Dae-ho Lee

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Lee Dae-ho

| image = 2017 03 27 프로야구 미디어데이 1 (10).jpg

|image_size=250

|caption= Lee with the Lotte Giants

|position=First baseman

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1982|6|21}}

|birth_place=Busan, South Korea

|debutleague=KBO

|debutyear=2001

|debutdate=September 19

|debutteam=Lotte Giants

|debut2league= NPB

|debut2date= March 30

|debut2year= 2012

|debut2team= Orix Buffaloes

|debut3league= MLB

|debut3date= April 4

|debut3year= 2016

|debut3team= Seattle Mariners

| finalleague = NPB

| finaldate = October 29

| finalyear = 2015

| finalteam = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

| final2league = MLB

| final2date = October 3

| final2year = 2016

| final2team = Seattle Mariners

| final3league = KBO

| final3date = October 8

| final3year = 2022

| final3team = Lotte Giants

|statleague=KBO

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.309

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=374

|stat3label= Runs batted in

|stat3value=1,425

|stat2league= NPB

|stat21label=Batting average

|stat21value= .293

|stat22label=Home runs

|stat22value=98

|stat23label=Runs batted in

|stat23value= 348

| stat3league = MLB

| stat31label = Batting average

| stat31value = .253

| stat32label = Home runs

| stat32value = 14

| stat33label = Runs batted in

| stat33value = 49

|teams=

Lotte Giants ({{baseball year|2001}}–{{baseball year|2011}})
Orix Buffaloes ({{npby|2012}}–{{npby|2013}})
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ({{npby|2014}}–{{npby|2015}})
Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2016}})
Lotte Giants ({{baseball year|2017}}–{{baseball year|2022}})

| awards =

;KBO

KBO MVP (2010)
7× KBO Golden Glove Award (2006–2007, 2010–2011, 2017–2018, 2022)
2× KBO Triple Crown (2006, 2010)

;NPB

RBI leader of PL ({{npby|2012}})
Pacific League Best Nine Award (2012)
3× NPB All-Star (2012–2014)
2× Japan Series Champion (2014, 2015)
Japan Series MVP (2015)

;International

WBSC Premier12 All-World Team (2015)

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{KOR}}}}

}}

{{Infobox Korean name/auto

| hangul = %이대호

| hanja = 李大浩

}}

Lee Dae-ho ({{Korean|hangul=이대호}}; {{IPA|ko|i.dɛ.ɦo}}; born June 21, 1982) is a South Korean professional baseball player who played as a first baseman.{{cite web |title=KBO slugger Lee Dae-ho retires |url=https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20221008/3685570/1 |website=The Dong-a Ilbo |access-date=April 1, 2023 |language=en |date=October 8, 2022}}{{cite web |title=S. Korean baseball legend Lee Dae-ho retires after 22 seasons |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20221008003700315 |website=Yonhap News Agency |access-date=April 1, 2023 |language=en |date=October 8, 2022}} During his career, he played for the Lotte Giants of the KBO League, Orix Buffaloes and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Lee batted and threw right-handed. He hit home runs in nine consecutive games for the first time in world baseball history.[https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2010/08/136_71457.html Lee Dae-ho sets world record with 9 consecutive-game home runs]. Korea Times. Retrieved 7 December 2011. According to a Gallup Korea's survey conducted in 2011, Lee was chosen as the most popular player in the KBO League.{{in lang|ko}} {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120426195226/http://article.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.asp?ctg=14&Total_ID=5271297 최고 인기선수는 이대호]}}

Amateur career

Lee started baseball because of his childhood friendship with Shin-soo Choo. Lee attended Kyungnam High School in Busan, South Korea. At Kyungnam High School, Lee batted fourth and could throw a mid-90s mph fastball as a pitcher. In 2000, he was selected for the South Korean Junior National Team as a pitcher. The team won the 2000 World Junior Baseball Championship in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and Lee led the attack alongside Kim Tae-kyun, Choo Shin-soo (the eventual MVP of this event) and Jeong Keun-woo as a cleanup hitter by racking up 3 home runs. He also finished runner-up behind Joe Mauer of Team USA in batting average (.500).

