Sun Dong-yol
Sun Dong-yol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Strikeouts 1,698 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Saves | 132 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No-hitters | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NPB statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Win–loss record | 10−4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earned run average | 2.70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Strikeouts | 228 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Saves | 98 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Teams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As player
As coach As manager | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KBO
International
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Medals
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Sun Dong-yol | |
Hangul | 선동열 |
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Hanja | 宣銅烈 |
Revised Romanization | Seon Dongyeol |
McCune–Reischauer | Sŏn Tongyŏl |
Sun Dong-yol (
Sun is one of the most celebrated pitchers in the history of the KBO League. He was voted
Amateur career
Upon graduation from Gwangju Jeil High School,[1] Sun joined the Korea University baseball team in 1981.
In
In
In the
In August 1984, Sun competed for the South Korea national team in the
In October 1984, Sun competed in the Baseball World Cup again. He was 1–1 with a 0.00 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched, and eventually won the ERA title.
Notable international careers
Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
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1981 | United States | World Junior Baseball Championship
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3–0, 0.38 ERA (3 G, 24.0 IP, 1 ER, 36 K) MVP | |
1982 | South Korea | Baseball World Cup | 3-0, 0.31 ERA (4 G, 29.0 IP, 1 ER, 30 K) MVP, All-Star ( Wins title
| |
1983 | South Korea | Asian Baseball Championship | 1–0, 1.17 ERA (2 G, 15.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 R) | |
1983 | Belgium | Intercontinental Cup | 5th | All-Star (P) |
1984 | United States | Olympic Games | 4th | 1–1, 0.56 ERA (3 G, 16.0 IP, 1 ER, 10 K) |
1984 | Cuba | Baseball World Cup | 5th | 1–1, 0.00 ERA (4 G, 17.1 IP, 0 ER, 20 K) ERA title |
1985 | Australia | Asian Baseball Championship |
Professional career
KBO League
Haitai Tigers
Signed by the
In
In 1987, Sun was 14−2 with a 0.89 ERA and 144 strikeouts, and won the ERA title again and finished 2nd in wins and 3rd in strikeouts. He has pitched one of the finest games of his career in this season: On May 16, in a 2-2 game against the Lotte Giants, Sun completed a game of no-decision through 15 innings – he pitched 232 pitches in total. The opposing pitcher Choi Dong-won, also regarded as one of the finest in the league, also completed the game, ending up pitching 209 pitches. This matchup of the two Korean ace pitchers is often considered as one of the best moments in Korean baseball history.
In 1988, Sun was 16−5, notching 200 strikeouts and a 1.21 ERA, and won the ERA and strikeout titles.
In 1989, Sun finished the year by winning his second Pitching Triple Crown, leading the league in wins (21), ERA (1.17) and strikeouts (198). On July 6, 1989, he recorded the fifth no-hitter in a complete game shut-out in the KBO history against the Samsung Lions.
In 1990, Sun won his third Pitching Triple Crown, going 22−6 with a 1.13 ERA and 189 strikeouts, allowing only one home run in 190.1 innings pitched.
In 1991, Sun grabbed the fourth of Pitching Triple Crowns with a 19−4 record, a 1.55 ERA, and 210 strikeouts.
During the 1992 season, Sun was on the disabled list for several months. Meanwhile, Tigers' manager Kim Eung-ryong intended to use him as a long reliever or closer, and Sun was eventually moved into the closer's role as he came back from injury. In 1992, he saved 8 games and compiled a 0.28 ERA in 32.2 innings pitched.
In 1993, his first full season as a relief pitcher, Sun finished with a 10−3 record, a league-leading 31 saves, and 164 strikeouts in 126.1 innings pitched. Though it is very rare for a reliever to get enough innings, he became the first closer relief pitcher to win the ERA title with a 0.78 ERA, pitching more than the required innings to qualify for the title.
In 1994, he had the only mediocre season of his KBO career. He saved only 12 games with a 6-4 record and 94 strikeouts in 102.1 innings pitched, and his 2.73 ERA was the highest of his career.
However, Sun came back strong in 1995, leading the KBO league with 33 saves and recording a 0.49 ERA in 109.1 innings pitched.
Nippon Professional Baseball
Chunichi Dragons
After the 1995 KBO season, Sun announced that he would leave the KBO league for a move to either
On April 6,
After the disastrous debut season, Sun performed strongly in the 1997 season. He led the Central League in saves, with 38, posting a 1.28 ERA with 68 strikeouts. During the season, he did not allow any home run in 63.1 innings pitched. Sun also appeared at the 1997 Japan All-Star Game.
Sun continued to dominate the league as an elite closer in 1998, saving 29 games with a 1.48 ERA and 58 strikeouts.
in 1999, Sun notched 28 saves (the league's runner-up) and a 2.61 ERA, and allowed only one home run, appearing in 39 games. As a key member of the Chunichi Dragons, he led his team to their first Central League title since 1988.
After the 1999 season, the Chunichi Dragons attempted to renew the contract with Sun as the contract was expired, but the Dragons didn't reach agreement on the new contract with Sun's former team Haitai Tigers, which required another loan for the contract extension.
Amid controversy, Sun announced retirement on November 22, 1999 after he finally failed to sign with the Dragons.
Meanwhile, the Haitai Tigers in the KBO also planned to set his final game with a ceremony in Gwangju, South Korea. However, Sun decided to play his final game in Nagoya, Japan.
On March 6, 2000, Sun started the Dragons' first 2000 pre-season game against the
In film
Sun was played by Yang Dong-geun in the film Perfect Game (2011) and Choi Dong-won was played by Cho Seung-woo.
See also
- List of KBO career win leaders
- List of KBO career strikeout leaders
- List of KBO career saves leaders
References
- ^ Keh, Andrew. "School Spirit May Be Metaphysical for South Korean Baseball Players," New York Times (Oct. 2, 2015).
- ^ Hwang, Tae-hoon (December 1, 2007). "Coach Sun Dong-yeol Confident of Victory Over Taiwan". The Dong-a Ilbo.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Korea Baseball Organization
- Nippon Professional Baseball career statistics from JapaneseBaseball.com
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)