SSG Landers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SSG Landers |
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| SSG 랜더스 | |||||
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| Information | |||||
| League | KBO League | ||||
| Location | Incheon | ||||
| Ballpark | Incheon SSG Landers Field (2002–present) | ||||
| Year founded | 2000 | ||||
| League championships | 2007, 2008, 2010, 2022 | ||||
| Korean Series championships | 2007, 2008, 2010, 2018, 2022 | ||||
| Former name(s) | SK Wyverns (2000–2020) | ||||
| Colors | Charismatic red, white, yellow |
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| Retired numbers | 26 | ||||
| Ownership | Shinsegae | ||||
| Manager | Lee Soong-yong | ||||
SSG Landers (Hangul: SSG 랜더스) are a professional baseball team from South Korea. They play in the KBO League, which is the top baseball league in the country. The team is based in Incheon and plays its home games at Incheon SSG Landers Field.
The team was originally known as the SK Wyverns. In 2021, a company called Shinsegae bought the team from SK Group. That's when the team's name changed to SSG Landers.
Contents
Team History
How the Team Started (2000)
In the year 2000, another baseball team called the Ssangbangwool Raiders had to stop playing. This happened because their owner, the Ssangbangwool Group, went bankrupt. The KBO League then gave a new team to the SK company.
This new team was named the SK Wyverns. A wyvern is a type of dragon, often seen in stories. Even though many players from the old Raiders team joined the Wyverns, it was a completely new club. The Wyverns had no historical connection to the Raiders.
At the same time, the Hyundai Unicorns team moved out of Incheon. The SK Wyverns then took their place and made Incheon their home city.
Early Years and First Big Game (2001–2006)
The Wyverns played in their first Korean Series in 2003. The Korean Series is like the championship final in baseball. They played against the Hyundai Unicorns but lost after seven exciting games.
Winning Their First Championship (2007)
In 2007, the SK Wyverns had a fantastic season. They finished in first place in the league. Then, they went on to win the 2007 Korean Series! They beat the Doosan Bears in six games. This was the first time the team had ever won the Korean Series.
They made history by being the first team in the Korean Series to win after losing the first two games. Kim Jae-hyun, who was a designated hitter, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the series.
After winning the Korean Series, SK also played in the Konami Cup. This was a special competition between the champions of different baseball leagues in Asia.
Another Championship Win (2008)
The SK Wyverns had an amazing year in 2008. They won 83 games and lost only 43. This was one of the best winning percentages in KBO League history at that time.
They reached the Korean Series again and faced their rivals, the Doosan Bears. Just like in 2007, SK defeated Doosan to win their second Korean Series championship. Choi Jeong was chosen as the MVP for the 2008 Korean Series.
More Success and Challenges (2009–2020)
In 2009, SK made it to the Korean Series again but lost to the KIA Tigers in seven games.
However, they bounced back strong in 2010. They dominated the regular season and then swept the Samsung Lions 4–0 in the Korean Series. This was SK's fourth straight appearance in the Korean Series and their third championship in four years. The Wyverns also had an impressive 22-game winning streak in April 2010, which was the longest in Korean baseball history.
From 2007 to 2012, SK reached the Korean Series every single season for six years in a row! They lost to the Samsung Lions in both the 2011 and 2012 Korean Series.
In 2018, SK faced the Doosan Bears once more in the Korean Series. They won another championship, making it their fourth title. Three of their four wins were against the Doosan Bears.
Becoming the SSG Landers (2021–Present)
In January 2021, Shinsegae, a large South Korean company, announced they would buy the SK Wyverns baseball team. They wanted to use the sports team to help with their marketing. Shinsegae's e-mart company took over managing the team.
The deal was completed on February 23, 2021. The team was then launched in March with its new name, SSG Landers, along with a new logo and team character.
In their first season as the Landers in 2021, they finished in sixth place. But in 2022, the SSG Landers won the regular season championship with 88 wins. This was their fourth regular season title and the first for the SSG Landers name. They then went on to win the 2022 Korean Series, their fifth championship, by defeating the Kiwoom Heroes 4–2 in the finals.
In January 2024, the Landers revealed a new logo and uniform design for the upcoming 2024 KBO League season.
Team Culture
The SSG Landers team has become well-known for its successful "green campaigns." These campaigns help the environment and have also made the team more popular.
For example, SSG Landers created special uniforms made from recycled polyester. Instead of their team logo, these uniforms had the slogan "Let’s go green" on the front. Even though the team's main colors are red, yellow, and white, they used green for these special uniforms.
The team also made their home stadium more eco-friendly. They added green seats in some areas and installed solar panels. They even switched to electric vehicles for things like their bullpen cart, which used to run on gas.
The green theme also includes fun events for fans. Fans who rode their bikes to the stadium could get discounted tickets. By caring for the environment, the team has gained a lot of positive attention from the public.
Managers
- Kang Byeong-cheol (2000–2002)
- Cho Bum-hyun (2002–2006)
- Kim Sung-keun (2006–2011)
- Lee Man-soo (2011–2014)
- Kim Yong-hee (2014–2016)
- Trey Hillman (2016–2018)
- Youm Kyoung-youb (2018–2020)
- Park Kyung-oan (2020) (caretaker)
- Kim Won-hyong (2021–2023)
- Lee Soong-yong (2023–present)
See also
In Spanish: SSG Landers para niños
