Kia Tigers veteran Choi Hyung-woo jokingly asked that the meaning of the ‘oldest record’ not be emphasized.
“I don’t feel comfortable with the ‘oldest’ label,” Choi said to reporters after he became the oldest Korean player to hit a home run in the KBO League during the 2024 Baseball World Series against the LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Monday.
“I don’t care about the record,” he said, “and I will continue to work hard until the day I retire.
The oldest record can mean both ‘old’ and ‘not losing competitiveness even after age’.
Choi Hyung-woo has defied the odds in the latter sense, and is playing at his best.
Born on December 16, 1983, Choi has been the centerpiece of KIA’s offense in the first half of this season, batting .286 with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs.
He also broke several oldest player records.
In January, Choi became the oldest non-free agent player in history to sign a multi-year contract (1+1 years, totaling 2.2 billion won) with KIA, and on June 6, he was named the oldest Mr. All-Star (Most Valuable Player-MVP) at the Korean Baseball All-Star Game at the age of 40 years, 6 months, and 20 days.
In the first game of the second half, Choi hit a grand slam over the right field fence with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning with LG Electronics leading 5-2 against the opposing team’s third pitcher, Lee Sang-young.
Choi became the oldest Korean player to hit a grand slam at the age of 40 years, 6 months and 23 days, surpassing Lee Dae-ho (40 years, 2 months and 30 days).
If foreign players are included, the record is held by Felix 해외 카지노 사이트 Jose (former Lotte Giants – 41 years, 3 months, 29 days).
Choi went 3-for-5 with three doubles (one home run), five RBIs and two runs scored in the team’s 11-4 victory.
“I’m happier that I hit a game-winning home run against the second-place team than that I became the oldest player to hit a grand slam,” he said, adding, “I’m playing the season with the mindset of just focusing on each game rather than trying to set records.”
Choi dismisses the notion of “record greed,” but he has already set numerous KBO records.
Last year, he became the KBO’s all-time leader in doubles (currently 510) and RBIs (currently 1,620), and this year, he broke the record for most runs batted in (currently 4,127).
There was more. Choi’s five hits on the day brought his RBI total to 78, significantly widening the gap between him and second-place Austin Dean (LG Twins – 72).
If he keeps up his current pace, Choi will become the oldest player in history to reach the RBI plateau.