What did Choo Shin-soo, who broke the barrier for Asians, choose as the best moments in his career and in the Major League?
‘Choo Choo Train’ Choo Shin-soo (42) has completed a great career of 24 years. Choo Shin-soo’s retirement press conference was held on November 7 at the Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Hotel in Songdo, Incheon. More than 100 media officials attended the event, which was attended by SSG’s teammates Kim Gwang-hyun and Choi Jeong, as well as club executives and staff.
In particular, at the retirement ceremony on this day, sculptures of Choo Shin-soo’s uniform number 17 and the uniforms of each major league team, including the national team, were unveiled. In addition, Choo Shin-soo attracted attention by revealing the ‘Legendary Moments TOP5’, which are the most memorable moments in his career.
news/cms/202411/09/news-p.v1.20241109.71b59c36d64445bda1a5c7acd3252ba4_R.jpg" data-width="650" data-height="433" /> Enlarged photo = Provided by Yonhap News 
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He started his professional career in 2001 and played in a total of 2,814 games in the Major League and KBO League. After continuing his career as a player for 24 years without a break, this season marked the end of the first chapter of his long journey in baseball.
Choo Shin-soo debuted on the professional stage in 2001 and recorded a batting average of 0.275, 1,671 hits, 218 home runs, 782 RBI, 961 runs, and 157 stolen bases in 1,652 games over 16 seasons in the major league. He also achieved the record of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, the symbol of the Hota Jun tribe, three times.
The 7-year, $130 million contract signed with the Texas Rangers ahead of 2014 was the highest contract for an Asian player at the time, and is still the highest contract in Major League history for a Korean player. Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco) followed Choo Shin-soo and broke the $100 million barrier by signing a contract worth $113 million in 2024, but he still could not surpass him.
He overcame prejudice and discrimination on the big league stage, where only Asian players Ichiro Suzuki (retired) had achieved great success, and broke the limitations by playing for a long time as a representative player of the major league. Major league fans who were fascinated by Choo Shin-soo’s play, which was synonymous with hustle play, loved him with the nickname ‘Choo Choo Train’.
Among Choo Shin-soo’s most memorable moments, the TOP 5 were somewhat surprising but relatable choices. Choo Shin-soo cited being selected as a representative Texas player for the 2020 Roberto Clemente Award as one of his best moments.
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Regarding the reason, Choo Shin-soo said, “It’s outside of baseball, but I don’t know 100% of the details about Roberto Clemente’s life, but I grew up listening to how this player contributed to society and how much influence he had since his minor league days. “So I always thought he was a wonderful person,” he said, explaining the background to his affection for this award.
Shin-Soo Choo said, “Until then, I had never played baseball because I was attached to the award and wanted it. “So, when I was nominated, I don’t know why, but I only got to be a candidate, but I still wanted to get to the finals and get selected,” he said.
Even after returning from the American Major League to Korea’s SSG Landers, Choo Shin-soo continues to donate and volunteer for a long time, exerting a positive influence. It was even more meaningful because he was selected as a representative player in honor of his efforts.
The opportunity for sharing started with a small resolution. Choo Shin-soo said, “I lived in the minors in the United States for 7 years. I wasn’t like that from the beginning either. Even though I was going through difficult times in the minors, I saw how major players behave and give when they come down to the minors. “I think I also thought at the time that if I become a major league player, I must give back to society and minor league players.”
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The scene chosen as TOP 4 is the moment when he became the first Asian in the major league to achieve 20-20.
Choo Shin-soo played as right fielder and third hitter in an away game against the Boston Red Sox held at Fenway Park on October 3, 2009 (local time), and made an outside cut from first base with no outs in the top of the 7th inning when the team was down 4-10. He pushed a fastball and hit a two-run home run over the left fence (Green Monster), becoming the first Asian player to achieve 20-20.
Choo Shin-soo played 156 games that year, had 175 hits, a batting average of 0.300, 20 home runs, 21 stolen bases, 86 RBI, 78 walks, and an on-base percentage of 0.394.
With a batting average of 0.489 and an OPS of 0.883, he rose to the ranks of major league players.
