Park Chul-soon

1.1. Early Years and High School

Born on March 12, 1956, in Busan, South Korea, Park Chul-soon began playing baseball in the sixth grade at Donggwang Elementary School. He continued his baseball development at Gyeongnam Middle School. For his high school education, he initially attended Busan High School before transferring to Daeseong High School in Daejeon. Following the disbandment of Daeseong High School's baseball team due to a violent incident, he transferred again to Baemyung High School in Seoul. During his high school years, Park primarily played as a pitcher, though he did not achieve particularly standout results.

1.2. University and International Play

In January 1975, Park Chul-soon was admitted to the Law Department at Yonsei University through an athletic scholarship, joining the university's baseball team. While studying at Yonsei, he completed his mandatory military service in the Republic of Korea Air Force. In 1978, he was selected to represent South Korea in the Haarlem Baseball Week tournament held in the Netherlands. During this tournament, Park delivered strong performances, securing a win as a starter against Australia and another as a reliever against Cuba. His exceptional play in the 1979 Korean-American university baseball championship drew significant attention, leading to him signing a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He became the second South Korean player to sign with a Major League team and play in the minor leagues, following Lee Won-Kuk.

2.1. Minor League Baseball

Park arrived in the United States in 1980 to begin his professional career. He played for the Stockton Ports, a Class-A affiliate, and subsequently for the El Paso Diablos, a Double-A team. In 1980, while with the Stockton Ports, he recorded 3 wins and 2 losses with a 2.31 earned run average (ERA) and a 1.00 WHIP. In 1981, he continued with the Stockton Ports, achieving 5 wins and 7 losses with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP, and also played for the El Paso Diablos, where he had 3 wins and 3 losses with a 5.77 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. Across his two years in the minor leagues, Park finished with an overall record of 11 wins and 12 losses and a 4.30 ERA. He ranked third in wins in the Texas League in 1981. Although he was promised a promotion to Triple-A, he decided to return to South Korea with the launch of the KBO League.

2.2. KBO League Career

Upon his return to South Korea, Park Chul-soon joined the OB Bears in the inaugural season of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League. He quickly established himself as the league's premier pitcher, achieving a historic debut season.

3.1. Impact of Injuries

The pinnacle of Park Chul-soon's performance in 1982 was unfortunately short-lived due to chronic back injuries that plagued him throughout the remainder of his career. He underwent surgery in the United States to address these issues. In 1988, he suffered a severe setback when his Achilles tendon ruptured during the filming of a commercial, adding another significant injury to his medical history. These recurring and severe injuries often limited his playing time and prevented him from consistently replicating his dominant rookie season form.

3.2. The 'Phoenix' Comeback

Despite the frequent and debilitating injuries, Park Chul-soon consistently managed to recover and return to the mound, often performing at a high level. This remarkable resilience and ability to overcome physical adversity earned him the enduring nickname "Phoenix" (불사조, 불사조_Bulsa-jo^Korean), symbolizing his repeated comebacks from seemingly career-ending setbacks. His determination to continue playing despite chronic pain became a defining aspect of his legacy.

4.1. Retirement

Park Chul-soon contributed to the OB Bears' championship victory in the 1995 Korean Series. He played his final professional game on September 4, 1996, against the Hanwha Eagles at Hanbat Baseball Stadium in Daejeon, where he started and became the oldest winning pitcher at the time. Following the conclusion of the 1996 season, he announced his retirement from active play. His retirement ceremony in 1997 gained significant attention when he performed a "mound kiss," a symbolic gesture of farewell to the pitcher's mound.

4.2. Coaching and Non-Baseball Ventures

After retiring as a player, Park Chul-soon served as a pitching coach for the OB Bears from 1996 until 1998. However, his coaching tenure was marked by controversy. He was implicated as a key figure in the "OB Bears player walkout incident" in 1997. Furthermore, he faced legal trouble on July 13, 1997, when he was booked without detention by the Gangnam Police Station for driving under the influence (DUI), resulting in a 100-day suspension of his driver's license. In a separate incident on July 15, 1998, he was involved in a dispute with the club after senior players under his charge allegedly assaulted junior players during a second-team training session. Due to these conflicts and controversies with the team, he resigned during the 1998 season, effectively leaving the baseball community.

Following his departure from professional baseball, Park briefly worked as a Major League Baseball commentator for Gyeongin Broadcasting. Currently, he serves as the chairman of [http://www.alrook.co.kr Alrook Sports], a sports equipment company located in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, and also holds the position of advisor for the Uiwang Social Baseball Association.

