SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) -- Baek In-chun, the only player to bat .400 in a South Korean professional baseball season, died Friday at the age of 82, officials said.

According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), Baek was found in cardiac arrest early Friday in his home in Cheonan, some 90 kilometers south of Seoul, and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at around 6:30 a.m.

Baek had suffered four cerebral infarctions in recent years, though sources close to Baek said he had undergone his regular medical checkup in relatively good condition Thursday.

As player-manager for MBC Chungyong (currently the LG Twins) in the inaugural KBO season in 1982, Baek batted .412. He remains the only player in league history to top the hallowed mark in batting average in a season.

In 2014, the Korea Pro Baseball Players Alumni Association created the "Baek In-chun Award" in the former star's honor to recognize the best high school or college hitter each year.

The KBO said it will organize an official funeral for Baek, who went on to serve as hitting coach and manager in the KBO following his playing career. He was named Manager of the Year for the Twins in 1990, when he led them to the Korean Series title.

jeeho@yna.co.kr

(END)

  • BTS' V reveals hearing loss, Jungkook performs through shin injury on world tour
  • From 'BTS Boulevard' to U.S. governor's praise: BTS sweeps N. America on 'Arirang' tour
  • TWICE's Jeongyeon leaves JYP to pursue acting career
  • Gemini, BTS collaboration on display at Las Vegas Sphere

  • Pyeongtaek city fails to reach U.S. military via hotline over reported white phosphorus leak: official

  • BTS' V reveals hearing loss, Jungkook performs through shin injury on world tour

  • From 'BTS Boulevard' to U.S. governor's praise: BTS sweeps N. America on 'Arirang' tour
  • TWICE's Jeongyeon leaves JYP to pursue acting career
  • Pyeongtaek city fails to reach U.S. military via hotline over reported white phosphorus leak: official

  • (LEAD) Pyeongtaek city fails to reach U.S. military via hotline over reported white phosphorus leak: official

  • BTS' V reveals hearing loss, Jungkook performs through shin injury on world tour

  • S. Korea vows to ease regulations to support 3 megaprojects
  • N. Korea again skips missile launch report
  • (2nd LD) Gov't aims to supply over 230,000 additional homes in Seoul metropolitan area to tame housing prices
  • Incheon airport ranks world's No. 1 in int'l passenger traffic in first half