August 14th, 2010
07:24 AM ET

South Korean breaks world record for home runs

A South Korean baseball player slugged his way into the history books Saturday when his three-run shot in the second inning  broke the world record for consecutive-game home runs in the professional ranks, according to news reports.

Lotte Giants infielder Lee Dae-ho, playing against the Kia Tigers in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, blasted his ninth straight homer in as many games, according to Yonhap News.

On Friday, Lee tied the world record for homers in eight straight games shared by Major League Baseball's Ken Griffey Jr., Don Mattingly and Dale Long. In that game, Lee was bummed because his team lost 10-7.  “Today I feel somewhat unhappy as my team was defeated,’’ Lee said, according to the Korean Times.

"I only tried to hit properly to advance and made it with a homerun. I was also surprised to see the ball pass over the fence,’’ Lee was quoted as saying.

Lee had a .365 batting average going into Saturday's game.

 Post by:
Filed under: Baseball • South Korea • Sports
soundoff (81 Responses)
  1. Name*larry

    give him props even if it was little league it a a huge achievement against any opponent

    August 14, 2010 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
  2. JST

    I am amazed by the arrogance of some of the American baseball fans posting here. Please face the reality! A world record is a world record. Like it, or don't like it.

    August 14, 2010 at 2:53 pm | Report abuse |
    • jansuch

      My son just hit his tenth HR in ten games for his Little League team. A world record is a world record!

      August 14, 2010 at 4:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Daniel

      It is NOT a world record any more than a junior college passing touchdown statistic would overshadow one set in the NFL.

      August 14, 2010 at 4:44 pm | Report abuse |
  3. h3k

    Baseball is at best momentum in Korea. The record attendance is being broken constantly every year and so are the records. Sure it doesn't have the history, money, or the foundation like MLB. But no matter what and how other leagues are compared to the MLB, 9 consecutive homerun is still a milestone in any way. Baseball needs to be globalized to survive, and the fans needs to acknowledge the changes. My congrets to the Korean slugger!

    August 14, 2010 at 3:05 pm | Report abuse |
  4. NegrLeaguer

    k

    August 14, 2010 at 4:22 pm | Report abuse |
  5. NegrLeaguer

    John Miles hit home runs in 11 straight games in the defunct Negr League in the forties. That is the true record so the arguments here are pointless. Also, it is a completely foolish and illogical to bring up the Olympics and the WBC as a gauge for comparing quality because the MLB is composed of the best players from around the world. Never was it said that Americans in the MLB are the best, only that the MLB as a league has far greater talent than any other, which is an obvious truth.

    August 14, 2010 at 4:29 pm | Report abuse |
    • GM

      Then, why hasn't your great MLB recogniized John Miles's work as the world record, and let Ken Griffey Jr., Don Mattingly, and Dale Long shared the record so far?
      You should've argued about it.
      Anyway, the three MLB players had been the world record holders, and now Dae-ho has taken that place.

      August 14, 2010 at 5:27 pm | Report abuse |
    • NegrLeaguer

      "Then, why hasn't your great MLB recogniized John Miles's work as the world record"
      Well, the MLB is most certainly not in the business of recognizing and recording other leagues records, or world records for that matter, hence why MLB record books only have MLB records in them... I have never seen Sadaharu Oh's name at the top of the MLB home run list have you? Even players who moved from the Negr to the MLB had their prior stats erased. You may think the MLB governs the world of baseball and all relevant stats, but they do not, nor will they ever.
      But the argument here on my end is essentially the same as yours... and what you are saying to me is the same as what the MLB fans are saying to you, which makes it seem a bit hypocritical of you. MLBers think that the Korean home run record is cheap as it comes from another league yet you defend it, as you should because it is a professional league and a professionally accomplished feat. Yet when I relate Miles' Negr League record, also professionally accomplished, you take the same stance as the MLB fans have done with the Korean record and discount/ignore it entirely. Not very fair minded of you.
      Miles record is still unbroken, I even had the joy of seing him inducted into the San Antonio sports hall of fame here in 2003. If you honestly think you can discredit and ignore his accomplishment, then MLBers can discredit and ignore Lee Dae-ho's and you have no right to say they cant as you have done the same.
      Believe me when I say that to this single Korean record that MLBers are discounting, there are a hundred Negr League records that they have done the same to.

      August 14, 2010 at 7:02 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Daniel

    This is NOT a record! There's no way to compare Korean pitching with Major League baseball. Absurd!

    August 14, 2010 at 4:42 pm | Report abuse |
    • GM

      You are the very Absurd!
      Both leagues are recognized as professional. No doubt at all.

      August 14, 2010 at 5:29 pm | Report abuse |
  7. I'm korean people

    KBO is as great as MLB.
    Major league baseball has a lot of great players
    However, only in the major leagues is not the only American
    If MLB will be compoed Only of Americans
    The MLB will be not top of baseball. Like right now
    Do the American people to face reality
    의견있으면 나한테 메일보내 양키들아 ㅇㅋ?? OK??

    August 15, 2010 at 12:24 am | Report abuse |
  8. shin

    대호 멋집니다,,,

    롯데 화이팅,,,

    신기록은 계속된다,,

    계속 가자,,연속 홈런,,,

    August 15, 2010 at 12:40 am | Report abuse |
  9. Frank

    can you guys believe that he was pictcher when he was young?
    he is very talented player and he should improve his defending skill if he wants to keep maintaining his form in MLB

    September 24, 2010 at 1:47 am | Report abuse |
  10. G

    x

    May 8, 2011 at 1:56 am | Report abuse |
1 2 3
« Back to main