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KIA Tigers Emblem 2021

Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0 series record and a 40-12-2 game record. After the success of the 1980s and 90's, the fortunes of the team began to turn, resulting in them finishing bottom of the league for the first time in 2005, and again in 2007. In 2009, However, Kia Tigers won the 2009 KBO season and 2009 Korean Series. They were previously known as the Haitai Tigers (해태 타이거즈). Their home stadium is Gwangju Kia Champions Field in Gwangju.

History[]

1982 Season[]

Haitai Tigers was third professional baseball team to be created in Korea, next to OB Bears and MBC Blue Dragons, founded on January 30 of 1982 with 14 players. Kim Dong-Yup, the first manager of the team was fired after just one month, and Jo Chang-Soo took over his position and led the team to 38 wins 42 losses. Due to the lack of position players, many players in the league both pitched and batted. Kim Sung-Han of the Tigers set an interesting record of 10 wins and highest RBI the first year.

1983 ~ 1985 " Kim Eung-Ryong's First Three Seasons[]

Haitai Tigers hired Kim Eung-Ryong as manager, who studied baseball in the USA, eventually led the team to its first victory in 1983. The Tigers won the Korean Series with 4 wins and 1 tie-game against the MBC Blue Dragons (currently LG Twins). Although the team did not make it to the playoffs for the next two years, it set the foundation for the golden years to come by signing in future megastars Lee Soon-Chul, Sun Dong-Yeol and Kim Sung-Han. Bang Soo-Won pitched the first no-hit-no-run game in Korean baseball history in 1984 against the Sammi Superstars.

1986 ~ 1997 : Haitai Tigers Dynasty – Sun Dong-Yeol and Lee Jong-Beom[]

In 1986, the Tigers finished in 2nd place in the pennant race with a team ERA of 2.86 and BA of 2.72 to go straight to the Korean Series against the Samsung Lions. They went on to win their second Korean Series win with 4 wins and 1 loss. Until 1989, the Haitai Tigers won once more against the Samsung Lions and twice against the Bingrae Eagles (current Hanwha Eagles) to make an astonishing four consecutive Korean Series wins. King Jung-Soo, Kim Joon-Hwan, Moon Hye-Soo, Park Chul-Woo respectively were named MVPs of each series. Haitai Tigers lost the playoffs to Samsung Lions in 1990, but won the next Korean series the following year. In 1991, the Tigers set a record of 6 out of 10 golden glove winners. 1993 was the year of rookie shortstop Lee Jong-Beom, closer Sun Dong-Yeol and starters Lee Dae-Jin and Lee Gang-Chul. The Tigers won 81 out of 126 pennant race games and also their 7th Korean Series. In 1994, Lee Jong-Beom batted an average of 0.393, the second highest in Korean baseball history, but the team lost the semi-playoffs to the Hanhwa Eagles. The Tigers ended up in 4th the next year due to Lee Jong-Beom and Lee Dae-Jin leaving the team for military service, which is mandatory for all male Koreans over 18. Star closer Sun Dong-Yeol was also transferred to the Chunichi Dragons in 1996, but Lim Chang-Yong and Gang Tae-Won filled in his position to lead the team to its 8th Korean Series win over the Hyundai Unicorns. The next year, Lee Jong-Beom and Lee Dae-Jin returned from military service and with their help the Tigers again won the Korean Series to bring the total to nine champion wins.

1998 ~ 2001 : The Decline of the Dynasty[]

Due to the Asian financial crisis in 1998, Haitai was forced to sell the team to Kia in 2001. Until then the Tigers which was also in financial difficulty, could not keep its major players to stay. Eventually they lost Lee Jong-Beom to the Chunichi Dragons, and closer Lim Chang-Yong and manager Kim Eung-Ryong to the Samsung Lions.

2001 ~ 2004 : Kim Sung-Han[]

Lee Jong-Beom returned from Japan, and rookies Hong Se-Wan, catcher Kim Sang-Hoon and pitcher Kim Jin-Woo joined between 2001 and 2002 to lead the team to the playoffs for three years from 2002 to 2004. But each time they were beaten by LG Twins, SK Wyverns, and Doosan Bears respectively.

