Hanwha Eagles
Overview
The Hanwha Eagles are a professional baseball team in the KBO League, founded in 1986, based in Daejeon Metropolitan City. They completed preparations for establishment as the 'Binggrae Eagles' in 1985 and joined Korean professional baseball as the 7th team in 1986. In 1993, the parent company changed to the Hanwha Group, and the team name was changed to its current one. The home stadium is Daejeon Hanwha Life Insurance Eagles Park (formerly Daejeon Baseball Stadium), located in Jung-gu, Daejeon, and the team is nicknamed 'Eagles' or 'Binyard'. Fans are called 'Eagles fans' or 'Children of Binyard', and especially since the late 2010s, under the sponsorship of 'Hanwha Life Insurance', the team has also been known as 'Hanwha Life Insurance Eagles'.
Main Content
Founding and Early History
The Hanwha Eagles began when the Binggrae Group decided to establish the team in December 1985. The founding ceremony was held on March 8, 1986, and they achieved their first win on March 29 of the same year in an exhibition game against the OB Bears. Initially, as a new team, they faced difficulties, but their performance began to rise sharply from 1988. In 1988, they finished 2nd in the regular season and advanced to the postseason for the first time, and in 1989, they finished 1st in the regular season and advanced directly to the Korean Series. However, they lost to the Haitai Tigers in a 4-game sweep in the Korean Series, finishing as runners-up.
1990s: Golden Era and First Championship
The 1990s were the golden era of the Hanwha Eagles. In 1991, they finished 3rd in the regular season and advanced to the postseason, and in 1992, they finished 2nd. In 1993, as the parent company changed to the Hanwha Group, the team name was changed to 'Hanwha Eagles'. They finished 3rd in the regular season in 1994 and 4th in 1995. In 1996, they advanced to the Korean Series as the 2nd-place team but lost to the Haitai Tigers with 2 wins and 4 losses. In 1997, they finished 4th in the regular season. In 1998, they advanced to the Korean Series as the 2nd-place team and defeated the LG Twins with 4 wins and 2 losses to achieve their first integrated championship since founding. This championship remains the only Korean Series victory in Hanwha Eagles history.
2000s: Revival and Decline
In the early 2000s, they consistently advanced to the postseason, finishing 2nd in the regular season in 1999, 3rd in 2000, and 4th in 2001. In 2005, they advanced to the postseason as the 3rd-place team but lost to the Doosan Bears. In 2006, they finished 2nd in the regular season but lost to the Samsung Lions in the Korean Series with 1 win and 4 losses. Subsequently, from 2007 to 2010, they remained in the lower ranks, experiencing a period of decline.
2010s: Dark Ages and Rebuilding
The 2010s are called the dark ages of the Hanwha Eagles. From 2011 to 2019, they failed to advance to the postseason for nine consecutive years, and especially from 2013 to 2015, they finished last for three consecutive years. In 2016, manager Kim Seong-geun took over and attempted a rebound, but they still finished 7th in 2017. In 2018, under manager Han Yong-deok, they finished 8th, and in 2019, they ended the season in 9th place. During this period, fans maintained their affection for the team under the nickname 'Binyard', but the disappointment from poor performance was also significant.
2020s: Prelude to Revival
In the 2020s, gradual rebuilding is taking place. In 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, they finished 7th, and in 2021, they remained in 8th place. In 2022, under manager Carlos Subero, they finished 9th, but the growth of young players was notable. In 2023, manager Choi Won-ho took over and revitalized the team atmosphere, and in the 2024 season, they finished 8th in the regular season, still in the lower ranks, but ahead of the 2025 season, they are strengthening their roster through foreign player and free agent signings, aiming for a rebound.
Key Players and Records
Notable past players of the Hanwha Eagles include Jang Jong-hoon (340 career home runs, 1987-2005), Song Jin-woo (210 career wins, 1989-2009), Jeong Min-cheol (161 career wins, 1992-2009), Kim Tae-kyun (311 career home runs, 2001-2021), and players called 'Legends of Binyard', symbols of the Eagles. Current key players include Noh Si-hwan (infielder, 2020-), Moon Dong-ju (pitcher, 2022-), and Chae Eun-seong (outfielder, 2023-). The team's all-time records include most home runs by Jang Jong-hoon (340), most hits by Kim Tae-kyun (over 2,100 hits), and most wins by Song Jin-woo (210).
Home Stadium and Fan Culture
The home stadium, Daejeon Hanwha Life Insurance Eagles Park, is a remodeled version of Daejeon Baseball Stadium, which opened in 1964 and was renovated in 2022, with a capacity of approximately 13,000. It is famously nicknamed 'Binyard', and fans are called 'Children of Binyard'. The fan culture of the Hanwha Eagles is known for unique cheering songs and passionate support, and especially the slogan 'Eagles Fighting' and the 'Victory Cry' are well-known nationwide. Even during the dark ages of the 2010s, they maintained an average attendance of over 8,000, boasting a highly loyal fan base.
Latest Trends
Ahead of the 2024-2025 season, the Hanwha Eagles have made significant roster reinforcements. After the 2024 season, they re-signed foreign pitcher Ryan Weiss and recruited a new foreign hitter, Jonathan Peraza. Additionally, in the free agent market, they signed infielder Shim Woo-jun to a 4-year contract worth 5 billion KRW, strengthening the infield. The goal for the 2025 season is to enter the top five, with expectations for the growth of young players and the performance of veterans. In particular, after the disappointment of finishing 8th in the 2024 season, they aim to advance to the postseason in 2025. Manager Choi Won-ho will continue to lead the team in 2025, focusing on improving the team's constitution and strengthening organizational cohesion. Among fans, there is an expectation that the 2025 season will be a 'year of revival', drawing high interest from the early part of the season.
Related Topics
- [[KBO League]]
- [[Daejeon Hanwha Life Insurance Eagles Park]]
- [[Binggrae Eagles]]
- [[Hanwha Group]]
- [[Korean Series]]
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