# Samsung Lions

Active departments of Samsung Sports :
| Football | Baseball | Volleyball |
| Basketball (men's) | Basketball (women's) | |
Defunct departments of Samsung Sports :
| Rugby Union | Esports |
The Samsung Lions (Korean: 삼성 라이온즈) are a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in the southeastern city of Daegu and are members of the KBO League. Their home stadium is Daegu Samsung Lions Park. They have won the Korean Championship eight times, and also finished as runners-up on eleven occasions. The Samsung Lions are the first team to win four consecutive Korean Series titles (2011–2014), and are also the first team to win the regular season league title for five consecutive years (2011–2015).

## History

The Samsung Lions were founded in 1982 as one of the original six KBO League teams. They won their first championship in 1985, going 40-14-1 in the first half and 37-18 in the second half for a total of 77–32 for the best one-season winning percentage in KBO League history (a record that still stands). The 1985 team had two 25-game-winners on their staff, Kim Si-jin and Kim ll-young; as the Lions were winners of both half-season pennants that year, no Korean Series was held and the Lions were declared champions outright.
The Lions would also win the championship in 2002, 2005 and 2006, having the best record in each one of those years. In 2010, Ryu Jung-il was hired as the new manager of the Samsung Lions. He led the team to the best record in the league and its fifth KBO title in 2011. After the KBO League, the Samsung Lions won the Asian Series championship. The Samsung Lions became the first team to win the pennant race, the Korean Series, and the Asian Series in the same year.
In 2012, one of the most notable players on the team, Lee Seung-yuop, returned to South Korea from Japan. With his help, the Samsung Lions won their sixth championship in the 2012 season. They won another two championships in 2013 and 2014, for a total of eight Korean Series championships. In 2016, Samsung Lions moved to their new stadium, Daegu Samsung Lions Park.

