Kim Gets Record Deal to Manage LG

“You need to have good results to show in order to play exciting baseball. I really want to win within the three years of the contract.”

Coach Kim Jae-bak (Age 52), the ‘Fox of the Ground’ has grabbed the baton to lead the LG Twins baseball team. At the head coach inauguration held at the baseball team’s office in Jamsil Baseball Stadium on October 23, Coach Kim spoke about how it felt to return home to LG, and added that, “It’s good to be in Seoul.” Coach Kim had excellent results in MBC, the former team of LG, and after the season in 1991 switched over to Pacific Corporation.

Coach Kim is well known as a great captain who took the place as head coach for Hyundai in 1996, recorded four wins in the Korean Series, and led the team into post-season games eight times. LG was humiliated by coming in last this season, the first time since they were established, and has brought in Kim to secure wins, promising him the best treatment given to previous professional baseball coaches with an advance contract payment of 500 million won and an annual salary of 350 million won, which adds up to a total of 1.55 billion won over three years.

At the inauguration, reporters most wanted to know whether the exciting baseball that LG was aiming for and Coach Kim’s strategic baseball, which is well known for bunts, are able to go together. But Coach Kim was firm. He said, “In order to stay alive in the pros, you must come in first place. Even if it is just to get the players to do team play, bunting is absolutely necessary depending on the circumstances.” This implied that his style of baseball is not going to change with his switch of teams.

Coach Kim’s comments on LG as an onlooker was, “I felt that team play was shaky and not working well. To start with, I’m going to concentrate on strengthening teamwork.” He added that “I need coaches that I have worked closely with. I plan to form the coaching staff as the Korean Series comes to an end.”

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