2005 ~ 2008 : Dark Age[]

Kia Tigers lost 76 games to end up in an embarrassing 8th place in 2005. Manager Yoo Nam-Ho was fired and Seo Jung-Hwan took charge, but again ended up in last place in 2007 despite his effort and joining of former MLB player Choi Hee-Seop. Battery coach Cho Beom-Hyun was promoted to the new manager in June 2007. Former MLB pitcher Seo Jae-Weong joined the team the next year in 2008, but because of a weak lineup, unstable defense and bullpen problems, the Tigers finished the pennant race in 6th place.

2009 : The Renaissance of the Dynasty[]

2009 started off uneasily for the Tigers, and it looked as if the strong starting rotation of Rick Guttormson, Aquilino Lopez, Yoon Suk-Min, and Yang Hyeon-Jong was going to go unaided by the batting lineup. But with Lee Jong-Beom’s leadership and Choi Hee-Seop’s revival from his three year long slump, and Kim Sang-Hyun’s amazing batting, the Tigers won the pennant race with the second lowest team ERA of 3.92 and win percentage of 0.609. Kia Tigers won the 2009 KBO season and 2009 Korean Series, which is the first double victory since 1997. 24 year old Outfielder Na Ji-Wan was named the series MVP.

2012-2015: Second Dark Age[]

October 18, 2011 Sun Dong-Yeol & Lee Sun-Cheol is return Tigers. Sun Dong-Yoel is New Manager of Tigers. Lee Sun-Choel is New Head Coach of Tigers.

On October 28, 2014, the club announced that Kim Ki-tae, born in Gwangju, would be their new manager, having signed a 3-year deal. In 2013, Kim led the LG Twins to their first post-season in 11 years, but quit just a month into the new season. As a player, Kim led the League in home runs (1994) and won the batting title in 1997. After retiring, Kim was voted the league's best ever designated hitter.


2017: 11th Championship Win[]

In 2017, the club, as the regular-season champions, automatically advanced to the Korean Series. They played the winner of the playoff series, the Doosan Bears, who defeated the NC Dinos in the playoff. Kia won the best-of-seven series, 4–1. Yang Hyeon-jong was named the series' most valuable player.

Season Records[]

Year Team Rank Games W L Win%
1982 Haitai Tigers 4 80 38 42 .475
1983 Haitai Tigers 1 100 55 44 .556
1984 Haitai Tigers 5 100 43 54 .443
1985 Haitai Tigers 3 110 57 52 .523
1986 Haitai Tigers 1 108 67 37 .644
1987 Haitai Tigers 2 108 55 48 .532
1988 Haitai Tigers 1 108 68 38 .639
1989 Haitai Tigers 1 120 65 51 .558
1990 Haitai Tigers 3 120 68 49 .579
1991 Haitai Tigers 1 126 79 42 .647
1992 Haitai Tigers 3 126 71 54 .567
1993 Haitai Tigers 1 126 81 42 .655
1994 Haitai Tigers 4 126 65 59 .524
1995 Haitai Tigers 4 126 64 58 .524
1996 Haitai Tigers 1 126 73 51 .587
1997 Haitai Tigers 1 126 75 50 .599
1998 Haitai Tigers 5 126 61 64 .488
1999 Haitai Tigers 7 132 60 69 .465
2000 Haitai Tigers 4 133 57 72 .442
2001 Kia Tigers 5 133 60 68 .469
2002 Kia Tigers 3 133 78 51 .605
2003 Kia Tigers 3 133 78 50 .609
2004 Kia Tigers 4 133 67 61 .523
2005 Kia Tigers 8 126 49 76 .392
2006 Kia Tigers 4 126 64 59 .520
2007 Kia Tigers 8 126 51 74 .408
2008 Kia Tigers 6 126 57 69 .452
2009 Kia Tigers 1 133 81 48 .609
2010 Kia Tigers 5 133 59 74 .444
2011 Kia Tigers 4 133 70 63 .526
2012 Kia Tigers 5 133 62 65 .488
2013 Kia Tigers 8 128 51 74 .408
2014 Kia Tigers 8 128 54 74 .422
2015 Kia Tigers 7 144 67 77 .465
2016 Kia Tigers 5 144 70 73 .490
2017 Kia Tigers 1 144 87 56 .608
2018 Kia Tigers 5 144 70 74 .486
2019 Kia Tigers 7 144 62 80 .437

