Ming-Chieh Hsu
Encyclopedia
Hsu Ming-Chieh born December 1, 1976 in Kaohsiung County
, now part of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
) is a pitcher
for Nippon Professional Baseball's Seibu Lions
. He is known for his Shuuto
(two-seamer).
and joined his school's baseball team in elementary school. At the age of 12, Hsu participated in the 1989 Little League World Series
while playing for Kang-Tu Little League. Kang-Tu lost the series to a team from Trumbull
, Connecticut
.
, a baseball club in the now-defunct Taiwan Major League
. His outstanding performance with Agan in the 1998 and 1999 seasons has been compared with Daisuke Matsuzaka
by the Taiwanese media
. In 2000, he joined the Seibu Lions
of the Pacific League
in Japan
.
Kaohsiung County
Kaohsiung County was a county in southern Taiwan that enclosed but did not include Kaohsiung City. On December 25, 2010, the county merged with Kaohsiung City to form a single special municipality.- Administration :-External links:*...
, now part of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
) is a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for Nippon Professional Baseball's Seibu Lions
Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based west of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Prince Hotels, which in turn is owned by the Seibu Group...
. He is known for his Shuuto
Shuuto
The or shootball is a pitch commonly thrown by such right-handed Japanese pitchers such as Noboru Akiyama, Kenjiro Kawasaki, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Masumi Kuwata...
(two-seamer).
Early life
Hsu was raised in southern TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and joined his school's baseball team in elementary school. At the age of 12, Hsu participated in the 1989 Little League World Series
1989 Little League World Series
The 1989 Little League World Series took place between August 22 and August 26 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The National Little League of Trumbull, Connecticut defeated the Kang-Tu Little League of Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei in the championship game of the 43rd Little League World...
while playing for Kang-Tu Little League. Kang-Tu lost the series to a team from Trumbull
Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, is bordered by the towns of Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Easton along Connecticut's Gold Coast. The population was 36,018 according to the 2010 census.Family Circle magazine...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Professional career
In 1998, Hsu joined Taichung AganTaichung Agan
The Taichung Agan , literally the Taichung Robots was a Taiwanese professional baseball team belonging to the Taiwan Major League . It was based in Taichung and took the Taichung Baseball Field as its home throughout its history...
, a baseball club in the now-defunct Taiwan Major League
Taiwan Major League
The Taiwan Major League was a professional baseball league in Taiwan that operated from 1996 to 2003. It was established by TV tycoon Chiu Fu-sheng after a row over CPBL broadcasting rights...
. His outstanding performance with Agan in the 1998 and 1999 seasons has been compared with Daisuke Matsuzaka
Daisuke Matsuzaka
is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball in the United States. He previously played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He was selected the MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze...
by the Taiwanese media
Media in Taiwan
The media in Taiwan is considered to be one of the freest and most competitive in Asia. Cable TV usage is high and there is also a wide selection of newspapers available covering most political viewpoints.-Cable television:...
. In 2000, he joined the Seibu Lions
Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based west of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Prince Hotels, which in turn is owned by the Seibu Group...
of the Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
International experience
Hsu has participated in many International baseball events.- 1989: Little League World Series1989 Little League World SeriesThe 1989 Little League World Series took place between August 22 and August 26 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The National Little League of Trumbull, Connecticut defeated the Kang-Tu Little League of Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei in the championship game of the 43rd Little League World...
- 1995: Asian Baseball ChampionshipAsian Baseball ChampionshipThe Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer...
- 1995: Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (baseball)The Intercontinental Cup is a baseball tournament between the members of the International Baseball Federation . It was first held in 1973 in Italy, and was held every other year following until 1999....
- 1997: Asian Baseball ChampionshipAsian Baseball ChampionshipThe Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer...
- 1998: Bangkok Asian Games
- 1999: Asian Baseball ChampionshipAsian Baseball ChampionshipThe Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer...
- 2001: Baseball World Cup2001 Baseball World CupThe XXXIV Baseball World Cup took place in Taiwan from 6 to 18 November 2001. Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals.-First round:Results for Group A:# # # # # # # #...
- 2003: Asian Baseball ChampionshipAsian Baseball ChampionshipThe Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer...
- 2007: Baseball World Cup2007 Baseball World CupThe XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...
- 2007: Asian Baseball ChampionshipAsian Baseball ChampionshipThe Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer...