Lee Man-soo

1.1. Birth and Childhood

Lee Man-soo was born on September 19, 1958, in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province. His parents were both from North Korea, with his father having migrated to Cheorwon in South Korea during the Korean War and serving as a non-commissioned officer in the military. After his father's discharge from the military, the family relocated to Daegu, where his father operated a butcher shop. It was in Daegu, during his fifth year at Daegu Jungang Elementary School, that Lee Man-soo first began playing baseball.

1.2. Education

Lee Man-soo pursued his education through various institutions, starting from elementary school and culminating in his university studies. He attended Daegu Jungang Elementary School, Daegu Middle School, and Daegu Sangup High School (now known as Daegu Sangwon High School). Following his high school graduation, he enrolled in the Department of Physical Education at Hanyang University, joining as part of the class of 1978.

2.1. Professional Debut and Early Success

Upon graduating from Hanyang University in 1982, Lee Man-soo agreed with the KBO League to join one of its newly established professional teams, rather than remaining in the amateur league. He was signed by the Samsung Lions as one of the inaugural members of the league. On March 27, 1982, in the very first game of the KBO professional league held at Dongdaemun Baseball Stadium against the MBC Chungyong, Lee made history by hitting the league's first-ever single and first-ever home run. He quickly established himself as the regular catcher for the Lions throughout the 1982 season, helping his team reach the inaugural Korean Series, where they ultimately lost to the OB Bears with a record of 4-1-1. In 1983, he secured his first home run title and was recognized as the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP). The following year, in 1984, he achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the KBO League's first Triple Crown winner, leading in three key offensive categories: home runs (23), RBIs (80), and batting average (.340). Despite his stellar performance, he controversially missed out on a second consecutive MVP award in 1984 due to what was reported as an artificial manipulation of the batting title race in its final stages.

2.2. Distinguished Career with Samsung Lions

Lee Man-soo spent 16 seasons as a full-time player with the Samsung Lions, primarily as a catcher and later transitioning to first baseman or designated hitter. Throughout his career, he amassed 252 home runs and 861 RBIs. His home run and RBI totals also led the league in 1985. He received five consecutive Golden Glove Awards as a catcher from 1983 to 1987 and participated in 12 All-Star games. Lee was also the first KBO player to hit 100 and 200 career home runs. His career total of 252 home runs stood as a league record for catchers until it was surpassed by Park Kyung-oan, and as the overall league record until Chang Jong-hoon hit his 253rd home run on May 23, 1999. In 1986, Lee sustained a back injury during spring training in Masan, which prevented him from playing in exhibition games. He made his season debut on May 7 as a designated hitter but struggled. He suffered another back injury early in the second half of the season, causing him to miss more games. Despite hitting his 100th career home run on September 2, 1986, he was injured again by a dead ball in the same game, leading to further absence and preventing him from maintaining his home run and RBI titles for a third consecutive year. From 1994 onwards, he transitioned from catcher to first baseman and designated hitter. Following his departure, the Samsung Lions faced a notable shortage of skilled catchers until they acquired Jin Gap-yong in a cash trade from the Doosan Bears on July 31, 1999.

2.3. Retirement and Departure from Samsung

Lee Man-soo's playing career concluded after the 1997 season. His retirement was influenced by a disagreement with the Samsung Lions organization regarding coaching opportunities after his playing tenure. The club released him, and he was forced to fund his own coaching studies in the United States, rather than receiving organizational support for international training. This independent departure marked a complex and somewhat strained end to his long-standing relationship with the team where he had spent his entire playing career.

3.1. Coaching in Major League Baseball

After his retirement as a player in 1997, Lee Man-soo began his coaching career in the United States. In 1998, he served as the hitting coach for the Class A Kinston Indians, an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The following year, he moved to the Chicago White Sox organization, where he became the first base coach for their Triple-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights. From January 2000 to 2006, he served as a bullpen coach for the Chicago White Sox, making him the first Korean to hold a coaching position in Major League Baseball. In 2005, as part of the White Sox coaching staff, he achieved a significant milestone by earning a World Series ring following the team's victory in the 2005 World Series.

