'Stroke Worsened → Cardiac Arrest' Former Coach Baek Incheon's Near-Death Experience: Breathing and Pulse Have Returned

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

It is a miracle that the pulse of former coach Baek Incheon (84), the only .400 hitter in Korean professional baseball, has dramatically returned after being reported to be in cardiac arrest and shocking the baseball world.

A Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) official told StarNews on the 14th that "it was confirmed that former coach Baek Incheon's breathing and pulse returned while he was being transported to Dankook University Hospital."

Earlier today, news of the former coach's death was conveyed through media reports. The reason cited was a worsening of his stroke symptoms during his illness, as learned from an acquaintance who was with him. Upon learning of this news, the KBO, which had been preparing for its second president since the passing of former KBO President Lee Yong-il in September last year, was ready to move forward.

Although breathing and pulse dramatically returned during transport to the hospital, he is still reported to be in critical condition. It is understood that the KBO is currently monitoring the situation through its Policy Support Team.

Former coach Baek left a significant mark on both Korean professional baseball and Japanese professional baseball (NPB). First, he played in NPB from 1962 to 1981, recording a career batting average of .278 (6,579 at-bats, 1,831 hits) across 1,969 games, with 209 home runs, 776 RBIs, 801 runs scored, and 212 stolen bases. He also posted an on-base percentage of .316 and a slugging percentage of .430. In 1975, while playing for Taiheiyo Club Lions (now Seibu Lions), he won the batting title with a .319 average.

When Korean professional baseball launched in 1982, Baek joined MBC Chungyong (now LG Twins) as both manager and player, driven by his strong desire to play baseball in his homeland. In the league's inaugural year, former coach Baek played in 71 games with a .412 batting average (250 at-bats, 103 hits), 19 home runs, 64 RBIs, 55 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. He also recorded an on-base percentage of .497 and a slugging percentage of .740, leading the league in batting average, most hits, runs scored, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Notably, Baek's .400 batting average for that season remains the only such record in the KBO League as of 2026.

After finishing his playing career with Sammi Superstars, he was appointed manager of LG Twins in 1990, leading the team to its first championship title. He later served as manager for Samsung Lions and Lotte Giants, dedicating himself to the Korean baseball community.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original