The family of the late acting president of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Lee Yong-il donated about 650 points, including documents and photos related to the establishment of the KBO.
KBO announced on the 26th that “the family members of the late acting president Lee Yong-il donated about 650 points, including valuable documents and photos related to the establishment of the KBO.” The donation was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the historical value and meaning of Korean professional baseball as it contained vivid records and data from the beginning of the KBO.
Acting President Lee Yong-il served as the secretary-general at the time of the launch of the KBO in 1982, laying the foundation for the Korean professional baseball system. The relics donated this time contain administrative records from the preparation stage of the foundation of professional baseball to the years since then, and you can see the beginning and development process of Korean professional baseball at a glance.
The donated major artifacts include the original Korean Professional Baseball Foundation Plan written in 1981 and about 270 major documents from the founding period, including the eve of the 1982 Korean Professional Baseball Championship and the event plan for the opening ceremony. In addition, certificates of appointment and access to the first secretary-general, baseball notebooks, baseballs, plaques, and medals were donated during the secretary-general’s tenure.
In addition, 10 baseball callers containing the regular season and Korean Series game schedule from 1983 to 1991, 20 KBO publications, including the 1983 KBO yearbook and articles of association, and game schedule pamphlets, and tickets to U.S. Major League Baseball games and baseball cards are included. Various photographs related to the competition and Gunsan High School, which were participated in while attending Seoul National University in 1956, were also donated to provide a view of the late acting president Lee Yong-il’s baseball life and the development history of Korean baseball.
The donated artifacts will be preserved and managed by KBO, and will be used as exhibition and research materials through the Korea Baseball Hall of Fame (Baseball Museum) in the future.
The Korea Baseball Museum (Honor Hall of Fame), a long-cherished dream in the Korean baseball community, began construction in September this year, and construction is underway with the aim of opening in the first half of 2027. KBO plans to collaborate with Gijang-gun for the successful construction and operation of the Korea Baseball Museum (Honorary Hall of Fame) and continue to make efforts to create a space loved by baseball fans.
Meanwhile, KBO is constantly receiving donations of historical artifacts that show the history of Korean baseball’s development. Those who wish to donate can apply by phone or e-mail to the KBO Policy Support Team Museum Part Archive Center.
[Lee Hanjoo, MK Sports Reporter]
