Description
After a legendary career as a Korean major leaguer, Park Chan-ho has one humiliation that can't be washed away. The so-called "Han Mandu" incident.
On April 23, 1999, Park was pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the St. Louis Cardinals when he was hit twice by the same player in the third inning. The odds are stacked against a pitcher getting hit twice in the same inning, and it's nearly impossible for that to be the same player. It is considered a record that will never be repeated in history.
The player who humiliated Chan Ho Park was Fernando Tatis Senior, who is also famous among Korean baseball fans for this incident.
On Friday, Tatis' son appeared in Seoul's Gwangjang Market. It was Fernando Tatis Jr. (25, Dominican Republic), a San Diego signature player who arrived in the country for the Seoul Series (the opening two games of the season between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers). He is affectionately known as "Petaju" by his fans in Korea.
The San Diego squad, which includes Kim Ha-seong, Go Woo-seok, Tatis, and Manny Machado, arrived at Incheon International Airport on a chartered 토토 flight at dawn on the 15th.
While the players are enjoying their time in Seoul, Tatis visited Gwangjang Market and Gwanghwamun Gate in Jongno-gu, Seoul. He was happy to try hotteok and mandukguk at Gwangjang Market.
Tatis is a power hitter who has followed in his father's footsteps. He led the National League in home runs (42) in 2021 and signed a 14-year, $340 million contract in 2021, the longest in MLB history.
Tatis wasn't the only one with sightings of San Diego players in the neighborhood of Yeouido, the team's hotel. Game 2 starter Joe Musgrove took a walk with his wife, while Machado and Xander Bogaerts shopped at a department store.
The Seoul Series is scheduled for April 20-21 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. The two teams will have official training on the 16th, followed by special matches on the 17th and 18th against KBO League teams and the Korean National Baseball Team.
Park Chan-ho will throw out the ceremonial first pitch in Game 1 of the Seoul Series.