With the conclusion of the 2009 World Series between the National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies and the American League Champion New York Yankees, the Asian baseball community departs Yankee Stadium with a newfound sense of accomplishment. In a sport that becomes more of a global phenomenon with each passing season, Hideki Matsui, a seven-year veteran outfielder for the New York Yankees, and Chan Ho Park, a seventeen-year veteran pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, have given a new meaning to the title “World Series.”
What a relief: Chan Ho Park.
Playing in his first career World Series, and the second ever for a player of Korean decent, Chan Ho Park became one of the Phillies’ go-to relief pitchers down the stretch, appearing in four of six games while allowing zero earned runs. Park, who turned 36 years-old in June, rides a wave of success into the 2010 season as a durable and now playoff tested middle relief pitcher.
Signed to a one year/$2.5 million contract prior to the 2009 season, Park battled for a spot in the defending champion’s rotation, but after a rough start was relegated to bullpen duties. There, Park seemed to regain his confidence and became one the leagues most effective relievers until a strained hamstring sidelined him from September 16th until his Division Series debut, October 15th, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Whether Park is to remain a part of the Philadelphia Phillies will be determined in the upcoming offseason. Park, who now becomes the first Korean born baseball player to lose in the World Series, will seemingly have plenty of options as many teams will be looking to bolster that portion of their pitching staff. What remains to be seen is whether Park will relish his new relief role, or if he will be seeking a team that provides an opportunity to resume a starting role.
On the other side of the 2009 World Series diamond resided Hideki Matsui. While his World Series performance will always be noted by his Game 6 heroics, Matsui’s overall performance may one day stand as one of the best in World Series history. Playing in his second World Series, Matsui batted .615 with three homeruns and eight RBIs, all three of which were team highs for the World Champion New York Yankees. Nowhere did Matsui shine brighter than in the Yankees title clinching game in which he hit a two-run homerun, a two-run single, and a two-run double, tying Bobby Richardson’s 49 year-old record with six RBIs in a single World Series game.
Matsui, who like Park, enters the 2010 off-season with an expired contract, will now see if the defending champions will offer him a new contract, or if his future fortunes lay with another organization. Crowned the World Series MVP, Matsui becomes the first player of Asian decent, and 11th New York Yankee, to garnish such honors in the 54 year-old history of the award.
World Series MVP Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium.
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One of the the biggest Asian cinema events to hit Southern California opens on May 10. The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, presented by Visual Communications, features the latest works by established and emerging filmmakers, along with seminars, panel discussions and symposiums on topics relevant to Asian Pacific cinema.
Opening Night features “Shanghai Calling,” directed by Daniel Hsia and starring Korean American Daniel Henney, who plays a Chinese American expat lawyer navigating his way through the mean streets of Shanghai (the picture above also indicates he is a raisin smuggler). But does he take off his shirt? Go watch the movie to find out! read more
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