## Season-by-season records

| Season | Stadium | League | Finish | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Postseason | Awards |
| Season | Stadium | League | Finish | Rank | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win% | BA | HR | ERA | Postseason | Awards |
| 1982 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/6 | 2/6 | 40 | 26 | 14 | 0 | .650 | .266 | 57 | 2.70 | Lost Korean Series vs. OB Bears (1–1–4) | |
| 1982 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/6 | 1/6 | 40 | 28 | 12 | 0 | .700 | .266 | 57 | 2.70 | Lost Korean Series vs. OB Bears (1–1–4) | |
| 1983 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 4/6 | 5/6 | 50 | 21 | 26 | 3 | .447 | .263 | 90 | 3.42 | Did not qualify | Lee Man-soo (MVP) |
| 1983 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 4/6 | 2/6 | 50 | 25 | 24 | 1 | .510 | .263 | 90 | 3.42 | Did not qualify | Lee Man-soo (MVP) |
| 1984 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/6 | 1/6 | 50 | 32 | 18 | 0 | .640 | .270 | 78 | 3.35 | Lost Korean Series vs. Lotte Giants (3–4) | |
| 1984 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/6 | 5/6 | 50 | 23 | 27 | 0 | .460 | .270 | 78 | 3.35 | Lost Korean Series vs. Lotte Giants (3–4) | |
| 1985 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 1/6 | 1/6 | 55 | 40 | 14 | 1 | .741 | .276 | 97 | 2.98 | Not held | |
| 1985 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 1/6 | 1/6 | 55 | 37 | 18 | 0 | .673 | .276 | 97 | 2.98 | Not held | |
| 1986 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/7 | 1/7 | 54 | 39 | 15 | 0 | .722 | .276 | 74 | 2.95 | Won playoff vs. OB Bears (3–2) Lost Korean Series vs. Haitai Tigers (1–4) | |
| 1986 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/7 | 4/7 | 54 | 31 | 22 | 1 | .585 | .276 | 74 | 2.95 | Won playoff vs. OB Bears (3–2) Lost Korean Series vs. Haitai Tigers (1–4) | |
| 1987 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/7 | 1/7 | 54 | 33 | 21 | 0 | .611 | .300 | 105 | 3.58 | Lost Korean Series vs. Haitai Tigers (0–4) | Jang Hyo-jo (MVP) |
| 1987 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/7 | 1/7 | 54 | 31 | 23 | 0 | .444 | .300 | 105 | 3.58 | Lost Korean Series vs. Haitai Tigers (0–4) | Jang Hyo-jo (MVP) |
| 1988 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 3/7 | 5/7 | 54 | 23 | 30 | 1 | .435 | .278 | 85 | 4.18 | Lost playoff vs. Binggrae Eagles (0–3) | |
| 1988 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 3/7 | 2/7 | 54 | 33 | 20 | 1 | .620 | .278 | 85 | 4.18 | Lost playoff vs. Binggrae Eagles (0–3) | |
| 1989 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 4/7 | 4/7 | 120 | 57 | 58 | 5 | .496 | .272 | 96 | 4.42 | Did not qualify | |
| 1990 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/7 | 2/7 | 120 | 66 | 52 | 2 | .558 | .263 | 131 | 4.13 | Won semi-playoff vs. Binggrae Eagles (2–0) Won playoff vs. Haitai Tigers (3–0) Lost Korean Series vs. LG Twins (0–4) | |
| 1991 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 3/8 | 3/8 | 126 | 70 | 55 | 1 | .560 | .272 | 108 | 4.23 | Won semi-playoff vs. Lotte Giants (2–1–1) Lost playoff vs. Binggrae Eagles (1–3) | |
| 1992 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 4/8 | 4/8 | 126 | 67 | 57 | 2 | .540 | .265 | 124 | 4.55 | Lost semi-playoff vs. Lotte Giants (0–2) | |
| 1993 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/8 | 2/8 | 126 | 73 | 48 | 5 | .599 | .268 | 133 | 2.95 | Won playoff vs. LG Twins (3–2) Lost Korean Series vs. Haitai Tigers (2–1–4) | Kim Seong-rae (MVP) Yang Joon-hyuk (ROTY) |
| 1994 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 5/8 | 5/8 | 126 | 60 | 64 | 2 | .484 | .260 | 106 | 3.47 | Did not qualify | |
| 1995 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 5/8 | 5/8 | 126 | 60 | 60 | 6 | .500 | .250 | 94 | 3.90 | Did not qualify | Lee Dong-su (ROTY) |
| 1996 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 6/8 | 6/8 | 126 | 54 | 67 | 5 | .448 | .249 | 88 | 4.23 | Did not qualify | |
| 1997 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 3/8 | 4/8 | 126 | 66 | 53 | 7 | .552 | .277 | 165 | 4.23 | Won semi-playoff vs. Ssangbangwool Raiders (2–1) Lost playoff vs. LG Twins (2–3) | Lee Seung-yuop (MVP) |
| 1998 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 3/8 | 2/8 | 126 | 66 | 58 | 2 | .532 | .268 | 143 | 4.32 | Lost playoff vs. LG Twins (1–3) | |
