Chang Hoon, NPB hit record holder, passes away at 86

Chang Hoon, a legendary Zainichi Korean baseball player and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) icon, passed away on May 9 at a hospital in Tokyo at the age of 86.

Over a 23-year career spanning from 1959 to 1981, Chang played for teams including the Toei Flyers, Yomiuri Giants, and Lotte Orions. He holds the NPB record for the most career hits with 3,085, becoming the first and only player to reach the 3,000-hit milestone within the Japanese leagues. His career statistics include a .319 batting average, 504 home runs, and 1,676 RBIs. He was a seven-time batting champion and was inducted into the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Beyond his playing career, Chang was a prominent baseball commentator and played a significant role in the development of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), serving as a special advisor to the president from its inception in 1982 until 2005. He was recognized by the South Korean government with the Order of Mugunghwa in 2007 for his contributions to sports and bilateral baseball exchange.