1983 Korean Series

The 1983 Korean Series was the second Korean Series. It was the first to feature a sweep (discounting a tie) and also the first of nine titles by the Haitai Tigers during the 20th Century. Tigers infielder Bong-yun Kim was named Korean Series MVP after hitting .474 with eight RBI.

The Tigers had gone 55-44-1 in the regular season for manager Eung-yong Kim. They had won the first half of the schedule but were only .500 in the second half. Jong-mo Kim (.350/.404/.524) was a Gold Glove outfielder and had finished second in the league in average and OBP. Other contributors were Bong-yun Kim (.280/.371/.552, 22 HR), Sung-han Kim (.327/.401/.448) and Il-kwon Kim (.275/.345/.361, a league-high 48 SB) on offense and Sang-yun Lee (20-10, 6 Sv, 2.67) and Yong-nam Kim (13-10, Sv, 2.83) on the mound.

The MBC Blue Dragons had won the second half schedule, finishing the season just behind Haitai at 55-43-2. Their skipper was Dong-yeop Kim. The offense was led by Jong-do Lee (.296/.370/.452), Hae-chang Lee (.294/.367/.430) and Gold Glove SS Jae-pak Kim (.290/.373/.399, 34 SB). On the mound, they had ERA leader Ki-ryong Ha (10-11, 4 Sv, 2.33), with Jong-kyeom Yoo (8-7, 5 Sv, 2.40) right behind.

In game one, on October 15, Haitai won 7-4 behind Sang-yun Lee. Yong-nam Kim beat Yoo in game two, a 8-4 victory the next day. On the 18th, the Tigers got a 3-run homer from Bong-yun Kim in a 5-3 win, Toshoku Uda notching the win and Sang-yun Lee getting a save. On the 19th, the teams battled to a 1-1, 15-inning tie, Haitai blowing a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 9th. The two clubs combined for 28 hits, but apparently stranded many runners. On the 20th, Uda won again for the Tigers, a 8-1 victory over long-time Mexican League star Wong-kuk Lee. Sang-yun Lee got his second save of the Series.

Sources include Wikipedia