4.3. Media Appearances

Park Chul-soon has made various appearances in media outside of his playing and coaching roles. He was featured in the KBS documentary "This is Life" in an episode titled "Song of the Phoenix - Park Chul-soon's Baseball Life and Love," which aired on November 20, 1997. He also appeared in several commercials, including those for LF men's casual wear (1983), E-Land Big Man (1988), Orion Choco Pie (1994), Nongshim Keunsabal (1996, with Heo Jeong-min), Lotte Nestle Korea Taster's Choice (1999), and Kia (2012). Notably, the Achilles tendon injury he sustained during a commercial shoot in 1988 was a significant setback in his career.

5.1. Choi Dong-won Assault Incident

During his time at Yonsei University, Park Chul-soon was involved in an incident where he allegedly assaulted his junior teammate, Choi Dong-won, under the guise of hazing. This incident, which occurred during a period when physical discipline was unfortunately prevalent in sports, was severe enough to send Choi Dong-won to the hospital. Accounts from Choi and his teammates indicate that he was beaten with a bat to the point where the bat broke, causing severe bruising and bleeding on his back, requiring a 17-day recovery period. The media reported at least three instances of such beatings, including after a game against Dongguk University, during a practice game against Chung-Ang University on March 12, and during a Yon-Ko Games match the previous year, with Choi claiming he was hit about 10 times in each instance.

Park Chul-soon, however, claimed he only hit Choi twice, stating he showed leniency compared to other players who received four hits. This claim is largely contradicted by the severity of Choi's injuries and eyewitness accounts. Following the assault, Choi Dong-won considered transferring to another university, but he was reportedly pressured to apologize to the school due to the prevailing "senior-junior hierarchy" culture, despite being the victim. Later reports suggest Choi may have received an apology from the university.

Park's assertion that he was merely following orders from senior players is also highly questionable. As a returning student, Park was older and had an earlier academic year (75th batch, born 1954) than the fourth-year students (76th batch, born 1957) at the time, indicating he was in a position of authority. Park himself directly contradicted the "following orders" narrative, stating he hit Choi because he was "impertinent." This incident significantly impacted Park's standing, with his subsequent move to the United States minor leagues being viewed by some as an effective expulsion from Yonsei University due to the controversy. While hazing was common, the severity of Park's actions was considered excessive even by the standards of that era, leading to media coverage and discussions of expulsion. This event is believed to be a primary reason why fans of the Lotte Giants, Choi Dong-won's primary team, held a long-standing dislike for Park Chul-soon.

5.2. Personal Conduct Incidents

Beyond the Choi Dong-won incident, Park Chul-soon faced other criticisms regarding his personal conduct during his post-playing career. On July 13, 1997, while serving as a pitching coach for the OB Bears, he was apprehended for driving under the influence (DUI), resulting in a 100-day suspension of his driver's license. Furthermore, on July 15, 1998, he was involved in another controversy when the club disciplined senior players for allegedly assaulting junior players during a second-team training session, an incident that occurred under his coaching purview. These incidents, coupled with his alleged involvement in the "OB Bears player walkout incident," led to conflicts with the club and ultimately his resignation from the team and a temporary departure from the baseball scene.

6.1. KBO League Records

Park Chul-soon holds or held several notable records in the KBO League:

6.2. Major Awards

• KBO League Most Valuable Player Award (1982)
• Pitching Triple Crown (1982)

7.1. Retired Number

On April 5, 2002, the Doosan Bears (formerly the OB Bears) officially retired Park Chul-soon's jersey number, 21. This honor signifies his immense contributions to the franchise and the KBO League as a whole, acknowledging his status as a legendary player and a symbol of the team's early success.

7.2. Overall Impact and Recognition

Park Chul-soon is widely regarded as a pioneering figure who significantly contributed to the early development and popularization of Korean professional baseball. His electrifying performance in the KBO's inaugural season captivated the nation and set a high standard for pitching excellence. Despite the challenges posed by recurring injuries, his unwavering determination and repeated comebacks earned him the nickname "Phoenix," cementing his image as a symbol of resilience and perseverance in the sport. His record-breaking 22-game winning streak remains a monumental achievement in KBO history, highlighting his singular dominance in 1982. Through his on-field heroics and later, his coaching and media roles, Park Chul-soon left an indelible mark on Korean baseball, influencing a generation of players and fans. His retired number by the Doosan Bears serves as a permanent testament to his enduring legacy and recognition as one of the most iconic pitchers in KBO history.

7.3. Career Statistics