Only .400 hitter in Korean baseball history dies

Baek In-chun, the sole individual to achieve a .400 batting average in a Korean professional baseball season, passed away on Saturday at the age of 83, according to officials. Baek succumbed to his condition at 6:41 a.m. while receiving treatment for a brain hemorrhage at Dankook University Hospital in Cheonan, located approximately 90 kilometers south of Seoul. The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) confirmed his passing.

Baek was discovered in cardiac arrest at his residence in Cheonan early on Friday, leading to his immediate transport to a nearby facility. Upon arrival, medical staff noted that Baek had stopped breathing, prompting the initiation of funeral preparations and the transfer of Baek to Dankook University Hospital, where he had routinely undergone medical examinations.

Remarkably, despite the initial cardiac arrest, Baek's heart commenced beating again, and he was subsequently connected to a respirator on Friday afternoon in the emergency room.

Baek's family reportedly opposed life-sustaining treatment for their beloved former athlete. While sources close to Baek revealed that he had endured four cerebral infarctions in recent years, he had recently completed a regular medical checkup, which was generally well-received.