Choo Shin-soo of the SSG Landers celebrates his RBI single against the Kia Tigers during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southern city of Gwangju on July 14, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — With his final season winding down, SSG Landers star Choo Shin-soo will hold an autograph session at every ballpark in the South Korean baseball league starting next week, the club announced Tuesday.
The Landers said the first signing session for Choo will be held before the Landers’ game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, home of the KT Wiz just out of Seoul, on July 25.
The Landers said Choo wanted to share memories of his final season with fans across the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The autograph sessions will be held during the Landers’ final series at each road stadium.
“I’ve had ups and downs throughout my long professional career, and at every turn, love and support from my fans helped me get back on my feet,” Choo said. “I am pleased to have this opportunity to see my fans for one last time.”
Choo, 42, plans to retire after the end of the ongoing season. He signed with the Landers in early 2021, following 16 years in Major League Baseball (MLB). An All-Star for the Texas Rangers in 2018, Choo owns the record for most home runs by an Asian-born player in MLB history with 218.
Choo had 21 home runs and 25 steals in his first KBO season in 2021, becoming the oldest player in the league to join the 20-20 club. He then helped the Landers win the Korean Series title in 2022.
This year, he has been slowed by injuries and has only played in 47 of the club’s 90 games. He has taken on captaincy for this season and is playing on the league minimum salary of 30 million won (US$21,650), all of which he will donate to charities.
After Suwon, Choo will meet with fans at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu on Aug. 2, and then sign autographs at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, home of the Kiwoom Heroes, on Aug. 7. The tour will take Choo to Changwon NC Park, the NC Dinos’ home in the southeastern city of Changwon, on Aug. 15. Six days later, Choo will greet fans at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul before the Landers play the LG Twins. On Aug. 28, Choo will have his session at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southern city of Gwangju, ahead of a tilt against the Kia Tigers.
Sessions for games against the Doosan Bears in Seoul, the Lotte Giants in Busan, and the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon will be determined at a later date, the Landers said.
Choo will meet with his home fans in the Landers’ final regular season home game at Incheon SSG Landers Field.
All autograph sessions are free but fans must reserve their tickets online at www.ticketlink.co.kr/sports. Tickets will open four days before each session, and participants will each receive a Choo Shin-soo card.
Those wishing to attend the session at Incheon SSG Landers Field must book their tickets at the team’s official app, SSG Landers.
(Yonhap)
