Don't cry. Don't be smart! Lee Dae-ho's advice to Choo Shin-soo's retirement ceremony
Jun 14, 2025
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SSG held an official retirement ceremony for Choo Shin-soo's assistant manager in the 2025 KBO League Lotte Giants match at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 14th.
Before the game, Choo held a press conference and expressed his feelings.
Choo made his Major League debut in 2005. After the 2020 season, he signed with SSG and came to the KBO League.
Choo Shin-soo played 16 seasons in the Major League with the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Guardians and Texas Rangers.
He played in 1,652 games in the Major League and recorded a batting average of 0.275 / on-base percentage of 0.377 / slugging percentage of 0.447. His on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) is a whopping 0.824. He hit 218 home runs and stole 157 bases, showing off his charm as a "hotajun."
In the KBO League, he hit 54 home runs with a career batting average of 0.263 / on-base percentage of 0.388 / slugging percentage of 0.424. Contributed to the 2022 integrated championship.
◇The following is the full text of Choo Shin-soo and Moon Jae-in.
-How do I feel about the official retirement ceremony
▶Watching various retirement ceremonies, I knew how to play baseball for the rest of my life. This retirement ceremony is coming. Watching Daeho's retirement ceremony last year, I thought such a scene would come soon. I was preparing with my heart. I'm very happy rather than feeling nervous or sad. I received a lot of love while playing baseball. Not all players can finish with applause like this. I feel like I'm really getting a big gift from my 34-year baseball life. Landers only played for 4 years, so you don't have to do this, but thank you so much for caring
-I put on my uniform again.
▶ Wearing this uniform reminded me of when I wore my last uniform in Texas at the time of Corona without spectators. I thought of that every time, but I was also grateful at the time when I saw 'CHO 17' hanging when I parked in the parking lot and came to the locker room. It was a special moment. I knew the day before that I was going to play one last game at the end of the day. I thought it was the last time. Today feels a little different from then. In today's case, I feel blessed with myself. It would be an honor for many players to play in my uniform
-Today, I also throw the first pitch for my family.
▶I'm doing everything in Korea, including what I felt sorry for and what I couldn't do in the U.S. The most regrettable thing at that time was regretting not being able to say goodbye. In Korea, I didn't expect or even think about the retirement ceremony. All I can think of is thank you for caring so much in the last Landers.
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▶Not at all. (Kim) Kwang-hyun said 'You have to hit the batter's box once,' but he hasn't caught a bat yet since the last at-bat against KT last year. I had a chance, but I didn't even catch it. I just didn't want to do it. I didn't want to catch him. As a baseball player.. I would do it, but I didn't want to do that
-What does it feel like to play a new role in baseball life.
▶I had a hard time as a player, but I only had to do personal things. If it didn't work, I could train and show the results on the playground. I've been doing it for four to five months now (as an assistant owner of the team), but I think it's a lot harder. It may be difficult because it's my first time, but it wasn't easy to sympathize with everyone and try to go the same way. It's better to persuade someone and go in the same direction. I think it's a process of those parts. In a way, it seems a little hard to retire and do it right away without a break. If I did this after a year off, I would have been able to relax, but now I have to do well because of my personality. I think it's harder because there's a lot of work and greed. It's a process, so wouldn't it get better over time.
-What kind of event did you communicate with the fans.
▶I went to a signing event 30 minutes ago. I said thank you. Thank you for coming to the ballpark even though you're busy on Saturday. In a way, it's on top Thank you for coming and congratulating me. It's not easy to spend personal time, but I said thank you a lot.
-My wife is throwing the first pitch. How you helped me.
▶Wife pitching is more nerve-wracking than my retirement ceremony. I got the ball and taught it. If I lived with my 21-year-old baseball player husband, I should follow him to some extent, but honestly, I'm so nervous. Will he be able to throw the ball properly.
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▶I'm not the type to express myself. I don't know what kind of emotions I'm going to get, but he said he's going to cry when the video comes out. I honestly want to ask what kind of father he was. I've never heard of it. I'm also happy because I think I'm following me because I grew up watching that while going to work together with the ballpark.
-He is treated as an unforgettable player in the U.S. as well.
▶Beltre Hammels brought in those players, they're already amazing players, but they're not brought in because they're superstars. During my career as a player, I learned how to be a leader as a colleague. I saw and learned what kind of mind I had through what process I went through to do well. I wanted to let the second-tier players know that. I definitely didn't bring him because he was only good at baseball. It is important to get a real evaluation of people from many fans, but I think the real evaluation is the evaluation from the players who lived together in the same clothes. So I'm grateful that you remember and think about me even though it's been a long time since I left. I can't say I was a good baseball player, but I don't think I lived that bad with them. Back in the U.S., there was a request for the first pitch from Texas in August. When we played with Cleveland on August 22, they even prepared a suite for us to invite our family and acquaintances. I also got a proposal from Cleveland, but I couldn't because of my schedule. Thank you for remembering and singing even though it's been a long time. I'm not an American, I'm a stranger, so I'm grateful for that.
-Lee Daeho sent me a coffee car.
▶ Daeho knows me too well. I have a lot of tears, but actually, there is no reason to cry and I don't want to cry. Why should I cry when it's a good day. I want to put up with it if I can. Daeho really wanted to go, but he said he couldn't come because he was busy with his schedule. Don't you have to come to congratulate each other? We're busy, but we're fine and thank. Dae-ho's last words were 'Don't cry, be honest with your words' I don't want to cry. I just really want to come down at the end with a smile.
-Do you remember Hengare.
▶I remember winning in high school, but I don't know exactly when. Not for the first time.
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▶I took a 14-hour flight without asking for anything and thanked him for calling me without even thinking about it when I asked him. Those are not the players who have been receiving financial benefits. Thank you so much, and I'm a player who entered the Hall of Fame, and I'm going to go in. It's an honor to be recognized by these players and be with them in the last place. I'm not sure about the new thing now. It's true that it's overloaded. You'll get used to this because you have to take care of so much and get involved. When you do something like this, the steps are basically what you have to do, but it seems difficult.
-I heard Kim Kwanghyun is under a lot of pressure
▶I asked Kwanghyun if he set the date. People around me say that. They said it's really not. How did you get hit like a puzzle. They say they're so nervous, but it's Kim Kwang-hyun. Kim Kwang-hyun is the world's best, but he is a player who threw a bigger game even though he says he is nervous. The bigger the game, the brighter the player is. I believe you'll do well enough. As a result, there are times when you leave and sometimes you win. At a special moment for me, I personally am a KBO legend rather than a foreigner. I'm rather grateful that the best Korean pitcher is throwing on the mound on the day when such a player ends his baseball career.
-Oh Seung-hwan is still running.
▶I do it for the longest time among my friends. My grades are not good right now, but I told Seung-hwan to do as much as he can. Once you decide, you can't go back. He told me to do it until the end when I get the ability and skills. I want to clap even though I'm sluggish right now. Was there a player who did that at that age. He takes good care of himself and throws more than 145km in the first team. It will come to Seung-hwan in the future, but I tried not to lose because I had these friends. It will be the same for Daeho. competed in good faith. Thank you so much for playing baseball together at the same time. There was no better competitor than that. I want to tell you to keep going if you can. Whether it's been a year or two.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
