Korean Police Baseball Team (Korean: 경찰 야구단) was a South Korean amateur baseball team that existed from 2005 to 2019, and competed in the KBO Futures League from 2006 through 2019.[1] Their home stadium was Byeokje Baseball Stadium in Goyang. The team was controlled by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, which itself is a division of the National Police Agency.
| Police 경찰 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Information | |||||
| League | Futures League | ||||
| Location | Goyang, Gyeonggi-do | ||||
| Ballpark | Byeokje Baseball Stadium | ||||
| Founded | December 1, 2005[1] | ||||
| Folded | August 31, 2019[1] | ||||
| Colors | Blue and white | ||||
| Ownership | Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency | ||||
| Coach | Lee Han-jin (pitching coach)[1] | ||||
| Manager | Yoo Seung-an[1] | ||||
| Uniforms | |||||
| |||||
The Police were not affiliated with any single KBO League team, instead fielding a roster made of players from many of the KBO franchises. Over the Police team's history, however, it had a preponderance of players from the Doosan Bears franchise. Notable KBO League players who at one time served on the Police team included Choi Hyoung-woo, Yang Eui-ji, Min Byung-hun, Jung Soo-bin, Rhee Dae-eun, Son Seung-lak, and Won Jong-hyun.[1]
Structure
editMany professional players who were serving compulsory military service[1] played for the Police team,[2] usually for a term of two seasons. Players were considered part of the auxiliary police, and completed their national duty as police officers after they finished recruit training.[3]
The Korea Baseball Organization provided the Police team about 1.5 billion won ($1.3 million) in operating expenses each year.[1]
History
editThe Police team was the champion of the Northern League division of the Futures League in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
In 2017 the South Korean government announced it was abolishing the auxiliary police by the year 2023; the National Police Agency immediately stopped recruiting athletes and promised to disband its sports teams (including the Police team) by the following year.[3] The Police team was disbanded after the 2019 Futures League season; the team played its final game on July 10, 2019, against the Hanwha Eagles Futures League team.[4]
Altogether, more than 200 players fulfilled their military duties on the Police team during its existence.[1]
Notable former players
edit| Name | Years played | KBO Team |
|---|---|---|
| Byeon Jin-su | 2016–2017 | Doosan Bears |
| Cho Young-hun | 2008–2009 | Samsung Lions |
| Choi Hyoung-woo | 2006–2007 | Samsung Lions |
| Choi Jae-hoon[4] | 2009–2011 | Doosan Bears |
| Han Dong-min | 2014–2016 | SK Wyverns |
| Hong Sang-sam | 2015–2016 | Doosan Bears |
| Hur Kyoung-min | 2010–2011 | Doosan Bears |
| Jang Sung-woo | 2012–2013 | Lotte Giants |
| Jeon Jun-woo | 2015–2016 | Lotte Giants |
| Jung Soo-bin | 2017–2018 | Doosan Bears |
| Kim In-tae | 2014–2015 | Doosan Bears |
| Kim Kang-ryul | 2009–2010 | Doosan Bears |
| Kim Min-woo | 2005–2007 | Woori Heroes[a] |
| Kim Tae-gun[4] | 2018–2019 | NC Dinos |
| Kook Hae-seong | 2009–2012 | Doosan Bears |
| Min Byung-hun | 2011–2012 | Doosan Bears |
| Oh Jeong-bok | 2012–2013 | NC Dinos |
| Park Kun-woo | 2011–2012 | Doosan Bears |
| Rhee Dae-eun | 2017–2018 | KT Wiz |
| Son Seung-lak | 2008–2009 | Woori Heroes[a] |
| Won Jong-hyun | 2015 | NC Dinos |
| Yang Eui-ji[4] | 2008–2009 | Doosan Bears |
See also
editReferences
edit- Notes
- ^ a b Before playing with the Police, played with the Hyundai Unicorns, who went defunct after the 2006 season
- General
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Kim Hyo-Kyung. "Woop-woop! That’s the sound of da Police Team disbanding," Korea JoongAng Daily (July 5, 2019).
- ^ KIM HYO-KYUNG, PARK SO-YOUNG. "Military service looms over KBO," Korea JoongAng Daily (April 16, 2019).
- ^ a b S. Korea baseball community denounces abrupt recruitment halt at police club," The Korea Times (November 14, 2018).
- ^ a b c d Kim Hyo-kyung. "Kim Tae-gun prepares for return to the big leagues," Korea JoongAng Daily (July 5, 2019).
External links
edit
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