The Beginning of Korean Pro Baseball

The official Korea pro baseball league began in 1982, but the similar type of pro baseball league was operated during the year. The basis of Korean pro baseball was the popularity of amateur baseball, especially high school baseball. Baseball is a highly favored sport in Korea.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the high school baseball tournament was at its best and many star players appeared. To invigorate the prosperity of baseball, the trial of creating pro baseball leagues was initiated from the latter part of the 1970s. Finally an official pro baseball league began in 1982.

At that time, the Korea pro baseball league consisted of six teams, each of which had its franchise city and area. Every team was operated by a conglomerate, so every teams' name was compounded with the team's mascot and the name of the company. The type of team's name was a bit different from that of major league teams, but it was similar to most of Japan's pro baseball teams. Theearly stages of Korean pro baseball are as follows.

1. OB Bears (franchised in Daejeon city and Chung-Cheong province).

2. Samsung Lions (franchised in Daegu City and North Gyoung-sang province).

3. MBC Chungyong (franchised in Seoul, the capital city)

4. Haitai Tigers (franchised in Gwangju City and Geolla province).

5. Lotte Giants (franchised in Busan City and South Gyoung-sang province).

6. Sammi Superstars (franchised in Incheon City and Kyoungi and Gangwon provinces). 

On Mar, 27, 1982, a historic opening game (MBC Chungyong vs. Samsung Lions) was held in Dongdaemun baseball stadium. This game was regarded as one of the best opening games ever. Both teams could not determine the game within the regular nine innings and the game lasted through extra innings. Finally, in the bottom of 11th, Lee, Jong-do burst a good-bye grand slam to give his team a dramatic victory and impressing a sellout crowd of 24,000 in the stadium. (Final score: MBC 11, Samsung, 7.)

With the memorable opening game, Korea pro baseball began the six-month-long race. To be continued...