SNU Baseball Team in 2014

It took 27 years for the SNU baseball team, which was founded in 1977, to declare their first victory in 2004. Amateur players from SNU, who by that time had a win-loss record of 0-199, triumphed against a team of professionals from Songwon University. Their story of sportsmanship and perseverance inspired many in and out of the baseball field.

SNU baseball team members train in an environment that values the process more than the results. Although they try their best to win, they do not play just to win. From day one, they are taught the value of considerate behavior on the field. Treating the team’s equipment with care, coming out early to rake the infield regardless of one’s position, and showing respect for other teammates are the things they repeatedly learn in their sessions. Their game scores, which stand in stark contrast to their excellent academic performance, serve as an opportunity for them to learn and move forward. “If asked when our next win would be, we would answer, ‘We’re not sure,’” said one member. “We will never give up even if we lose because we believe that how we play the game is just as important as winning. Playing baseball teaches us something that cannot be found in books.”

SNU Baseball Team in play

Lee Gilho, an SNU baseball team alumnus, is carrying on this spirit on the fields of independent league. On January 2018, he was appointed as the new president of Seoul Journeyman, an independent league team consisting of aspiring major league players. “SNU baseball team has a DNA for perseverance, enabling them to learn and grow from their failures,” President Lee said. “This is exactly what our team needs.”

President Lee is said to have spent most of his college years in the baseball team. Having established a successful career in sales at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), he says he is now looking forward to selling the inspiring story of the SNU baseball team through his team. “There are a lot of people who would buy the story of the legacy of SNU students.”

Source: http://news.joins.com/article/22490889, http://www.snu.ac.kr/videos/2013_baseball_en
Written by Chae Hyun Kim, SNU English Editor, michelle25@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr