TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions (統一獅) held a press conference Thursday (Aug. 7) to honor legendary baseball player Hu Chin-lung (胡金龍) as he announced his retirement from professional baseball. The team will host his retirement ceremony September 20 at the Chengcing Lake (澄清湖) Baseball Stadium in Kaohsiung, marking the end of an illustrious career. This ceremony will celebrate one of Taiwan's most accomplished players in the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
Ticket prices for the ceremony will peak at NT$980 (around US$33), with season ticket holders gaining priority access to purchase August 8 at noon. General sales will commence August 10 at noon for the public. Hu's career in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL, 中華職棒), Taiwan's premier baseball league, began in 2013 after he returned from playing in the United States. He played for the EDA Rhinos (義大犀牛) and Fubon Guardians (富邦悍將) before joining the Uni-President Lions.
Hu will officially conclude his professional baseball journey after this season ends. The team has chosen to host the retirement ceremony at the home stadium of his first team, the EDA Rhinos (義大犀牛), to honor his beginnings in Taiwan's professional league. This symbolic venue selection pays tribute to where Hu first established himself as a dominant force in Taiwanese baseball after returning from his stint in American professional baseball. ◼