| 1999 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | Magic League | 4/8 | 1/4 | 132 | 73 | 57 | 2 | .562 | .273 | 207 | 5.16 | Lost playoff vs. Lotte Giants (3–4) | Lee Seung-yuop (MVP) |
| 2000 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | Dream League | 3/8 | 3/4 | 133 | 69 | 59 | 5 | .539 | .269 | 177 | 4.64 | Lost playoff vs. Hyundai Unicorns (0–4) | |
| 2001 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/8 | 1/8 | 133 | 81 | 52 | 0 | .609 | .277 | 162 | 4.39 | Lost Korean Series vs. Doosan Bears (2–4) | Lee Seung-yuop (MVP) |
| 2002 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 1/8 | 1/8 | 133 | 82 | 47 | 4 | .636 | .284 | 191 | 3.92 | Won Korean Series vs. LG Twins (4–2) | Lee Seung-yuop (MVP) |
| 2003 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 4/8 | 3/8 | 133 | 76 | 53 | 4 | .589 | .284 | 213 | 4.37 | Lost semi-playoff vs. SK Wyverns (0–2) | Lee Seung-yuop (MVP) |
| 2004 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/8 | 2/8 | 133 | 73 | 52 | 8 | .584 | .269 | 132 | 3.76 | Won playoff vs. Doosan Bears (3–1) Lost Korean Series vs. Hyundai Unicorns (2–3–4) | Bae Young-soo (MVP) |
| 2005 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 1/8 | 1/8 | 126 | 74 | 48 | 4 | .607 | .268 | 111 | 3.83 | Won Korean Series vs. Doosan Bears (4–0) | Oh Seung-hwan (ROTY) |
| 2006 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 1/8 | 1/8 | 126 | 73 | 50 | 3 | .593 | .255 | 73 | 3.33 | Won Korean Series vs. Hanwha Eagles (4–1–1) | |
| 2007 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 4/8 | 4/8 | 126 | 62 | 60 | 4 | .508 | .254 | 86 | 3.71 | Lost semi-playoff vs. Hanwha Eagles (1–2) | |
| 2008 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 4/8 | 4/8 | 126 | 65 | 61 | 0 | .516 | .258 | 92 | 4.42 | Won semi-playoff vs. Lotte Giants (3–0) Lost playoff vs. Doosan Bears (2–4) | Choi Hyoung-woo (ROTY) |
| 2009 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 5/8 | 5/8 | 133 | 64 | 69 | 0 | .481 | .275 | 146 | 4.98 | Did not qualify | |
| 2010 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/8 | 2/8 | 133 | 79 | 52 | 2 | .594 | .272 | 118 | 3.94 | Won playoff vs. Doosan Bears (3–2) Lost Korean Series vs. SK Wyverns (0–4) | |
| 2011 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 1/8 | 1/8 | 133 | 79 | 50 | 4 | .612 | .259 | 95 | 3.35 | Won Korean Series vs. SK Wyverns (4–1) | Bae Young-seop (ROTY) |
| 2012 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 1/8 | 1/8 | 133 | 80 | 51 | 2 | .611 | .272 | 89 | 3.44 | Won Korean Series vs. SK Wyverns (4–2) | |
| 2013 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 1/9 | 1/9 | 128 | 75 | 51 | 2 | .595 | .283 | 113 | 3.99 | Won Korean Series vs. Doosan Bears (4–3) | |
| 2014 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 1/9 | 1/9 | 128 | 78 | 47 | 3 | .624 | .301 | 161 | 4.52 | Won Korean Series vs. Nexen Heroes (4–2) | |
| 2015 | Daegu Baseball Stadium | KBO | 2/10 | 1/10 | 144 | 88 | 56 | 0 | .611 | .302 | 176 | 4.70 | Lost Korean Series vs. Doosan Bears (1–4) | Koo Ja-wook (ROTY) |
| 2016 | Daegu Samsung Lions Park | KBO | 9/10 | 9/10 | 144 | 65 | 78 | 1 | .455 | .293 | 142 | 5.65 | Did not qualify | |
| 2017 | Daegu Samsung Lions Park | KBO | 9/10 | 9/10 | 144 | 55 | 84 | 5 | .396 | .280 | 145 | 5.90 | Did not qualify | |
| 2018 | Daegu Samsung Lions Park | KBO | 6/10 | 6/10 | 144 | 68 | 72 | 4 | .486 | .288 | 146 | 5.19 | Did not qualify | |
| 2019 | Daegu Samsung Lions Park | KBO | 8/10 | 8/10 | 144 | 60 | 83 | 1 | .420 | .256 | 122 | 4.64 | Did not qualify | |
| 2020 | Daegu Samsung Lions Park | KBO | 8/10 | 8/10 | 144 | 64 | 75 | 5 | .460 | .268 | 129 | 4.78 | Did not qualify | |
| 2021 | Daegu Samsung Lions Park | KBO | 3/10 | 2/10 | 144 | 76 | 59 | 9 | .563 | .267 | 133 | 4.30 | Lost playoff vs. Doosan Bears (0–2) | |
| 2022 | Daegu Samsung Lions Park | KBO | 7/10 | 7/10 | 144 | 66 | 76 | 2 | .465 | .270 | 103 | 4.29 | Did not qualify | |
| 2023 | Daegu Samsung Lions Park | KBO | 8/10 | 8/10 | 144 | 61 | 82 | 1 | .427 | .263 | 88 | 4.60 | Did not qualify | |
| 2024 | Daegu Samsung Lions Park | KBO | 2/10 | 2/10 | 144 | 78 | 64 | 2 | .549 | .269 | 185 | 4.68 | Won playoff vs. LG Twins (3–1) Lost Korean Series vs. Kia Tigers (1–4) | |
* ↑ The 1985 Korean Series was not played, as the Samsung Lions finished first in both parts of the regular league season and were thus declared champions outright.

