Helps for Lim Soo-hyuk Coming from All Quarters

Lim Soo-hyuk (33), a former Lotte catcher, collapsed two years ago in the middle of a game due to the myocardial infarction. The disease has tied him up in bed for more than 2 years. Now, help is pouring in from all quarters, filling the hearts of the people in the baseball industry with warmness.

The Professional Baseball Players` Association has been hosting a charity auction to raise fund for Lim. Many fans have shown their whole-hearted supports for it. Therefore, the association has decided to hold one more auction.

The third auction that ended yesterday has raised the largest amount of money with many interesting items like the glove of Chan Ho Park (Texas Rangers). Park`s glove, on which his name is written and was manufactured by Rolling, Inc., was sold for the highest price, or \3.6 million (approximately $3,000), among the 8 items put up for auction on that day. In addition, the ball bearing his autograph sold for \888,000 (approximately $740).

Yesterday, Park visited Korea again via the Incheon International Airport. He plans to visit the buyers of the items and Lee at Kangdong Sungshim Hospital next week. He will also visit Park Seung-il, former coach of the pro basketball team Mobis who has been suffering from the Lou Gehrig`s Disease.

Other than Park, many celebrities chipped in. For example, Lee Man-soo (Bullpen coach of Chicago White Socks) put out his mitt, which was sold for \400,000; Lee Seung-yop donated his uniform, which in turn sold for \450,000; and Alex Rodriguez, the Major Leaguer commanding the highest salary in US, gave out his signed ball, which sold for \380,000.

The third auction alone has raked in \6.4 million. Adding it up with the money collected through the first two auctions, the total comes to more than \10 million (approximately, $8,300). Living up to the expectation and cooperation of the fans, in the fourth auction to be held from Dec. 4th to 10th, other star players in other fields will participate. For example, Byung Hyun Kim (Arizona Diamondbacks) promises to chip in his uniform, and Choi Kyung-joo, a famous golfer in the US PGA, will donate his favorite items. In addition, Hong Myung-bo, former caption of the World Cup team who now plays in LA Galaxies, is supposed to put up his uniform for auction.

In the meanwhile, Lim`s former teammates will hold a special bazaar in Busan on Dec. 6th. They will run a restaurant, which is located in front of Busan Univ., for one day, holding a bazaar at the time. They will serve customers and sell their uniforms and signed balls. All the profits from the event will go to the family of Lim. In the ceremony, singer Won Mi-yon will also participate.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com