Former professional baseball player and manager Baek In-chun has died following a brain hemorrhage, according to MBC 뉴스. He passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2026, which is also South Korea's Liberation Day. He was the only hitter in Korean baseball history to record a .400 batting average.
Multiple South Korean outlets, including 한겨레, reported that Baek's pulse had briefly returned before he ultimately succumbed. His funeral will be held with honors befitting a KBO legend, with KBS 뉴스 confirming the arrangements.
Baek In-chun is remembered as a pioneer in Japanese baseball, having played there before returning to dominate in Korea. His .400 batting average season remains an unmatched feat in the league, a record that has stood for decades and is widely considered unbreakable.
Tributes have poured in from across the baseball world. Lee Seung-yuop, the former Samsung Lions star known as the "National Hitter," publicly mourned his mentor. According to 연합뉴스, Lee credited Baek as the person who made his career possible, saying the late manager shaped him into the player he became. Lee also noted that Baek influenced his decision to pursue a career in Japan, a path that defined much of Lee's own legacy.
Baek's death marks the end of an era for Korean baseball, as the sport loses one of its most iconic figures. His contributions as both a player and a manager left a lasting imprint on the game.
What to watch next: The KBO community will likely hold a formal memorial ceremony, with further tributes expected from former players and clubs across the league.