Future League Season by Season Records (Since 2014 ~ )[]

Year Rank Games W L D Win%
2013 6 100 41 53 6 .436
2014 6 93 34 49 10 .410
2015 4 102 42 54 6 .438
2016 4 96 44 46 6 .489
2017 2 93 48 40 5 .545
2018 4 96 41 45 10 .477
2019 3 95 40 42 13 .488

2022Kia Tigers Roster[]

  • Start Pitcher
  • -- Lim Ki-Yeong
  • -- Han Seung-Hyeok
  • -- Yang Hyeon-Jong
  • -- Ronnie Williams
  • -- Sean Nolin
  • Bullpen Pitchers
  • -- Jang Hyeon-Sik
  • -- Kim Hyeoun-Su
  • -- Hong Sang-Sam
  • -- Park Jun-Pyo
  • 28 Ko Young-Chang
  • 14 Kim Joon
  • -- Choi Hyun-Jeong 
  • -- Jeon Sang-Hyeon
  • Close Pitchers
  • -- Jeong Hae-Yeong
  • Infielder
  • -- Hwang Dae-In
  • -- Ryu Ji-Hyeok
  • 3 Kim Sun-Bin
  • -- Choi Jung-Min
  • -- No Gwan-Hyun
  • -- Choi Jung-Yong
  • Outfielders
  • 34 Choi Hyeong-Woo
  • -- Go Jong-Wook
  • -- Na Sung-Beom
  • -- Socrates Britto
  • -- Lee Woo-Seong
  • 29 Na Ji-Wan
  • Catchers
  • -- Han Jun-Soo
  • -- Park Dong-Won
  • 22 Shin Beom-Soo
  • 42 Han Seung-Taek
  • 32 Kim Min-Sik
  • Inactive Pitchers
  • 50 Park Ki-Chul
  • -- Lee Yoon-Hak
  • 66 Han Seung-Hyuk
  • -- Lee Jun-Young
  • Inactive Infielders
  • 58 Jung Sang-Kyo
  • Inactive Outfielders
  • -- #Choi Won-Jun
  • Inactive Catchers
  • 94 Kim Min-Sub
  • 30 Kim Tae-Hoon
  • 93 Han Sung-Koo 
  • Rookie Pitchers
  • Rookie Infielders
  • Rookie Outfielders
  • Rookie Catchers



  • General Manager
  • Cho Kye-Hyeon
  • Manager
  • 74 Kim Jong-Kook
  • Coaches
  • -- Jin Gab-Yong (general 1st head coach)
  • 98 Seo Jae-Eung (general 1st pitching)
  • -- Kwak Jung-Cheol (general 1st pitching)
  • -- Lee Beom-Ho (general 1st hitting)
  • -- Choi Hee-Seob (general 1st hitting)
  • 72 Kim Min-Ho (general 1st defense)
  • -- Lee Hyun-Gon (general 1st base running)
  • -- Bang Seok-Ho (general 1st power analysing)
  • -- Song Ji-Man (general 2nd hitting)
  • -- Yang Il-Hwan (general 2nd pitching)
  • -- Kim Min-Woo (general 2nd base running)
  • -- Na Ju-Hwan
  • 92 Kim Sang-Hoon (general 2nd battery)
  • -- Lee In Haeng (general 2nd power analysing)
  • -- Jang Tae-Soo (general 3rd Head coach)
  • -- Ryu Taek-Hyun (general 3rd pitching)
  • -- Kim Sun-Jin (general 3rd hitting)
  • -- Yun Hae-Jin (general 3rd defense)
  • † Disabled list
    * Suspended list
    # Military list

Roster updated 2021-12-23

External links[]

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