= Notable international careers=

class="wikitable"
style="background:#0A6EFF"\|Year !style="background:#0A6EFF"\|Venue !style="background:#0A6EFF"\|Competition !style="background:#0A6EFF"\|Team !style="background:#0A6EFF"\|Individual Note
2000 \|{{Bb\|CAN}} \|World Junior Baseball Championship \|style="text-align:center"\| File:Gold medal icon.svg \|.500 BA (15-for-30), 3 HR

class="wikitable"

style="background:#0A6EFF"|Year

!style="background:#0A6EFF"|Venue

!style="background:#0A6EFF"|Competition

!style="background:#0A6EFF"|Team

!style="background:#0A6EFF"|Individual Note

2000

|{{Bb|CAN}}

|World Junior Baseball Championship

|style="text-align:center"| File:Gold medal icon.svg

|.500 BA (15-for-30), 3 HR

Professional career

= KBO League =

==2001 season==

As a rookie, Lee joined the Lotte Giants as a pitcher in 2001. However, following an injury, he was officially changed to a position player for the second half of the 2001 season.

== 2006 season==

In the 2006 season, Lee won the league's Triple Crown with a {{not a typo|.336}} batting average, 26 home runs, and 88 RBIs. This is the second time a hitter has won the Batting Triple Crown in the Korea Professional Baseball league. He finished second in voting for the 2006 MVP behind the Hanhwa Eagles pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, also the winner of the Triple Crown for pitchers in 2006.

== 2008 season==

In 2008, Lee was a member of the South Korea national baseball team that won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, while he had an average of {{not a typo|.360}} (9-for-36), 3 home runs, 10 RBIs, 5 runs, and {{not a typo|.760}} slugging percentage, playing as the designated hitter.

== 2010 season==

On August 13, 2010, Lee wrote a new chapter in Korean baseball by hitting a home run in eight straight games in the league. The eighth home run was hit at an away match against the Kia Tigers in Gwangju in the top of the seventh inning when he sent former Major Leaguer Aquilino López's fifth pitch over the left fence of Moodeung Stadium. This tied the existing record in world professional baseball shared by Ken Griffey Jr. in {{baseball year|1993}}, Don Mattingly in {{baseball year|1987}} and Dale Long in {{baseball year|1956}}.{{cite news

|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100814&content_id=13443670&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

|title= South Korean Dae-ho homers in nine straight

|date=August 14, 2010

|work=MLB.com

|first=Bailey

|last=Stephens

}} On August 14, 2010, Lee set a world record by hitting a home run in his ninth straight game when, in the second inning of Giants' second away match against the Tigers, he blasted a three-run homer off Tigers reliever Kim Hee-girl over the center fence of Moodeung Stadium.{{cite news

|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i809a3k_vff8X6ZAzm3pqeAF1nkw

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817014127/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i809a3k_vff8X6ZAzm3pqeAF1nkw

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=August 17, 2010

|title= S. Korean 'breaks home run world baseball record'

|date=August 14, 2010

|agency=AFP

}} It was his 38th home run of the season. With his 83rd run that year, he set a new Korean League record with a run in 16 consecutive games.

In the 2010 season, Lee enjoyed one of the most dominant offensive seasons in world professional baseball history, leading the KBO in seven offensive categories (batting average, HRs, RBIs, runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and hits), which made him a Septuple Crown winner (7관왕).

== 2011 season==

Lee led the KBO League in batting average (.357), hits (176), and on-base percentage (.433). After the season, he declared free agency and sought out a new challenge.

= Nippon Professional Baseball =

File:Lee Dae-Ho.jpg Lee Dae-ho at QVC Marine Field.]]

In December 2011, Lee signed a two-year contract worth 760 million yen ($9.78 million) with the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball.{{cite web|last=Joo|first=Kyung-don|title=Lee Dae-ho signs with Orix Buffaloes|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2945187|publisher=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=7 December 2011|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130823150419/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2945187|archive-date=23 August 2013}} During his 4 years in the NPB (2012–2015), he recorded the highest OPS rate during this time.

== 2012 season ==

On July 20, 2012, at the Osaka Dome, Lee won the NPB Home-run Derby against Wladimir Balentien of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. He belted 6 home runs while Balentien made no home runs. He was rewarded with 500,000 yen ($6,400). He ended his season with a .286 average, 24 home runs, and 91 RBI.

