Defeated but great manager Ryu Joong-il of Samsung Lions

“Rather than a general with virtue or good luck, I want to be called as the one with wisdom,” Samsung Lions manager Ryu Joong-il said with a smile when his team recorded four consecutive victories last year.

This year, however, he finished Korean Series as a defeated general. “I feel sorry to have failed to make five consecutive triumphs. We heartily congratulate Doosan’s victory. It was a complete defeat of Samsung,” Ryu said.

Outside of press conference room was filled with the song “We are the Champion.” He must have felt uneasy inside as this was the first time that his team lost the victory of Korean Series since he was appointed as the manager in 2011. The sense of frustration was even stronger as his team was almost there to grab the fifth victory in a row. The absence of the “big three” players of a starting pitcher, a set up man and a closing pitcher was critical in missing the victory. There was no such game as the one Samsung has always made. “Coming to the second place in the professional baseball world where only the result speaks for itself can be miserable,” the Samsung manager said without hiding his feeling inside.

Manager Ryu, however, hurried himself to the field, saying, “I should go and celebrate Doosan.” Watching Doosan players in the joy of victory, he called all the coaching staff and players of his team to stand in line and gave a big round of applaud to Doosan Bears manager Kim Tay-hyeong and his players who raised a victory trophy up in the air. The defeated players of Samsung were present at an official award ceremony, which was held more than 20 minutes. This has created a very unusual scene since the award ceremony had been enjoyed by only champion team. It was the beginning of a new tradition in Korean professional baseball game.

The event which was rarely seen in Korea’s professional sports was in fact what manager Ryu has long planned. Deeply impressed by Softbank that congratulated Samsung even after its defeat in 2011 Asia Series, Ryu has always said, “Even if Samsung lost in Korea Series, we plan to be at an official award ceremony to congratulate a winning team.” He hadn’t had a chance to do so up until this time due to his team’s continuous victories. Having failed to record the fifth triumph in a row, what he did deserves to be called as a great general that can be recorded in Korea’s baseball history.

bom@donga.com