Korea’s 2008 Olympic baseball gold medal closer Chong Tae-hyon retires
<p>BUSAN, Republic of Korea — Chong Tae Hyon, the greatest sub-marine pitcher in the history of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), announced his retirement on Wednesday, 21 November, after 17 seasons.</p>
<p>Chong played for the SK Wywerns from 2001 to 2011 and was a key contributor to KBO championship teams in 2007, 2008 and 2010. He signed as a free agent with the Lotte Giants before the 2012 season. Weeks before, he had been offered a 2 year US $ 3.1 million and a spot on the 40 man roster by the Baltimore Orioles, but he failed a physical.</p>
<p>His retirement came after an injury plagued 2016 season (only 24 appearances) and a stint in the Minor Leagues in 2017.</p>
<p>Chong Tae Hyon had a brilliant international career, representing Korea in 2000 (the only amateur player on a bronze medal roster) and 2008 Olympics (he induced the game ending double play in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWO6hKFweRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">gold medal match</a> against Cuba).</p>
<p>He played for his country in the 2006, 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classics, and helped Korea win the inaugural top-tier WBSC Premier12 in 2015.</p>
<p>“Every game that I played wearing the national flag has been a huge honor,” Chong was quoted by the Yonhap News Agency.</p>
<p>Chong Tae Hyon, who turned 39 on 10 November, will remain in baseball: “I’ve never once thought about doing anything not related to baseball. I’d like to become a coach and stay connected to baseball and to fans that way.”</p>
<h4><strong>2008 Olympic Gold Medal Replay</strong></h4>
<p>Watch the full 2008 Olympic Games baseball gold medal game between Korea and Cuba on WBSC’s section on the <a href="https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/playback/gold-medal-baseball-match-beijing-2008/">Olympic Channel</a>:</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/playback/gold-medal-baseball-match-beijing-2008/"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-60313 size-full" src="https://static.wbsc.org/wp-content/uploads/KORvCUB-2008-Olympic-Games-Baseball-Gold-Medal-Game.jpg" alt="" width="632" height="355" /></a></p>
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