=Major League Baseball=

== Seattle Mariners ==

File:Dae Ho Lee Mariners 2016 (cropped).jpg

On February 3, 2016, Lee signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball. The Mariners added Lee to the 40-man roster on March 27, 2016.{{cite news |author=Condotta, B. |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-decide-to-keep-1b-dae-ho-lee-and-pitcher-joel-peralta-with-jesus-montero-appearing-headed-off-40-man-roster/ |title=Mariners decide to keep 1B Dae-Ho Lee and pitcher Joel Peralta with Jesus Montero appearing headed off 40-man roster |newspaper=The Seattle Times |date=March 27, 2016 |access-date=March 27, 2016 }}

On April 8, 2016, Lee recorded his first career major league hit, a home run off of Eric Surkamp in a game against the Oakland Athletics.{{cite web|url=http://mynorthwest.com/258/2947273/Video-Mariners-DaeHo-Lee-hits-mammoth-blast-for-first-career-MLB-homer|title=Lee hits first MLB home run|publisher= ESPN Seattle|date=April 8, 2016|access-date=April 9, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/knuckleball-news/mariners-dan-ho-lees-1st-hit-long-ball/|title=Lee's first career MLB hit a home run|publisher= Today's Knuckleball|date=April 8, 2016|access-date=April 9, 2016}} On April 13, 2016, Lee hit a pinch hit walk off home run to beat the Texas Rangers. This was the first rookie pinch hit walk off in Mariners history. On May 4, 2016, Lee hit two home runs in a 9–8 victory over the Oakland Athletics.{{Cite news|url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2016/05/05/0200000000AKR20160505012552007.HTML?from=search|title=Lee hit two times home run in a match|last=Kim|first=seung wook|date=2016-05-05}}

On June 10, 2016, Lee recorded back-to-back home runs off of Derek Holland, totaling 4 RBI to propel the Mariners to a 7–5 victory over the Texas Rangers.{{cite web|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/dae-ho-lee-homers-twice-to-power-mariners-to-win-over-rangers/|title=Dae-ho-Lee homers twice to power Mariners to win over Rangers|publisher= Seattle Times|date=June 10, 2016|access-date=June 11, 2016}}

=Return to the KBO=

==Lotte Giants==

On January 24, 2017, Lee signed a four-year, $12.9 million contract with the Lotte Giants. The contract was the largest for a free agent in KBO history.{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2017/01/662_222647.html|title=Former big leaguer Lee Dae-ho rejoins old Korean club|work=The Korea Times|date=January 24, 2017|access-date=January 24, 2017}} Lee's 2017 season was a success, as he hit {{not a typo|.320}} with 34 home runs and 111 RBIs. He helped Lotte return to the postseason for the first time in five years.

In 2018, he hit .333 with 37 home runs and 125 RBIs. However, in 2019, Lee failed to reach 20 home runs for the first time in 10 years, and was sent to the second division due to injuries.{{Cite web|url=https://news.joins.com/article/23566864|title=이대호 2군행...롯데 탈꼴찌보다 리빌딩?|date=2019-08-30|website=JoongAng Ilbo|language=ko|access-date=2020-04-12}}

On October 8, 2022, Lee's final professional game, he made his first career appearance as a pitcher. In the outing, he got LG Twins closer Go Woo-suk to ground out to him on a comebacker to the mound.{{Cite web|title=S. Korean baseball legend Lee Dae-ho retires after 22 seasons|url=https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20221008003751315|access-date=June 28, 2023|website=m-en.yna.co.kr|language=en}}

Life after retirement

Currently, Lee Dae-ho is working as a broadcaster who appears on various broadcasts after his retirement.{{Cite web |last=tenasia.hankyung.com |first=Digital |title=Lee Dae-ho joins "All the Butlers 2" as a new member of "All the Butlers 2." |url=https://tenasia.hankyung.com/article/2022122740974 |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=텐아시아 연예뉴스 |language=ko}}

"A Clean Sweep" a broadcast program in which retired legendary baseball players gather to play against high school, university, and social baseball teams, is currently his core broadcast activity.{{Cite web |last=Min |first=Jin-Ah |date=2022-11-08 |title=Lee Dae-ho, the 'No.4 hitter', is confirmed to appear in the 'strongest baseball' ·· heralding entertainment performance |url=https://www.ftimes.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=19570 |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=FT스포츠 |language=ko}}

