Kiwoom Heroes

Kiwoom Heroes
키움 히어로즈
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueKBO League (2008–present)
LocationSeoul
BallparkGocheok Sky Dome (2016–present)
Established2008; 16 years ago (2008)
Former name(s)
  • Woori Heroes (2008)
  • Seoul Heroes (2008–2009)
  • Nexen Heroes (2010–2018)
Former ballparksMokdong Baseball Stadium (2008–2015)
ColorsBurgundy and grey
   
OwnershipSeoul Heroes, Co., LTD.[Note 1]
ManagerHong Won-ki
Websitewww.heroesbaseball.co.kr

The Kiwoom Heroes (Korean: 키움 히어로즈) are a South Korean professional baseball team based in Seoul. They are a member of the KBO League. The Heroes play their home games at Gocheok Sky Dome in Gocheok-dong, a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of Seoul. The Heroes mascot is Teokdori (턱돌이; Mr. Jaw).

In 2014, the Futures League squad changed its name to Hwaseong Heroes (화성 히어로즈), differentiating from the first string.[1][2] In 2019, Hwaseong Heroes renamed as Goyang Heroes (고양 히어로즈).

History

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The franchise was originally known as the Sammi SuperStars and had subsequent incarnations as the Chungbo Pintos and Pacific Dolphins. The team was renamed the Hyundai Unicorns after being sold to Hyundai in 1996, and was relocated from Incheon to Suwon. The Unicorns won the KBO championship four times (1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004).

In January 2008, the team was disbanded. After that, Centennial Investments formed a new team called Woori Heroes. Unlike other clubs in the KBO League, which are controlled by chaebol companies, the Heroes are owned by a group of individuals led by Lee Chang-suk, rather than being owned by their title sponsor. During the 2008 season, Woori Tobacco Company terminated their naming sponsor agreement, citing that the Heroes had not yet paid the full KBO founding fee, forcing the team to trade most of its star players for money. For the remainder of the 2008 season and into the 2009 season, the team used only "Heroes" as their name.

On 8 February 2010, naming rights were sold to Nexen Tire.

On 6 November 2018, naming rights were sold to Kiwoom Securities.[3] The Kiwoom Heroes made it to the Korean Series in their first year, but lost to the Doosan Bears to finish second.[4]

Season-by-season records

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Year Stadium Rank Regular season Postseason Awards
Standings Games W L D Win% BA HR ERA
2008 Mokdong
Baseball Stadium		 7/8 7/8 126 50 76 0 .397 .266 70 4.43 Did not qualify
2009 6/8 6/8 133 60 72 1 .451 .272 153 5.40 Did not qualify
2010 7/8 7/8 133 52 78 3 .391 .262 87 4.55 Did not qualify
2011 8/8 8/8 133 51 80 2 .389 .245 79 4.36 Did not qualify
2012 6/8 6/8 133 61 69 3 .469 .243 102 3.83 Did not qualify Park Byung-ho (MVP)
Seo Geon-chang (ROTY)
2013 4/9 3/9 128 72 54 2 .571 .272 125 4.12 Lost semi-playoff vs. Doosan Bears (2–3) Park Byung-ho (MVP)
2014 2/9 2/9 128 78 48 2 .619 .298 199 5.25 Won playoff vs. LG Twins (3–1)
Lost Korean Series vs. Samsung Lions (2–4)		 Seo Geon-chang (MVP)
2015 4/10 4/10 144 78 65 1 .545 .298 203 4.91 Won wild card vs. SK Wyverns (1–0)
Lost semi-playoff vs. Doosan Bears (1–3)
2016 Gocheok
Sky Dome		 3/10 3/10 144 77 66 1 .538 .293 134 4.96 Lost semi-playoff vs. LG Twins (1–3) Shin Jae-young (ROTY)
2017 7/10 7/10 144 69 73 2 .486 .290 141 5.03 Did not qualify Lee Jung-hoo (ROTY)
2018 4/10 4/10 144 75 69 0 .521 .288 165 5.08 Won wild card vs. Kia Tigers (1–0)
Won semi-playoff vs. Hanwha Eagles (3–1)
Lost playoff vs. SK Wyverns (2–3)
2019 2/10 3/10 144 86 57 1 .601 .282 112 3.61 Won semi-playoff vs. LG Twins (3–1)
Won playoff vs. SK Wyverns (3–0)
Lost Korean Series vs. Doosan Bears (0–4)
2020 5/10 5/10 144 80 63 1 .559 .269 127 4.39 Lost wild card vs. LG Twins (0–1)
2021 5/10 5/10 144 70 67 7 .511 .259 91 4.31 Lost wild card vs. Doosan Bears (1–1)
2022 2/10 3/10 144 80 62 2 .563 .252 94 3.79 Won semi-playoff vs. KT Wiz (3–2)
Won playoff vs. LG Twins (3–1)
Lost Korean Series vs. SSG Landers (2–4)		 Lee Jung-hoo (MVP)
2023 10/10 10/10 144 58 83 3 .411 .261 61 4.41 Did not qualify
2024 10/10 10/10 144 58 86 0 .403 .264 104 5.16 Did not qualify

Current roster

[edit]

Managers

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Notes

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  1. ^ Although the first and second string of the club are Kiwoom Heroes and Hwaseong Heroes, the owner company is Seoul Heroes (formerly, Centennial Investment). Seoul Heroes is one of the former names of the club.

References

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General
  • "Complete league history and statistics" (in Korean). Korean Baseball League. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
Specific
  1. ^ 베이스볼 브레이크 ‘화성 히어로즈’…넥센 2군 신선한 파격 from Sports Dong-a.
  2. ^ 화성시 연고 넥센 2군 '화성 히어로즈', KT위즈와 홈 개막 경기 펼쳐 from Asia Today
  3. ^ "Baseball club signs main sponsorship deal with securities firm". Yonhap News Agency. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  4. ^ "'6할 승률 3위+KS 스윕패' 잘했기에 더 아쉬운 키움의 2019시즌 [KS 현장]".
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