee’s contribution to society since his minor league days. He has contributed so much and has so much influence, so I always think he is a very handsome person.” He expressed his love for this award.
Choo Shin-soo also said, “Before this, I had never participated in a baseball game because of my love for awards. Therefore, when I was shortlisted as a candidate, I didn’t know why I could only be shortlisted, but in the end I still wanted to be nominated and be selected.” Select.”
In fact, after Choo Shin-soo returned to South Korea’s SSG Landers from Major League Baseball, he also continued to make donations and volunteer activities for a long time and exercised good influence. Because this selection to the national team is to commemorate his efforts, the meaning is even more profound.
The opportunity to share begins with a small determination. Choo Shin-soo said, “I spent 7 years living a second-rate life in the United States. I was not like that from the beginning. While going through a difficult period in the minor leagues, I also saw what happens if major players are demoted to the minor leagues. How to act and give. I also believed that if you become a major league player, you must give back to society or minor league players. “
The scene selected as TOP4 was the moment when Asians in Major League Baseball achieved 20-20 for the first time.
On October 3, 2009 (local time), Choo Shin-soo played as a right-hander and No. 3 batter in an away game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The team trailed 4-10. At the beginning of the seventh inning, with no one out and one base on base, he hit a two-run home run over the left fence with a straight drive to the outside, becoming the first Asian player to achieve 20-20.
In 156 games that year, Choo Shin-soo had 175 hits, a batting average of 0.300, 20 home runs, 21 stolen bases, 86 RBIs, 78 walks, and an on-base percentage of 0.394.
He had a batting average of .489 and an OPS of .883, entering the ranks of Major League Baseball special players.
Choo Shin-soo said, “I really wanted to play baseball in Major League Baseball. I thought I could meet him, but I couldn’t because I was close. So I didn’t expect to achieve the goal of 20-20.” In the last 161 games, I felt like I hit a home run in Boston. I can’t explain it in words. When I hit a home run, I got goosebumps. It was like our players were looking forward to it more than I was. , welcome me more.”
Regarding being able to grow into such a hard-hitting guy, Choo Shin-soo said, “Anyway, I don’t seem to have anything special about a Major League Baseball player. Because there is nothing special about my height and physique, I feel like I have to be in the playground.” Spending a lot of time on it before everyone else and taking another swing, that’s what it seems to be.”
TOP3 is the popularity of Asian first-time bicycle riders recorded in 2015. On July 21, 2015 (local time), in an away game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, Choo Shin-soo became the first Asian player to achieve a bicycle hit and the first in the history of the Texas Rangers. Player with 8 bicycle hits.
Choo Shin-soo said, “2015 was actually the worst season. He had the lowest batting average in the first 6 weeks among the 30 Major League Baseball teams. The batting average was less than 10%. I remember participating at that time After PS, which was probably a hit from the bicycle, my personal performance and team performance improved, and I ended the year with the second-highest batting average in MLB history,” recalled the dramatic turnaround. At that time, he later said: “I value myself as the first Asian more than anything else. As time goes by, players Kim Ha-sung and Lee Jung-hoo can also set this record, so this is the first time that this record has been set, which is of great significance.” “
Fight against all forms of discrimination and prejudice. For his motivation, Choo Shin-soo attributed the credit to his predecessors, the MLB Blazers. Choo Shin-soo said: “I am not the first Korean player. There are seniors Park Chan-ho, Choi Hee-seop, Seo Jae-young, etc. Without the help of seniors, I would not challenge the Major League Baseball. In addition, I will enter the Major League Baseball. My dream of the major leagues doesn’t seem that big because of my seniors, so I work harder and my dreams are bigger.”
Choo Shin-soo said that the second most glorious moment in his career was the longest moment for an Asian, and it was also the earliest 52-game hitting streak for the Texas Rangers.
On July 20, 2018 (local time), Choo Shin-soo hit a hit in the first at-bat of the first at-bat at the end of the first inning of a home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. , and set a new base record in 52 consecutive games. This record is the longest among Asian players, far exceeding Suzuki Ichiro’s previous 43 games. This is also the longest record in a single season for the Texas Rangers, and has surpassed Julio Franco’s previous record of 46 games by 6 games.
There are also interesting dramas in the records of the time. Choo Shin-soo said, “It seems easy after setting the record, but if the number of games is long, it will be difficult. After 10 games, due to leg discomfort, the record has been maintained while receiving treatment. No “Defensively, just playing as a designated hitter”, “It is also possible to break the record. After getting 4 effective at-bats and no hits, our pitcher successfully saved the ball and entered the batter’s zone, and the strike was later taken.” It was judged as a bad goal. I may not have been able to set the record, but it was probably because of the great help from my teammates.”
Regarding the moment when he set this record, Choo Shin-soo said that “people’s cheers” were his strength and disclosed an episode.
Choo Shin-soo said, “After the game, I thought the next game was a new game, so I played baseball like this. Around the tenth game, I ate rice noodles before the game. I did well from that point on, and I The players and front desk staff who ate together at the same table often ate 43 games with me. “After that, I joked that I would never eat rice noodles again, but we ate them together with the hope that this record would not be broken.” Small kindnesses seem to help me a lot.”
Finally, Choo Shin-soo chose the first “Wire to Wire” championship of SSG Landers’ KBO League in 2022, his first career championship and only championship, as his best moment.
Choo Shin-soo said: “I think the word “champion” in the end is the biggest reason. Not only me, many players seem to be sweating over the word “champion”. If the champion is excluded, there seems to be no need to side I was sweating in pain while winning the championship. In my 34-year baseball career, I also wanted to do this in the United States, but when I came to Korea, I chose this as my first moment. “
Choo Shin-soo “wants to be a player who is always obsessed with baseball and a player who treats it sincerely at all times.” Although he has now taken off his uniform as an active player, his career in Major League Baseball and Korea will continue. Will always remain in everyone’s memory.
[金元益 MK体育记者]