In addition to broadcasting activities, a YouTube channel ([https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPoTjCZvUOkECBNm6ezsVEA 이대호 [RE:DAEHO]]) has been opened to steadily upload baseball-related contents.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-11-22 |title=There is no time to rest even after retirement…Three sports stars who became YouTubers |url=https://www.newsis.com/view/NISX20231120_0002528234 |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=뉴시스 |language=ko}}

Awards and honors

= KBO League =

Source:{{Cite web |title=이대호, 네이버 인물검색 수상경력 |url=https://search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&sm=top_hty&fbm=0&ie=utf8&query=%EC%9D%B4%EB%8C%80%ED%98%B8+%EC%88%98%EC%83%81%EA%B2%BD%EB%A0%A5 |website=네이버(Naver)}}

2005 KBO All-Star MVP
2008 KBO All-Star MVP
2006 KBO Golden Glove Award (1B)
2007 KBO Golden Glove Award (1B)
2010 KBO MVP (regular season MVP)
2010 KBO Golden Glove Award (3B)
2011 KBO Golden Glove Award (1B)
2017 KBO Golden Glove Award (1B)
2018 KBO Golden Glove Award (DH)

= Nippon Professional Baseball =

2012 Pacific League Best Nine Award (1B)

= Local & Media =

2000 Busan Baseball MVP
2004 [https://sports.chosun.com/ Sports Chosun] Player of the Year Achievement Award
2006 [http://www.kpbpa.com/ KPBPA] Player of the Year
2006 Jeil Fire Insurance Pro Baseball MVP
2006 11^th ILGOO MVP
2006 Sports Toto Hitter of the Year
2007 Jeil Fire Insurance Pro Baseball Best Hitter
2009 CJ Magumagu Pro Baseball Charity Golden Glove Award
2010 Choa Pharm Pro Baseball Grand Prize
2010 Sports Toto Player of the Year
2010 Sports Toto Record of the Year
2010 CJ Magumagu ILGOO Best Hitter
2012 ILGOO Special Contribution Award
2012 Choa Pharm Pro Baseball Special Award
2014 Choa Pharm Pro Baseball Special Award

=Achievements=

== KBO League ==

2006 Batting title
2006 Home run title
2006 RBI title
2006 Slugging percentage leader
2006 Triple Crown (BA, HR, RBI title)
2007 Slugging percentage leader
2010 Batting title
2010 Home run title
2010 RBI title
2010 Hits leader
2010 Runs scored leader
2010 Slugging percentage leader
2010 On-base percentage leader
2010 OPS (on-base plus slugging) leader
2010 Triple Crown (BA, HR, RBI title)
2010 Nine consecutive home runs (world record)
2011 Batting title
2011 Hits leader
2011 On-base percentage leader

== Nippon Professional Baseball ==

2012 RBI title

= Notable international careers=

class="wikitable"
style="background:#0A6EFF"\|Year !style="background:#0A6EFF"\|Venue !style="background:#0A6EFF"\|Competition !style="background:#0A6EFF"\|Team !style="background:#0A6EFF"\|Individual Note
2006 \|{{fb\|QAT}} \|Asian Games \|style="text-align:center"\| File:Bronze medal icon.svg \|.409 BA (9-for-22), 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 R
2007 \|{{Bb\|TPE}} \|Asian Baseball Championship \|style="text-align:center"\| File:Silver medal icon.svg \|.000 BA (0-for-4)
2008 \|{{Bb\|TPE}} \|Final Olympic Qualification Tournament \|style="text-align:center"\| File:Silver medal icon.svg \| .393 BA (11-for-28), 8 RBI, 4 R
2008 \|{{Bb\|CHN}} \|Olympic Games \|style="text-align:center"\| File:Gold medal icon.svg \| .360 BA (9-for-25), 3 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R
2009 \|{{Bb\|USA}} \|World Baseball Classic \|style="text-align:center"\| File:Silver medal icon.svg \|.278 BA (5-for-18), 5 RBI, 1 R
2010 \|{{Bb\|CHN}} \|Asian Games \|style="text-align:center"\| File:Gold medal icon.svg \| .368 BA (7-for-19), 1 HR

