Zan Harimoto (86, Korean name Chang Hoon), a Japanese professional baseball legend and Korean-Japanese zainichi, mourned the late former manager Baek In-cheon and reflected on the time they spent together.

In an article contributed to the Japanese media outlet Sports Nippon on August 16, Chang said, "Former manager Baek was a precious junior three years younger than me and a colleague who ran through the same era," adding, "It is deeply regrettable that he has passed away."

He recalled, "Former manager Baek was a man with an extremely strong spirit," adding, "He came over to Japan alone back when there was no professional baseball in Korea, and he must have harbored a fierce determination not to lose."

Chang introduced, "When I was playing for the Toei Flyers (now the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters) in 1962, I heard from a Korean baseball official that there was a good player, and I had Baek participate in training," adding, "Recognizing his good physique and speed as a catcher, I recommended him to the manager at the time, Shigeru Mizuhara."

Chang also shared the difficulties Baek experienced in Japanese professional baseball.

Chang stated, "Baek struggled above all else because of the language barrier, and in his first year, he followed right behind me to study Japanese."

He explained, "Because of his fiercely strong personality, he would force pitchers to throw the ball according to the signs he gave, and when his opinions didn't align with the pitchers, he converted to an outfielder," adding, "Rather, this process became the turning point that led to his success in Japan."

Former manager Baek lived tenaciously so as not to be intimidated by Japanese players.

Chang Hoon reminisced, "At the time, former manager Baek did not get along with Katsuo Osugi, Toei's cleanup hitter, and he asked me before a game, 'Please let us fight,' so I allowed it, saying, 'Do it for just 10 minutes,'" adding, "The two swung punches in the clubhouse while everyone watched. It was an era unimaginable by today's standards."

He continued to recall, "After 10 minutes passed, Osugi said, 'Senior, let us fight a little longer. I landed one less hit.' I still cannot forget that day."

Chang Hoon played in the same team and spent their prime years together from 1959 to 1975, while Baek played from 1962 to 1974.

They later reunited at the Lotte Orions (now the Chiba Lotte Marines).

Chang stated, "When I achieved my 3,000th career hit with Lotte in 1980, I was playing alongside former manager Baek," adding, "When Korean professional baseball was launched in 1982, I recommended former manager Baek to the MBC Chungyong as a player-manager, and he was truly a pioneer of Korean professional baseball."

Former manager Baek appeared in 1,969 games across 20 seasons in Japanese professional baseball, recording a batting average of 0.278, 209 home runs, and 776 RBIs. In the inaugural year of Korean professional baseball in 1982, he played as the player-manager for MBC and set an immortal record with a batting average of 0.412.

Former manager Baek, who left a massive mark on Korean baseball, passed away on the morning of the 15th while receiving treatment for a cerebral hemorrhage.

(Photo provided by the KBO Secretariat, Yonhap News)