Two families under one roof, LG-Doosan 'We're rivals?'...What will the atmosphere be like when they
There are many rivalries in the KBO League,
There are many rivalries in the KBO League, but ‘two families under one roof’, LG and Doosan, and Doosan and LG are special rivals. The two teams faced each other about 10 times in the opening game, and the image of the rivalry grew bigger as the Children's Day series was held every year.
LG and Doosan both use Jamsil Stadium as their home stadium. And the club offices inside the baseball stadium are located facing each other, with Doosan on the first base side and LG on the third base side, based on the central lobby. The distance between the club offices is very close, only 50m. Although the two teams are so close physically, the psychological distance is farther than you might think.
The two teams became rivals dating back to 1985. After Doosan's predecessor, the OB Bears, was founded in 1982, it was based in Chungcheong Province, but moved to Seoul in 1985 and used Dongdaemun Stadium as its home. Then, the following year, in 1986, LG's predecessor, MBC Blue Dragon, and Doosan's predecessor, OB Bears, shared Jamsil Stadium and became 'two families under one roof.'
The two teams are rivals with a long tradition, and both in the past and present, they are full of competitive spirit and can never lose to each other. This applies not only to players but also club employees.
However, rivalry only exists when baseball is played on the field. So what will the atmosphere be like when the two teams meet during pre-game training?
I was able to see it on the 29th of last month. On the 29th, a match between the LG Twins and Doosan Bears in the '2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League' was held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. On this day, it was Doosan's home game, and Doosan players began training first. And around 4 p.m., LG players came to the ground for training. However, Doosan's batting training was not finished, so LG players waited next to the betting gauge with bats.
When Doosan's training did not end until 4:20, LG coach Lee Ho-jun shouted loudly, "This is a foul," and began to playfully pressure Doosan coaches Kim Joo-chan and Ko Young-min. Coaches Joo-chan Kim and Young-min Ko approached Coach Ho-jun Lee and apologized, asking for understanding, and Coach Ho-jun Lee accepted them with a bright smile.
Afterwards, the Doosan players who finished training late approached the LG players and smiled and apologized, and the players from both teams greeted them warmly, picking up the training balls together. But Kim Hyun-soo was different. He nagged Doosan until the end and played pranks on his former colleagues. It was a prank that we could do because we were that close. And he gave the Doosan players a thumbs up sign saying it was okay.
Although they are fierce rivals in games, the two teams are extremely close in everyday life. Players and coaches help each other and share a lot of information. Coach Kyung-wan Park, who received questions from the Doosan coaches, also seemed to answer with sincerity.
Meanwhile, the two representative KBO League rival teams have never met in the Korean Series. However, there is a possibility that they will meet in the Korean Series this year. This season, LG ranked first in the regular season and advanced directly to the Korean Series. And Doosan is trying to finish the regular season in third place. If the two teams face each other in the Korean Series, a 'Dugout Series' will be held where all games will be held at Jamsil Stadium for the first time in the 41-year history of the KBO League.
The 'Subway Series' between the New York Yankees and New York Mets, which took place in the US Major League in 2000, was held for the first time in 44 years. If LG and Doosan's 'Dugout Series' comes to fruition after 41 years... baseball fans will have fun just imagining it.
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