class="wikitable"

style="background:#0A6EFF"|Year

!style="background:#0A6EFF"|Venue

!style="background:#0A6EFF"|Competition

!style="background:#0A6EFF"|Team

!style="background:#0A6EFF"|Individual Note

2006

|{{fb|QAT}}

|Asian Games

|style="text-align:center"| File:Bronze medal icon.svg

|.409 BA (9-for-22), 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 R

2007

|{{Bb|TPE}}

|Asian Baseball Championship

|style="text-align:center"| File:Silver medal icon.svg

|.000 BA (0-for-4)

2008

|{{Bb|TPE}}

|Final Olympic Qualification Tournament

|style="text-align:center"| File:Silver medal icon.svg

| .393 BA (11-for-28), 8 RBI, 4 R

2008

|{{Bb|CHN}}

|Olympic Games

|style="text-align:center"| File:Gold medal icon.svg

| .360 BA (9-for-25), 3 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R

2009

|{{Bb|USA}}

|World Baseball Classic

|style="text-align:center"| File:Silver medal icon.svg

|.278 BA (5-for-18), 5 RBI, 1 R

2010

|{{Bb|CHN}}

|Asian Games

|style="text-align:center"| File:Gold medal icon.svg

| .368 BA (7-for-19), 1 HR

Media Appearance

style="background:#0A6EFF; width:42px;"\|Year !style="background:#0A6EFF; width:100px;"\|Channel !style="background:#0A6EFF; width:300px;"\|Program !style="background:#0A6EFF; width:200px;"\|Episode(s) / Air Date
class="wikitable"
align=center \|2010	KBS	2 Days & 1 Night	2010.12.12
align=center \|2011	MBC	Golden Fishery	EP 214 & 215
align=center \|2012	KNN	Delicious Asian Food Hunter	2012.09.04
align=center \|2012	KBS	KBS Special	2012.11.04
align=center \|2012	KBS	Win Win	2012.11.11
align=center \|2015	MBC	Radio Star	EP 407
align=center \|2016	KBS N Sports	The Legend: Dream of Chosun's No.4 Hitter	2016.05.02
align=center \|2016	JTBC	Please Take Care of My Refrigerator	EP 106 & 107
align=center \|2016	SBS	Flower Crew	2016.11.27
align=center \|2016	KBS	Happy Together	EP 477
align=center \|2018	SBS	Master in the House	EP 4 & 5
align=center \|2021	SBS	Law of the Jungle	2021.01.16
align=center \|2022	MBC	DNA Mate	2022.06.07
align=center \|2022	tvN	You Quiz on the Block	EP 166
align=center \|2022	MBC	Radio Star	2022.10.26
align=center \|2022	MBN	Hi Bye	2022.11.21
align=center \|2022	JTBC	Mukja Go	2022.11.22
align=center \|2022	SBS	Team Up 072 Season 4	2022.12.07
align=center \|2022	Channel S	Attack of the Sisters	2022.12.07
align=center \|2023	SBS	Master in the House S2	2023.01.01
align=center \|2023	MBC	Buddy into the Wild	EP 106,107,112,113,140,141
align=center \|2023	Channel A	City Fisherman	2023.01.14
align=center \|2023	SBS	Team Up 072 Season 5	2023.03.22
align=center \|2023	JTBC	A Clean Sweep S2	2023.04.10
align=center \|2023	MBC	Where Is My Home	2023.11.23
align=center \|2024	MBC	A Clean Sweep S3	2024.04.15

References

External links

{{baseballstats|mlb=493193|espn=34926|br=l/leeda02|fangraphs=18722|brm=lee---000dae|retro=L/Plee-d004}}

{{sports-reference|le/lee-dae-ho-1}}
[http://eng.koreabaseball.com/Teams/PlayerInfoHitter/Summary.aspx?pcode=71564 Career statistics and player information] from Korea Baseball Organization
{{databaseolympics|LeeDae01}}
[http://story.kakao.com/ch/leedaeho Lee Dae-ho] at KakaoStory {{in lang|ko}}
{{cyworld|29487526}}