Shin-Soo Choo said, “I really wanted to play baseball in the Major League and I thought I could reach it, but I couldn’t because I was so close. “So I never thought I would achieve 20-20,” he said. “I think I hit a home run in Boston in the last 161 games.” I couldn’t explain it in words. It was a situation where I got goosebumps all over my body after hitting a home run and circling the bases. “I think our players were more excited and welcomed me than I was,” he said, recalling that moment.
Regarding being able to grow into such a talented player, Choo Shin-soo said, “I don’t think I was any more special than major league players. Since I wasn’t particularly tall or big, I felt like I had to spend a lot of time on the playground. “I think this result came about because I started earlier than anyone else and swung one more time,” he said.
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TOP3 is the first Asian cycling hit recorded in 2015. In an away game against Colorado held at Coors Field on July 21, 2015 (local time), Choo Shin-soo became the first Asian athlete and the 8th person in Texas history to achieve a cycling hit.
Choo Shin-soo said, “2015 was actually the worst season. Among the 30 major league teams, he was the player with the lowest batting average in the first six weeks. The batting average was less than 100%. I participated in PS at this time, and I remember that my individual and team performance improved after I recorded a cycling hit. “I finished the year with the second-highest batting average in Major League history,” he said, recalling the dramatic turnaround. “More than anything else, being the first Asian player is more meaningful.” “As time goes by, that record can be achieved by players like Ha-seong Kim and Jeong-hoo Lee, so it has meaning in being the first.”
I fought against all kinds of discrimination and prejudice. For that driving force, Choo Shin-soo gave credit to senior major league pioneers. Choo Shin-soo said, “I wasn’t the first Korean player either. There were seniors Chan-ho Park, Hee-seop Choi, and Jae-eung Seo. If those seniors hadn’t pioneered the game, I don’t think I would have attempted to play in the major leagues. Also, I don’t think his dream of playing in the major leagues was that big. “I think I also worked harder and dreamed more because of those seniors,” he said.
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Choo Shin-soo cited the second most brilliant moment of his career as being the longest Asian player and the first Texas player to be on base in 52 consecutive games.
Shin-Soo Choo recorded a heavy hit in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning in a home game against Cleveland held at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas on July 20, 2018 (local time), setting a new record of being on base for 52 consecutive games. This record was the longest by an Asian player, far surpassing Ichiro Suzuki’s previous record of 43 games. It was also the longest record in a single season for the Texas team, breaking Julio Franco’s previous record of 46 games by 6 games.
There were some interesting dramatic situations recorded at the time. Choo Shin-soo said, “It seems simple once you make a record, but when the number of games is long, difficult situations arise. After the 10th game, I remember continuing my record while receiving treatment because my leg was not in good condition. “I didn’t even play defense and just went out as a designated hitter,” he said. “There were situations where the record could have been broken. After recording no hits in 4 at-bats, there was a moment when our pitcher made a blown save and came up to bat, and there was also a time when a strike was belatedly ruled as a ball. I wouldn’t have been able to set the record on my own. “I think I achieved the record because my colleagues helped me that much,” he said.
And regarding such a record-breaking moment, Choo Shin-soo revealed an episode, citing ‘people’s support’ as the strength.
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Choo Shin-soo said, “After the game was over, I thought the next game was a new game and I played baseball like that. Around the tenth game, I ate pho before the game. “From that beginning, we did well, so the players and the front office staff who ate at the same table with me ate together for about 43 games.” They say he ate it. “I think those little thoughts were a big help,” he said.
Lastly, Choo Shin-soo chose SSG Landers’ first wire-to-wire win in the KBO League in 2022, the first and only win of his career, as his best moment.
Choo Shin-soo said, “I think the two letters ‘win’ at the end are the biggest reason. It seems like not only me but many other players are sweating for those two words: winning. If winning is something that is ruled out, there is no need to sweat and be in pain to win. While playing baseball for 34 years, I desperately wanted to win. “I really wanted to do that in the U.S., but when I got to do it in Korea, I chose that as my first moment,” he said.
Choo Shin-soo, who wants to be remembered as a player who was forever crazy about baseball and who was always sincere, has now taken off his active player uniform, but his career in the Major League and in Korea will forever be remembered in the memories of many people.
[김원익 MK스포츠 기자]
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