3.2. Leadership at SK Wyverns

After the 2006 season, Lee Man-soo returned to South Korea and signed a two-year contract with the SK Wyverns on October 30, 2006, taking on the role of bench coach under manager Kim Sung-keun. In June 2010, he briefly swapped positions with Gye Hyeong-cheol, the minor league manager, before returning to his bench coach role in August 2010. On August 18, 2011, Kim Sung-keun was abruptly dismissed as manager of the SK Wyverns, just one day after announcing his intention to step down at the end of the 2011 season. On the same day, Lee Man-soo was named interim manager of the team. Despite the turbulent circumstances, he successfully guided the team to the 2011 Korean Series, becoming the first interim manager in KBO League history to lead a team to a Korean Series runner-up finish. During his interim tenure, he notably gave opportunities to pitchers like Yoon Hee-sang and Park Hee-soo, who became valuable assets to the Wyverns' pitching staff. Following the conclusion of the 2011 Korean Series, he was formally appointed as the 4th manager of the SK Wyverns on October 29, 2011. He subsequently led the team to a second consecutive Korean Series runner-up finish in 2012. However, due to two consecutive seasons of poor performance thereafter, his contract with SK expired at the end of the 2014 season, and he stepped down from the managerial position. Kim Yong-hee succeeded him as the 5th manager of SK Wyverns.

3.3. Promoting Baseball in Laos

After his managerial tenure with the SK Wyverns concluded, Lee Man-soo dedicated his efforts to promoting baseball in Laos. He was appointed as the Vice President of the Laos Baseball Association and also became the owner of the Laos J Brothers baseball team. Through these roles, he has actively worked on developing and popularizing baseball in the country. He also serves as a commentator for MBC Sports+ and as a Vice Chairman of the KBO Development Committee, in addition to being the general manager of the Korea Military Academy baseball team.

4.1. Family and Religious Beliefs

Lee Man-soo is the son of Lee Chang-seok (1925-1994) and Jang Young-soon (1928-2015). He has an elder sister, Lee Mi-ok (born 1952), an elder brother, Lee Man-gil (born 1955), and a younger brother, Lee Man-ho (born 1961). He is married to Lee Shin-hwa, and they have two sons: Lee Ha-jong, who is married to Park Mi-ri and has a grandson, and Lee Eon-jong, who is married to Shim Jin-hye. Lee Man-soo is a devout Protestant, specifically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Baekseok).

5.1. Enduring Relationship with Samsung Lions

Lee Man-soo is widely regarded as a quintessential Samsung Lions franchise star. His jersey number, 22, was permanently retired by the Samsung Lions in 2003, a testament to his iconic status within the club. However, his relationship with the team has been complex and strained. After his playing retirement, in 2003, the Samsung Lions reportedly engaged in negotiations to bring him back as a battery coach, alongside the recruitment of Sun Dong-yol and Han Dae-hwa. However, the offer was abruptly withdrawn, causing Lee Man-soo to experience significant difficulties as he had already declined a coaching offer from the Chicago White Sox to return to his former club. He eventually rejoined the White Sox before returning to the KBO League in 2006, not with the Samsung Lions, but with the SK Wyverns. This situation has been attributed to the Samsung Group's historical corporate philosophy of "never re-employing someone once discarded," as well as a lingering resentment over his inability to secure a championship for Samsung during his playing career in the 1980s and 1990s. Furthermore, his dream of continuing his active playing career until the age of 40 was cut short by the club's opposition, leading to an ambiguous end to his playing days. The retirement of his number 22 jersey in 2004 provided him with some relief from the perceived unfairness.

5.2. Overall Impact and Recognition

Lee Man-soo is recognized as a legendary figure in Korean baseball, known for his power hitting and his pioneering achievements in the KBO League. His nicknames, "Hulk" and "Babe Ruth of Korea," reflect his impact as a formidable slugger. Beyond his individual records, his career helped popularize the sport in its nascent professional years. His historic first hit and home run in the KBO, along with his Triple Crown, set early benchmarks for excellence. As the first Korean coach in MLB to win a World Series ring, he also paved the way for future Korean coaches in international baseball. His later efforts in Laos demonstrate his commitment to baseball development beyond professional leagues, contributing to the global growth of the sport.

7.1. Career Milestones and Achievements

The following table details key milestones and achievements from Lee Man-soo's playing career, with bolded entries indicating KBO League firsts:

7.2. KBO Career Statistics

The following table summarizes Lee Man-soo's complete career statistics in the KBO League:

• Bolded statistics indicate the highest record in that specific season.