The beast is coming back to the Incheon outfield! Retirement starting center field confirmed
Jun 21, 2025
|
SSG Landers will hold a retirement ceremony for KBO Power Reinforcement Committee member Kim Kang-min in a home game against the Hanwha Eagles at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 28th.
At first, Kim Kang-min was not going to register for a special entry on this day. Usually, players who retire are not in the entry, but only on the same day, they register a special entry under KBO regulations to play one at-bat or one game. However, Kim Kang-min decided not to register a special entry under the conditions discussed with the club first.
It's because of my physical condition. Preparations are needed to play, but Kim Kang-min has already retired for well over half a year. If you overdo it, you may get injured. So, I decided not to participate in the game, but only to participate in retirement events such as pitching and hitting with my family.
|
However, considering that he is not in a physical condition to play normally, Kim Kang-min agreed to start in center field on the day of the retirement ceremony but replace him with a key player at the start of the game.
In consideration of the rainy season, the possibility of canceling rain should also be considered. The SSG club predicted that if the game is canceled due to rain, the retirement ceremony will be adjusted to a new date in consultation with Kim Kang-min himself in accordance with the game schedule to be scheduled later.
|
The SSG squad will play in a special uniform with Kim Kang-min's jersey number '0'. The uniform will be sold on the day of the retirement ceremony at 'Landers Shop by Hyungji', and pre-orders will also be held when it is sold out.
Visitors will be presented with LED light sticks and key ring sets (23,000 in total) emblazoned with the phrase 'Remember the Beast'. Gift items can only be received at Frontier, Legend, Starbucks, Skybox, Gate 1, 3, and 7. On this day, admission tickets will also be produced and distributed with a special design symbolizing Kim Kang-min.
As a pre-event, a 'Painting the Beast" event will be held on the club's Instagram, featuring memories and support from fans. Fifty selected people will be given a fan signing event and a 'Shrug Zone' ticket on the day of the retirement ceremony, and the top five will be given an additional uniform to commemorate their retirement. The winning works will be displayed on the big board on the day of the retirement ceremony.
|
The 'Home Run Couple Zone', which was closest to the center field area where Kim Kang-min was located 'Jim Seung-bi', will be operated as 'Remember the Beast Zone' on this day, and will be sold as tickets that include limited-edition MD packages such as cheering towels, free-size T-shirts, headbands, and fingerless gloves. In addition, fans wearing Kim Kang-min's uniform will participate in 'Beast Parade' and 'Beast Road' where they share high-fives with the players.
On this day, Kim Kang-min's first daughter, Kim Na-gyul, will be in charge of the first pitch, and the second daughter, Kim Min-gyul, and third daughter, Kim Ri-an, will add warm meaning to her father's last stage.
During the game, the club's YouTube channel 'SukTube' will be broadcast live to commemorate the retirement. The host, guest, and Kim Kang-min themselves will appear in person to share episodes of their playing days and have time to look back on baseball life. Guests will be accompanied by teammates who have won in the past, including Chae Byung-yong, Yoon Hee-sang and Kim Tae-hoon.
After the game, the retirement ceremony will be held in earnest. Starting with the screening of the retirement anniversary video, Kim Kang-min enters the game by recreating a walk-off home run in Game 5 of the 2022 Korean Series. DynaFit, the club's official sponsor, will then hold a sports equipment sponsorship delivery ceremony for second-tier players with Kim Kang-min, and various commemorative gifts will also be presented.
After the announcement of the retirement, the SSG team celebrates Kim Kang-min with a rinse and greets the fans one last time through the 'After Party' corner. 'After Party' begins with a live performance by singer Park Ki-young, the original singer of Kim Kang-min's song 'Butterfly', and after that, Kim Kang-min gives his honest feelings about retirement through an interview with an in-house announcer.
Finally, Kim Kang-min's cheering song will ring out at SSG Landers Field in Incheon, and finally, Kim Kang-min will end his 23-year career beautifully by enjoying the fireworks festival with his fans.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
