{
  "id": 923468,
  "title": "Only .400 hitter in S. Korean baseball history dies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/only-400-hitter-in-s-korean-baseball-history-dies",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-15T00:03:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yonhap News",
    "slug": "yonhap-news",
    "url": "https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260815000400315"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Baek In-chun, the sole individual to achieve a .400 batting average in South Korean professional baseball history, passed away at the age of 83 on August 15, 2023, according to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The star athlete had been hospitalized in Cheonan, located approximately 90 kilometers south of Seoul, due to a brain hemorrhage. Initially, Baek was found in cardiac arrest in his home, prompting his friend and first-aid responders to initiate funeral arrangements and transport him to Dankook University Hospital. Despite showing signs of life and being connected to a respirator, Baek's family had opted against life-sustaining treatment. The athlete had experienced four cerebral infarctions in recent years; however, he had attended his routine medical examination in relatively good health just a day before his passing. In 1982, Baek served as the player-manager for MBC Chungyong (currently known as the LG Twins) during the inaugural KBO season. He managed to bat .412 during that season, setting a record that no other player in KBO history has managed to break. In 2014, the Korea Pro Baseball Players Alumni Association established the Baek In-chun Award to honor the best high school or college hitter each year. The KBO expressed its intention to conduct an official funeral for Baek, who also later worked as a hitting coach and manager in the KBO after his 23-year playing career in both Japan and South Korea. Baek was recognized as the Manager of the Year for the Twins in 1990, leading them to the Korean Series title.",
  "summary": "SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- Baek In-chun, the only man to bat .400 in a South Kor...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Only .400 hitter in S. Korean baseball history dies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/only-400-hitter-in-s-korean-baseball-history-dies",
        "published": "2026-08-14T00:18:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Only .400 hitter in Korean baseball history dies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/only-400-hitter-in-korean-baseball-history-dies",
        "published": "2026-08-14T01:42:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}