Taichung Agan
Encyclopedia
The Taichung Agan literally the Taichung Robots was a Taiwan
ese professional baseball
team belonging to the Taiwan Major League
(TML). It was based in Taichung
and took the Taichung Baseball Field
(and occasionally the Hsinchu CKS Baseball Stadium
) as its home throughout its history. After TML's collapse in early 2003 the Agan was absorbed by the Chinese Professional Baseball League
's Macoto Cobras. Its most notable sponsor was the Acer
Corporation, which sponsored this team in its last 2002 season.
(.350, 27 HR, 72 RBI) was second in the league in average and possibly second in homers as the offensive star. The pitching was led by Al Osuna
(8-6, 2.50), who had the best ERA in the league.
The Agan remained last with a 40-66 season in 1998. Lyden's production dropped drastically (.278, 6 HR) and Hsu Ming-Chieh
(7-4, 2.52) was the top hurler, finishing third in the league in ERA. The Agan improved drastically in 1999, going 40-42-2 to finish second in the TML, then they beat the Taipei Gida
4 games to 2 in the championship. Hsu (15-6, 2.83) was third in ERA during the regular season and then was the MVP of the championship series. Brad Strauss came over from the Kaohsiung-Pingtung Fala during the season and won the batting title at .387.
Agan wore out though, and fell back to last in 2000 (35-46-3). Koji Muto (6-6, 2.74) was the top starter while Tung Tsung-hui (.330) was fourth in the TML in average. Taichung pulled a worst-to-first with a dazzling 43-16-1 record in 2001 and they beat Taipei Gida 4 games to 2 in the finals. Tung (.331) was again third in average, while Huang Chin-chih (7-3, 1.62) led the league in ERA and Hsu Chu-chien (7-2, 2.64) was fifth. Richard Bell (2-2, 22 Sv, 1.62, 69 K, 34 H in 55 IP) was the league's top reliever.
As the TML merged with the Chinese Professional Baseball League
after 2002, it was Agan's last season and they again steamrolled the competition with a 47-24-1 record and toppling the Kaohsiung-Pingtung Fala 4 to 1 in the best-of-7 finals. Huang Chin-chih(16-2, 2 Sv, 1.46) led the league in wins and ERA and Muto (8-3, 2.26) was second in ERA. Ned Darley (2-0, 14 Sv, 1.13) again gave the team an effective foreign closer. Roberto Mejia
led the league in hitting (.332), stole 20 bases and was second in homers (14) and RBI (62). The only better slugger was Chia-Hsian Hsieh
, who homered 19 times, drove in 64 and was second with a .321 average.
With three titles, the Agan were the most successful team in TML history, though they finished last their in the other three seasons.
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...
ese professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
team belonging to the 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...
(TML). It was based in Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
and took the Taichung Baseball Field
Taichung Baseball Field
The Taichung Baseball Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Taichung, Taiwan. Built in 1935 during the Taiwan under Japanese rule era, this stadium has been repeatedly refurbished and currently can seat 8,500 people...
(and occasionally the Hsinchu CKS Baseball Stadium
Hsinchu CKS Baseball Stadium
Hsinchu CKS Baseball Stadium is a baseball stadium in Hsinchu City in Northern Taiwan. Originally it was to have been called the Hsinchu Sadaharu Oh Baseball Stadium ; however, during its construction the then President of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek, died, and the stadium was renamed...
) as its home throughout its history. After TML's collapse in early 2003 the Agan was absorbed by the Chinese Professional Baseball League
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
's Macoto Cobras. Its most notable sponsor was the Acer
Acer (company)
Acer Incorporated is a multinational information technology and electronics corporation headquartered in Xizhi, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Acer's products include desktop and laptop PCs, tablet computers, servers, storage devices, displays, smartphones and peripherals...
Corporation, which sponsored this team in its last 2002 season.
Team history
The Agan finished last in the league's debut season of 1997, going 41-53. Mitch LydenMitch Lyden
Mitchell Scott Lyden , is a retired professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues in . He would play for the Florida Marlins. On June 16, 1993, he hit a home run in his first major league at bat, against the Chicago Cubs; in fact, on the first pitch...
(.350, 27 HR, 72 RBI) was second in the league in average and possibly second in homers as the offensive star. The pitching was led by Al Osuna
Al Osuna
Alfonso Osuna, Jr. , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from 1990–1994 and 1996.-External links:...
(8-6, 2.50), who had the best ERA in the league.
The Agan remained last with a 40-66 season in 1998. Lyden's production dropped drastically (.278, 6 HR) and Hsu Ming-Chieh
Ming-Chieh Hsu
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 .-Early life:...
(7-4, 2.52) was the top hurler, finishing third in the league in ERA. The Agan improved drastically in 1999, going 40-42-2 to finish second in the TML, then they beat the Taipei Gida
Taipei Gida
Taipei Gida was a Taiwanese professional baseball team that existed from 1997 to 2002. It was one of the four Taiwan Major League teams and was based in Taipei, Taiwan...
4 games to 2 in the championship. Hsu (15-6, 2.83) was third in ERA during the regular season and then was the MVP of the championship series. Brad Strauss came over from the Kaohsiung-Pingtung Fala during the season and won the batting title at .387.
Agan wore out though, and fell back to last in 2000 (35-46-3). Koji Muto (6-6, 2.74) was the top starter while Tung Tsung-hui (.330) was fourth in the TML in average. Taichung pulled a worst-to-first with a dazzling 43-16-1 record in 2001 and they beat Taipei Gida 4 games to 2 in the finals. Tung (.331) was again third in average, while Huang Chin-chih (7-3, 1.62) led the league in ERA and Hsu Chu-chien (7-2, 2.64) was fifth. Richard Bell (2-2, 22 Sv, 1.62, 69 K, 34 H in 55 IP) was the league's top reliever.
As the TML merged with the Chinese Professional Baseball League
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
after 2002, it was Agan's last season and they again steamrolled the competition with a 47-24-1 record and toppling the Kaohsiung-Pingtung Fala 4 to 1 in the best-of-7 finals. Huang Chin-chih(16-2, 2 Sv, 1.46) led the league in wins and ERA and Muto (8-3, 2.26) was second in ERA. Ned Darley (2-0, 14 Sv, 1.13) again gave the team an effective foreign closer. Roberto Mejia
Roberto Mejia
Roberto Antonio Mejía Díaz is a professional baseball second baseman who is currently a free agent. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball between 1993–97, and one season in the Korea Baseball Organization in 2003...
led the league in hitting (.332), stole 20 bases and was second in homers (14) and RBI (62). The only better slugger was Chia-Hsian Hsieh
Chia-Hsian Hsieh
Hsieh Chia-hsien, , is a Taiwanese professional baseball player. Originally drafted by the Taiwan Major League's Taichung Agan in 1998, after TML's merger into CPBL he has been playing for the Chinese Professional Baseball League's Macoto Gida and its successors Macoto Cobras and Dmedia T-REX since...
, who homered 19 times, drove in 64 and was second with a .321 average.
With three titles, the Agan were the most successful team in TML history, though they finished last their in the other three seasons.