Best Day for Big Choi

`Big Choi" is rewriting the Asian players` home run history of the Major League.

In Wrigley Field, Chicago, the home ground, Choi Hee-seop hit his fourth home run on the season against Cincinnati Reds during the bottom of the third inning. The ball count was 1-2 and Choi hit a sole home run, which flew 111m straightly into the left field stands when Reds starter Jimmy Haynes threw 142km/h of a high straight ball in the middle.

So Choi became the first Asian player to hit home runs in three games consecutively and followed up with the baseball superstar, Sammy Sosa who also his three home runs in three games consecutively. It makes only two home runs of difference with the Austin Kearns(6 home runs, Cincinnati).

The first home run by Asian was recorded by the LA Dodgers` pitcher Hideo Nomo at the Milwaukee ground on April 28th, 1998 and the first home run by Korean was hit by Park Chan-ho when he was in LA Dodgers at the Montreal ground on August 25th, 2000. So far Shiju Suyoshi (San Francisco Giants) hit 19 home runs which is the most number of home runs among the Asian players. Ichiro(Seattle Mariners) and Choi hit 17 and 6 respectively so far.

Choi played an excellent game with a base on balls, one run, one hits in three at bat, and 2 scores. Overcoming the no his no run slump in the recent 4 games, Choi compiled 0.500 batting average with 4 hits, 4 runs with 6 four balls as well as 3 consecutive home runs with Cincinnati Reds.

Choi`s season batting average went up to 0.281 (8 hits in 32) and recorded 8 hits, 13 scores, 15 four balls. Choi could not play many games because of the director Dusty Baker`s platoon system which makes him shift with Eric Karros., however, he is now on the 5th on four balls, the rate of getting on base is on the second in the league after Sosa.

Hwan-Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com