## Team
### Korean Baseball League MVP

* 1983: Lee Man-soo (catcher)
* 1987: Jang Hyo-jo (outfielder)
* 1993: Kim Seong-rae (infielder)
* 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003: Lee Seung-yuop (infielder)
* 2004: Bae Young-soo (pitcher)

### Player Records (batter)
#### Batting average

    1983 Jang Hyo-jo AVG .369
    1984 Lee Man-soo AVG .340
    1985 Jang Hyo-jo AVG .373
    1986 Jang Hyo-jo AVG .329
    1987 Jang Hyo-jo AVG .387
    1993 Yang Joon-hyuk AVG .341
    1996 Yang Joon-hyuk AVG .346
    1998 Yang Joon-hyuk AVG .342

#### Home runs

    1983 Lee Man-soo 27 HR
    1984 Lee Man-soo 23 HR
    1985 Lee Man-soo 22 HR
    1987 Kim Seong-rae 22 HR
    1993 Kim Seong-rae 28 HR
    1997 Lee Seung-yuop 32 HR
    1999 Lee Seung-yuop 54 HR
    2001 Lee Seung-yuop 39 HR
    2002 Lee Seung-yuop 47 HR
    2003 Lee Seung-yuop 56 HR
    2007 Shim Jeong-soo 31 HR
    2011 Choi Hyoung-woo 30 HR

## Retired numbers

The first number retired by the Samsung Lions organization was number 22, in honour of catcher and slugger Lee Man-soo, who played for the team from 1982 to 1997, and was later a coach with the Chicago White Sox of the MLB and the SK Wyverns. Lee was a five-time KBO League Golden Glove Award-winner with the Lions, won the KBO League MVP in 1983, and the hitting Triple Crown in 1984. The second number retired by the Samsung Lions organization was number 10, in honour of left-handed batter Yang Joon-hyuk, who played for the team from 1993 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2010. Yang led the league in batting four times, and holds six career batting records (including at one time the home run record with 351, now surpassed by Lee Seung-yeop). The third retired number, 36, was retired in honour of Lee Seung-yuop, who has spent 15 seasons with the club and is the all-time KBO League leader in home runs with 467. Lee also holds the KBO records for runs scored, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, and OPS.
| Yang Joon-hyuk RF, DH | Lee Man-soo C | Lee Seung-yuop IF |

## Managers

* Seo Young-moo (1982–1983)
* Lee Chung-nam (1983)
* Kim Yeong-duk (1984–1986)
* Jeong Dong-jin (1986) (caretaker)
* Park Young-gil (1987–1988)
* Jeong Dong-jin (1989–1990)
* Kim Sung-keun (1991–1992)
* Woo Yong-deuk (1993–1995)
* Baek In-chun (1996–1997)
* Cho Chang-soo (1997) (caretaker)
* Seo Jeong-hwan (1998–1999)
* Kim Yong-hee (2000)
* Kim Eung-ryong (2001–2004)
* Sun Dong-yol (2005–2010)
* Ryu Joong-il (2011–2016)
* Kim Han-soo (2017–2019)
* Heo Sam-young (2020–2022)
* Park Jin-man (2022–present)