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| photo courtesy of SSG Landers |
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| Kim Kangmin's 'moment'. Sports Chosun DB |
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| Kim Kangmin's 'moment'. Sports Chosun DB |
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"I've been doing a lot of image training. I won't cry today."
Kim Kang-min entered the darkened ballpark 'A man with a lot of tears'
At SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 28th, Kim Kang-min's retirement ceremony, which played 23 seasons in Incheon, was held.
Since joining the SK Wyverns in 2001, Kim Kang-min has played for SK-SSG for as many as 23 seasons until 2023. In a different sense from Choi Jeong-Kim Kwang-hyun, he was the star of Incheon baseball and SK dynasties. In the process of winning five Korean Series (2007 2008 2010 2018 2022), he was also a player who shone more in offense and defense in the clutch moment, such as a tie-breaking home run in Game 5 of the 2018 playoffs and a walk-off three-run home run in Game 5 of the 2022 Korean Series.
In a pre-match retirement interview "I'm happy to be retiring in itself. I will never cry today. I only want to leave happy memoriesIt's Kim Kang-min who used to do it. Thanks to the SSG marking the end of his career with a special entry, Kim Kang-min will later remain as Kim Kang-min (SSG), not (Hanwha).
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| Kim Kangmin's 'moment'. Sports Chosun DB |
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Kim Kang-min was the first batter and center fielder, but he was the last player to be introduced on the day. Fans cheered and shed tears. Kim Kang-min took off his hat and thanked his fans to the first, third, and center, and was replaced by the Jihoon Choi with the referee's declaration of the play ball. His eyes were already red.
Hanwha's team also expressed its feelings with a patch to commemorate Kim Kang-min's retirement and a frame with the team's autographs. "It was a short time, but I built a very good bond with the Hanwha players," Kim said. I hope both teams finished the game safely without getting hurt," he stressed.
Kim Kang-min is famous for being a manly man and having a lot of tears. Looking back on his past career, he said, `It was a time when I got a lot of people I really deserved"I looked back.
When I asked Kim Kang-min about his most memorable moment "As you all know, I think it was that moment. Game 5 of the Korean Series."
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| Kim Kangmin's 'moment'. Sports Chosun DB |
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The retirement ceremony was held after the game. The start was also Kim Kang-min's ceremony to reproduce 'the moment at that time'.
Kim Kang-min entered the darkened ballpark. As Kim Kang-min made a big swing toward Randy (SSG mascot)'s pitch, the rocket flame went straight through the line and stuck into the left outfield stands like 'That Moment'. With the exploding firecrackers, Kim Kang-min slowly circled the ground once, and when he came home, he performed a ceremony. Kim Kang-min's face was filled with hot tears.
As at that time, the congratulations of his teammates were reproduced, and after sharing a hug with his friend Choo Shin-soo, who shared his baseball life, Kim Kang-min finally stood on the podium to hold the retirement ceremony.
The secretary-general of the Korea Players Association's pure gold, the trophy of Landers' CEO, the copper plate frame of the general manager, the uniform frame of the coach, and the captain's commemorative album were delivered. He, who hosted the first pitch hit with his three daughters before the game, smiled brightly this time when he received a bouquet of flowers from his daughters.
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| photo courtesy of SSG Landers |
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Video letters from SSG coach Lee Seung-ho and Cho Dong-hwa, Cheongwoon University coach Chae Byung-yong, Hanwha coach Park Jae-sang, SSG second division coach Park Jung-kwon, Choi Jung and Kim Kwang-hyun followed. "I want you to work in baseball even after retirement.", "You've been through a lot. Celebrations such as "I hope there will be an opportunity to pass on know-how to juniors."
Choi Jeong "It was an honor to learn a lot and to be able to win all five times together. It was an unforgettable moment. I will always support a new start, and Kim Kwang-hyun said, `I've received a lot of help so far. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again. I will pray that one day we will meet again on the ground as a coach player, coach player, coach-to-coach," he stressed.
Kim Kangmin said, "I cried a little while ago, so I don't think I'll be able to cry"Enjoyed the fans. He then thanked SSG and Hanwha fans who visited the retirement ceremony.
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| Kim Kang-min greets the players. Photo courtesy = SSG Landers |
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Kim Kang-min "I want to be remembered forever as the beast of SSG Landers. "After 23 years of playing, I thought about whether I could get a wonderful gift of retirement even if I quit baseball someday, and thanks to the support and love of the fans who trusted and waited, I achieved my dream today."
"Incheon and Landersfield are more like hometowns than where I was born. I was happy to be here with my beloved fans and respected fellow players. In particular, it is my pride in life to win the Korean Series five times. All the people who looked at the same place and gathered their hearts and memories are in my heart. I want to say hello to everyone who was with me."
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| Kim Kang-min for the retirement anniversary interview. Photo courtesy = SSG Landers |
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Kim Kang-min said "I'm not a player anymore. I will tell others what I have received as a player. If there are juniors I love and others show their love to them, Landers' time will be forever. I will try hard not to forget my passion for baseball"I repeatedly thanked the fans, club officials, family members, and players.
In particular, like the official name of the retirement ceremony 'Remember the Beast', "I will be Kim Kang-min, who lives fiercely like a beast, so that it can remain a good memory in the hearts of Incheon baseball fans."
After SSG Landersfield's cheerleading Kim Kang-min shouting to leave and the last meeting with fans, the life story of the 「Jewel」 that dominated Incheon's midfield for 23 years ended. Kim Kang-min will forever remain in the hearts of fans as Kim Kang-min of SSG. With the grand fireworks, Kim Kang-min's second life began.
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| Kim Kang-min and his daughter in the starting lineup. Photo courtesy = SSG Landers |
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
