Incheon: Following two decades of professional baseball in the United States and his native South Korea, Choo Shin-soo received an emotional sendoff at his old home stadium Saturday. The SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) held the retirement ceremony for Choo following their game against the Lotte Giants at Incheon SSG Landers Field, just west of Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choo, 40, played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2005 to 2020, and then spent the next four seasons with the Landers before calling it a career last fall. With the Landers contending for a postseason berth, Choo asked the team not to hold any on-field ceremony for him last year to avoid being a distraction. The Landers respected his wishes and organized an hourlong ceremony Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 23,000, including Choo's wife, Ha Won-mi, and their three children. Former Texas Rangers teammates, Adrian Beltre and Cole Hamels, were also present.
Choo addressed the audience, expressing disbelief that the day had arrived. "I didn't think a day like this would ever come," he said. "I love this game of baseball so much and I thought I'd play it forever."
Choo is among the most successful Asian-born players in MLB history, owning the record for most hits (1,671) and RBIs (782) by an Asian player in the majors. In 2009, he became the first player from the continent to join the 20-20 club with 20 homers and 21 steals for the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians). Choo earned an American League All-Star selection in 2018 and remains the only South Korean position player to have made an All-Star team in MLB.
In the KBO, Choo became the oldest player to enter the 20-20 club with 21 homers and 25 steals as a 39-year-old in 2021. He played a pivotal role in the Landers' 2022 Korean Series title victory, batting .320 and reaching base in all six games against the Kiwoom Heroes. At Saturday's ceremony, the Landers played video messages from Choo's ex-teammates and KBO opponents, congratulating him on his retirement and extending their best wishes for his future.
Choo's contributions extended beyond the field. He was honored for his philanthropic efforts in the local community, having donated over 2 billion won (US$1.4 million) during his time in the KBO. He played the 2024 season on the league minimum salary of 30 million won, donating the entirety to charities.
Adrian Beltre and Cole Hamels expressed their gratitude for being invited to the ceremony. Beltre, through a Spanish interpreter, reminisced about their time together during Choo's first MLB season with the Seattle Mariners in 2005. "Sharing a moment like this is special, not something everyone gets to experience, and I am happy to be here," Beltre said. Hamels, who played with Choo in Texas from 2015 to 2018, said he was "honored" to be present, acknowledging Choo's impact as both a player and a teammate.
The ceremony's final portion saw Choo walking around the bases, with his eldest son at first base, second son at second base, and daughter at third. They walked together down the third base line towards home plate, where Choo's wife awaited them. Landers players then emerged from the dugout to toss Choo in the air and pose for photos, concluding the ceremony.
Choo, who grew up a Giants fan in Busan, thanked their supporters, despite never playing for his hometown club. He also expressed gratitude to Landers fans for their warm welcome when he first joined the KBO. When discussing his family, Choo became visibly emotional, thanking his children and wife for their support throughout his career.
Choo stated that while he won't miss playing baseball, he has found a new passion in player development. "I want to support Landers players from behind the scenes," he said. "I want to help them play baseball in a better environment. I will try to become someone who can help both the Landers and Korean baseball."