Man Soo Lee
Encyclopedia
Lee Man-Soo also spelled as Man Soo Lee, is a former Korea Professional Baseball catcher
and current manager
of the SK Wyverns
. After a distinguished career as a professional player in South Korea
from 1982-1997
, Lee moved on to coaching in 1998, including positions as a bullpen
catcher
for the Chicago White Sox
, and came back to South Korea in 2006 to serve as a bench coach for the Wyverns.
in 1982, Lee made an agreement with the Korea Baseball Organization
to play for one of the new pro league’s teams instead of remaining in the amateur league. Prior to the inaugural Korean professional baseball season, Lee was finally signed by the Samsung Lions
. In the first game of the KBO pro league on March 27, 1982, Lee hit the first home run in Korean professional baseball history against the MBC Blue Dragons. Lee was a regular catcher of the Lions during the 1982 season and helped his team to reach to the inaugural Korean Series, where the Lions lost to the OB Bears, 4–1–1.
Lee, nicknamed “Hulk
” and "Babe Ruth
of Korea
" for his power and home run ability, was a full-time catcher for 16 seasons with the Samsung Lions
, hitting 252 home run
s and knocking in 861 RBIs during his career. In 1983, he won hist first home run title and was named League MVP, and the next year became the league’s first triple crown
winner as the leader in three major offensive categories ― home runs (23), runs batted in (80) and batting average
(.340).
His Home Run and RBI totals also led the league in 1985. Gold Gloves
came in 5 straight years, 1983–1987, and he appeared in 12 All-Star
games. Lee's ultimate career home run total, 252, remained the record until Jang Jong-Hoon of the Hanwha Eagles hit his 253rd on May 23, 1999.
as the hitting coach for the Class A Kinston Indians
in 1998. He moved to the White Sox organization in 1999, and served as the first base coach for the White Sox AAA affiliate Charlotte Knights
until assuming his bullpen position with the big club in 2000. From 2000 to 2006, Lee was bullpen catcher for the Chicago White Sox, the first Korean to coach in the major leagues. In 2005, as a coach for the White Sox, he finally earned a World Series
ring.
After the 2006 season, Lee returned to South Korea and signed a two-year contract with the SK Wyverns as the club's bench coach on October 30, 2006. On August 18, 2011, SK Wyverns manager Kim Sung-Keun was sacked following his decision to retire from coaching after the 2011 season. Kim’s dismissal came just one day after the 68-year-old manager announced his decision to step down from his post at the end of the season, and Lee was named interim manager of the Wyverns on the same day.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and current manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:...
. After a distinguished career as a professional player in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
from 1982-1997
, Lee moved on to coaching in 1998, including positions as a bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, and came back to South Korea in 2006 to serve as a bench coach for the Wyverns.
Playing career
Upon graduation from Hanyang UniversityHanyang University
Hanyang University is one of the most prestigious universities in South Korea. In particular, Hanyang's School of Engineering is one of the oldest engineering schools in Korea. The main campus is Hanyang University at Seoul, located in the Seoul, with its branch campus, the ERICA campus , located...
in 1982, Lee made an agreement with the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
to play for one of the new pro league’s teams instead of remaining in the amateur league. Prior to the inaugural Korean professional baseball season, Lee was finally signed by the Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium...
. In the first game of the KBO pro league on March 27, 1982, Lee hit the first home run in Korean professional baseball history against the MBC Blue Dragons. Lee was a regular catcher of the Lions during the 1982 season and helped his team to reach to the inaugural Korean Series, where the Lions lost to the OB Bears, 4–1–1.
Lee, nicknamed “Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
” and "Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
" for his power and home run ability, was a full-time catcher for 16 seasons with the Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium...
, hitting 252 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and knocking in 861 RBIs during his career. In 1983, he won hist first home run title and was named League MVP, and the next year became the league’s first triple crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
winner as the leader in three major offensive categories ― home runs (23), runs batted in (80) and batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.340).
His Home Run and RBI totals also led the league in 1985. Gold Gloves
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
came in 5 straight years, 1983–1987, and he appeared in 12 All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
games. Lee's ultimate career home run total, 252, remained the record until Jang Jong-Hoon of the Hanwha Eagles hit his 253rd on May 23, 1999.
Coaching career
After retiring in 1997, Lee began his coaching career in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as the hitting coach for the Class A Kinston Indians
Kinston Indians
The Kinston Indians were a minor league baseball team of the Carolina League , and the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. They were located in Kinston, North Carolina, and were named for their parent club...
in 1998. He moved to the White Sox organization in 1999, and served as the first base coach for the White Sox AAA affiliate Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
until assuming his bullpen position with the big club in 2000. From 2000 to 2006, Lee was bullpen catcher for the Chicago White Sox, the first Korean to coach in the major leagues. In 2005, as a coach for the White Sox, he finally earned a World Series
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
ring.
After the 2006 season, Lee returned to South Korea and signed a two-year contract with the SK Wyverns as the club's bench coach on October 30, 2006. On August 18, 2011, SK Wyverns manager Kim Sung-Keun was sacked following his decision to retire from coaching after the 2011 season. Kim’s dismissal came just one day after the 68-year-old manager announced his decision to step down from his post at the end of the season, and Lee was named interim manager of the Wyverns on the same day.