Kim Woo-jin

Korean professional baseball player (born 1914)

* Montgomery Green Dragons (1937–1938)
* Los Angeles Baseball Club (1939–1946)
* Baltimore Bullets (1947–1950)
* 3x World Series champion (1945, 1950, 1951)
* 7x Pacific Coast League Finals Most Valuable Player Award (1929, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937)
* 7x Pacific Coast League champion (1929, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937)
* 4x All-PCL (1929, 1932, 1934, 1936)
* PCL Platinum Stick Award (1929)
* Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year (1929)
* 2x Triple Crown (1929, 1930)
* 1930s PCL All-Decade Team

**Kim Woo-jin** (Korean: 김우진; RR: *Kim U-jin*; born: February 19, 1914) is a Korean-born American professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman for the Los Angeles Baseball Club.

Woo-jin began his professional career with the Los Angeles Baseball Club, who then played in the Pacific Coast League as a free agent signing on October 5, 1929. He played for LABC until the 1948 season, where he racked up numerous awards including multiple Pacific Coast League Championships,. Championship Most Valuable Player Awards. All-Star Game appearances. He was traded to the Montgomery Green Dragons of the Independent League in 1937, and played with the team for only a season and a half before returning to the LABC. Kim returned to LABC in 1939, and played with the team until 1946, during which the team would leave the Pacific Coast League for the All-American Baseball League. Also during this period, Kim won his first World Series in 1945. Kim left LABC to fulfil his childhood dream of playing for the Baltimore Bullets in 1947. His time with the team was short however, though Kim did make it count, as in 1950. the Bullets would return to the World Series after a four year absence, and winning it all. He was traded back to the Los Angeles Baseball Club in the 1950 offseason and was signed to a career extension.

Kim currently holds numerous season and all-time records both at the club and league levels. He is considered one of the greatest players of all-time according to many.

## Early life

Kim Woo-jin was born in Suwon, Japanese Korea on February 19, 1914. His childhood idol was Tony Ramirez of the Baltimore Bullets, and Kim dreamed of playing for the Bullets when was older.

## Professional career

### Los Angeles Baseball Club

Kim joined the Los Angeles Baseball Club as a free agent on October 5, 1929 at the age of 14. The Los Angeles Baseball Club was gearing up for its inaugural season in 1929. He would be named to the active roster, and started as a first baseman for the team. Kim won Pacific League Player of the Week honors in his very first week as a professional. He hit three home runs on October 31, 1929 against the Oakland Sharks; going 3-4, with 5 runs batted in and 3 runs scored. On November 18, he was named the number one prospect in the Pacific Coast League. He was also selected for the All-Star Game for the first time. Kim won a Triple Crown, and was named the PCL Division 1 Series MVP, then named the Conference Championship Series MVP, on the way to their first PCL Championship Series. In the PCL Championship Series, LABC defeated the West Covina Pumas, and won their first league title. Kim scored three home runs in the game, batted 3 of 4, had 5 RBIs, and three runs scored, on the way to being named the League Championship Series Most Valuable Player. He would also win the Golden Glove Award, a Platinum Stick Award, and won the League Most Valuable Player Award, and named the Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year. He would end the season with a record 59 home runs, and a league high .571 batting average.

In 1930, Kim would earn a second consecutive All-Star Game appearance. He would again lead the entire Pacific Coast League in batting average, doubles, triples, and home runs. He hit only three fewer home runs in the 1930 season than in the previous season. His batting average would also slightly decrease from .571 to .552; however it would remain the highest batting average in the Pacific Coast League. His wins above replacement decreased from 18.1 to 17.9. He was again named the Pacific Coast League's Most Valuable Player, and won a second Triple Crown. He would also hit four home runs on June 3, 1930 against the Stockton Stingrays, and hit a perfect 4 for 4 at bat; and recorded 8 runs batted in, and scored on four runs. LABC won a second league championship, and Kim was again named the Division Series, League Championship, and PCL Championship Series MVP.

### Los Angeles Baseball Club (third stint)

Woojin rejoined the Los Angeles Baseball Club when he was traded in the 1950 offseason in return for two first round picks, a third round pick and Brad Faulkner.

## Awards and highlights

### Awards

* 2x World Series MVP (1950, 1951)
* 3x World Series champion (1945, 1950, 1951)
* 7x Pacific Coast League Finals Most Valuable Player Award (1929, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937)
* 7x Pacific Coast League champion (1929, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937)
* 2x Pacific Coast League League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award (1929, 1930)
* 2x Pacific Coast League Divisional Series Most Valuable Player Award (1929, 1930)
* 2x Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award (1929, 1930)
* 4x All-PCL (1929, 1932, 1934, 1936)
* PCL Platinum Stick Award (1929, 1930)
* Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year (1929)
* 2x Triple Crown (1929, 1930)
* 1930s PCL All-Decade Team
* Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame

### Records

AABL records
* Highest career batting average: .425
* Highest career on-base percentage: .567
* Highest career slugging percentage: .795
* Highest career on-base plus slugging percentage: 1.362

Single season records
* Highest slugging percentage in a season: .927 (1949)
* Highest on-base plus slugging percentage in a season: 1.522 (1949)

## Personal life

Woojin has a son and a daughter. He married his then girlfriend of 5 years in June of 1942.