Only .400 hitter in Korean baseball history dies

Baek In-chun, the sole player in Korean baseball history to achieve a .400 batting average in a single season, passed away on Friday at the age of 82, according to officials. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) reported that the former star was discovered in cardiac arrest in his Cheonan home early Friday morning and was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 6:30 a.m. Baek had been diagnosed with four cerebral infarctions in recent years, though acquaintances stated he had appeared to be in relatively good health during his routine medical examination on Thursday.

As both player-manager and hitting coach for MBC Chungyong (now known as the LG Twins) during the KBO's inaugural season in 1982, Baek posted a .412 average, remaining the only player in league history to surpass the benchmark in batting average during a season. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport, the Korea Pro Baseball Players Alumni Association established the Baek In-chun Award in 2014 to honor the top high school or college hitter annually.

The KBO announced plans to conduct a formal funeral service for Baek, who later transitioned into a role as a hitting coach and manager within the KBO organization.