Lee Dae-ho, a legendary player with a lifetime batting average of .390 (7,118 at-bats, 2,199 hits), 374 home runs, and 1,425 RBIs, sent a coffee truck to Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 14th for the retirement ceremony of his 'close friend' Choo Shin-soo (an aide to the owner of the SSG Landers).
Lee Dae-ho left a message on his social media, saying, 'Shin-soo, the best player in Korea and my eternal friend. You have worked hard all this time, and congratulations on your retirement ceremony. I will support you on your future path.'
Lee Dae-ho and Choo Shin-soo started playing baseball together in 3rd grade at Suyeong Elementary School, but they moved to different schools from middle school. Lee attended Daedong Middle School and Gyeongnam High School, while Choo went through Busan Middle School and Busan High School, forming a rivalry.
During their school years, they displayed outstanding abilities as both pitchers and batters, taking turns competing against each other. They led the team to victory at the 2000 World Youth Baseball Championship in Edmonton, Canada, contributed to the runner-up at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and won a gold medal at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
It was rare to see them playing in the same league. After graduating from high school, Lee Dae-ho joined his hometown team, Lotte, and grew into a marquee hitter, while Choo Shin-soo moved to the United States after high school. Lee Dae-ho played in the same league during his one-year stint with the Seattle Mariners in 2016.
Choo Shin-soo joined SSG in 2021, and they played together in the KBO League for two years.
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