From the Dark Era of 2004 to the 10th-Million Spectator Era → 'National Slugger' Park Byung-ho's Legacy of 'Belief and the Essence of Hitting' [Founding 22nd Anniversary Interview ②]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

In 2004, when professional baseball attendance in a single season hovered around 2.33 million, the KBO League was navigating through a deep 'dark era.' A top prospect who took his first steps onto the professional baseball stage against a backdrop of nearly empty stands averaging just 4,300 spectators per game endured years of wandering and perseverance to rise as the greatest 'national slugger' in KBO League history. This is the story of Park Byung-ho (40), who left an overwhelming legacy with four consecutive home run titles and two consecutive 50-home run seasons, now serving as a coach for the Kiwoom Heroes' reserve team.

To mark its 22nd anniversary, StarNews met with key figures who lit up the field after being drafted in the founding year of 2004. We conducted an in-depth interview with Coach Park Byung-ho, who has stepped away from his glamorous playing career to dedicate himself to mentoring the next generation as a coach.

Coach Park's reflections were unique, having experienced both the excitement of being drafted in 2004 and the current peak of baseball popularity that saw attendance surpass 10 million spectators. Coach Park recalled, "At the time of joining the team, becoming a professional baseball player was itself a long-held dream, so I did not pay much attention to the fact that there were few fans in the stands." He added, "Nowadays, not only on weekends but also on weekdays, the stands are packed, and the age range of fans has become much more diverse. I truly feel that baseball's popularity has soared."

Looking back on his playing days, he repeatedly emphasized the value of fans. "The more fans who come to the ballpark, the greater the players' concentration and the joy of victory," he said firmly. "Both players and coaching staff must never take the intense love professional baseball receives for granted; they should always hold a heart full of gratitude."

Although drafted with high expectations in the first round, Coach Park's prime did not come easily. The decisive driving force that helped him endure the long dark era of repeated setbacks on the first-division stage was none other than 'the belief of those around him.' Coach Park stated, "Even during times when I couldn't secure a spot, I trained hard enough to keep up with others and shed sweat, but the lack of results caused great disappointment." He continued, "Whenever that happened, there were people who believed in me and comforted me so I wouldn't give up."

In particular, his move to Nexen (now Kiwoom) Heroes became a decisive turning point in his baseball career. Coach Park added, "At the time, Manager Kim Si-jin and the coaching staff continued to believe in me even during my slump and gave me opportunities to play." He explained, "The sincere desire to repay that belief was the greatest strength that allowed me to make one more leap forward."

Even in modern baseball dominated by sabermetrics and tracking data, Coach Park's emphasized hitting philosophy remained firm: 'the transfer of power.' Coach Park noted, "During my playing days, I was in a position to adopt advanced information from the United States and Japan as data introduction began." He pointed out, "Recently, there is much talk about needing to increase launch angles to hit home runs, but simply hitting the ball high does not guarantee a home run. Without fully transferring power, it is merely a high pop-up."

He emphasized, "I used data as a reference but did not become bound by it. The essence of hitting lies in perfectly transferring power to the ball to create 'strong contact,' and this thought has remained unchanged then and now."

Coach Park, who continues his coaching career with the reserve team, offered sincere advice to younger players waiting for opportunities like himself in 2004. Having reached eight months into his coaching tenure, he revealed, "While helping them develop their own motivation, I also take responsibility as much as the players trust me, and sometimes I do not hesitate to offer sharp, honest criticism."

The message Coach Park emphasizes most to players is 'a process without regrets.' He said, "No matter how hard you try, results may not immediately follow. However, if looking back later you are left with the regret of 'I should have worked harder,' that would be truly regrettable." He urged, "At the very least, you must do your best so that no regrets remain within yourself."

He further added affectionate advice: "It is necessary to carefully observe and compare the strengths and weaknesses of players who are similar in physique or position. Through a continuous process of watching and learning, you can grow faster."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original