By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) -- Ahead of his final game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, a historic Seoul ballpark set to be demolished after this year, Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyoung on Monday recounted some fond memories at the venue over his playing and coaching career.
"My first game here came as a college player during the 1988 Olympics," Kim said, before facing the home team Doosan Bears in the two teams' regular-season finale. "Then I joined Doosan. I played for them and later managed the team for years. All told, I have probably spent 30 years of my baseball life here."
Kim spent his entire 12-year playing career with the Bears but did not leave much of a mark as mostly a backup catcher. As the Bears' manager, though, Kim had a wildly successful run, reaching the Korean Series every year from 2015 to 2021 and winning titles in 2015, 2016 and 2019.
"Those were some happy times," Kim said with a smile.
Asked if he felt sad that the stadium, which opened in 1982, will be replaced after this season, the 59-year-old cracked, "I am not really a sentimental type. Plus, I have my own future to worry about. I am not getting emotional about a stadium."
Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyoung tips his cap toward the crowd after defeating the Hanwha Eagles 7-0 in a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in the central city of Daejeon on Sept. 22, 2026, in this file photo provided by the Giants. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
It provided a rare moment of levity in a season that has given Kim and the rest of the Giants little to celebrate.
Kim's three-year contract will expire after this year and the Giants are expected to go in a new direction after failing to make the postseason in all three years under Kim.
"If they wanted to keep me around beyond this year, they would have told me already," Kim said. "I guess we will find out in a couple of days."
This year, the Giants had gone 63-77-3 (wins-losses-ties) before Monday, eighth place in the 10-team Korea Baseball Organization.
"It is just disappointing overall. We did not make one postseason during my three years here. That is the frustrating part," Kim said, turning more serious. "I can sit here and talk about so many different things. But the bottom line is we just never won enough games.
"When I signed my three-year deal, I promised I would turn this team into a championship contender," Kim continued. "And I didn't get it done. I don't want to make excuses. Someone has to take the responsibility. If I had taken this group of players to the postseason, then it would have improved my own stock. But it is my responsibility as manager that I didn't get it done in my three years here."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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