2018 CPBL STATS Awards
With another year of baseball done and dusted, as always, it is time to hand out the 2018 CPBL STATS Awards! We will take a trip down the memory lane and see some of the best and overlooked moments from the 2018 CPBL season and anything related to Taiwan baseball.
*Notes: Just a word of warning, there are a lot of GIF and videos in this blog post. I did my best cutting from over 200 videos down to 60 or so. (Yes, turns out I posted a lot of videos this year)
CPBL Magneto Award
Umpire 紀華文 (Chi Hua-Wen) is your new #CPBL magneto. Chi was hit 3-time in a single game. [⚾️face, ⚾️groin, ⚾️finger] pic.twitter.com/axZXz64mVQ
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 5, 2018
Tossed the No-Hitter Ball to Fans Award
#CTBros 陳子豪 (Chen Tzu-Hao) accidently tossed away Nick Additon's no-hitter ball after making the final out. ? Him and 張志豪 (Chang Chih-Hao) had to scaled over the outfield wall to find the ball and return to Additon. #CPBL (?via https://t.co/mMNiGRTnoF) pic.twitter.com/OtI4TcFQ9t
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) June 10, 2018
CPBL Lumberjack Award
#CTBros young slugger 陳子豪 (Chen Tzu-Hao) snaps the bat in half after striking out with the game-winning run on third. #CPBL ? pic.twitter.com/5PbbiM17Jn
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) March 19, 2018
First Day Wearing C-Flap, Got Hit in Face Award
After spending 289 days in the farm team jail, in his first at-bat in the top team, #CTBros' slugger 林智勝 (Lin Chih-Sheng) was drilled in the head by a pitch. ? Luckily Lin was wearing the C-Flap helmet extension. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/uGWDTqyfLV
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 31, 2018
Let Them Eat Hat Award
Another angle of the chest bumping incident last night 🙂 #CPBL #Fubon Full video here -> https://t.co/zUcR1FXvI1 pic.twitter.com/4SwHQHfhJn
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 12, 2018
Flying Kick of the Year
Great shot of tonight's home plate accident by the photographer from Apple Daily. Video here -> https://t.co/GNg4M5O8gh #CPBL pic.twitter.com/9OVnLfU4nz
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 25, 2018
Elephants Protector of the Year
陽岱鋼 (Yoh Daikan)'s commercial with the Humane Society International. Full video here https://t.co/YRmFfwqvat #Kyojin pic.twitter.com/HDwr2CYfTK
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) March 8, 2018
Best MVP Shower: Failed Edition
Well, that didn't work out… ?? #CPBL pic.twitter.com/jTYqBRFezy
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) March 24, 2018
Best MVP Shower: Ganked Edition
The hero of the day 高國輝 (Kao Kuo-Hui) gets doused by his teammates during the post-game MVP interview. #CPBL #Fubon pic.twitter.com/lNcj3boMBN
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 5, 2018
Best MVP Dance: Player Edition
#UniLions' Josh Roenicke shows off his dance move during the post-game MVP dance. Roenicke pitched 7 scoreless innings with 8K against the CTBros. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/k8yKCW97fY
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 12, 2018
Best MVP Dance: Mascot Edition
Open-chan: Oh hai Ryan Verdugo, I see you are trying to dance.. #UniLions #CPBL pic.twitter.com/dh71XKCpqL
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) July 13, 2018
Kiss of the Year
Good luck kiss! Smooth defensive play from Taiwan Cooperative Bank starting pitcher 吳昇峰 (Wu Sheng-Feng) at Taiwan's semi-pro Popcorn League last night. pic.twitter.com/ZU3WDyEoRj
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) January 26, 2018
Singer of the Year: Team Owner Edition
Only in the #CPBL, where you can see the owner of the team singing karaoke in between the innings to promote the Stadium's new sports bar. And also… more Victor the Space Ape. #Lamigo pic.twitter.com/BDiczLGknJ
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) March 26, 2018
Best Ceremonial First Pitch
[Asia Winter Baseball League] Very good ceremonial first pitch from a 71-year-old senior baseball player. ? pic.twitter.com/SMPNHqnNqD
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) November 28, 2018
Saddest “First” Pitch: Retirement Edition
#UniLions veteran 林岳平 (Lin Yueh-Ping) threw his signature fastball for the last time at his retirement ceremony last night ??#CPBL pic.twitter.com/0P5VqglErU
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) March 26, 2018
Best Fashion: Eyewear Edition
Holy shit, the fancy glasses lady is back! She was spotted last year at the Guardians home opener as well. #CPBL #Fubon pic.twitter.com/mELOdtOPe9
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) March 27, 2018
Best Fashion: Team Dressed Up Edition
#Fubon Guardians teasing their upcoming theme nights? ? #CPBL pic.twitter.com/DTlc6IEDW6
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) June 19, 2018
Best Fashion: Headwear Edition
This fan is channeling his inner Ben Kingsley from the movie House of Sand and Fog. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/cIHFP32eeY
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) June 16, 2018
Best Fashion: Scout Dressed Way Too Much
It’s extremely hot and humid in Taiwan around July, so either this scout from the Philadelphia Phillies doesn’t feel hot, or he did not get the memo about Taiwan’s weather. Wearing three layers in Taiwan during Summer, REALLY?!
More scouts in attendance of today's #Lamigo vs #UniLions game #CPBL pic.twitter.com/5Kkg0kKdU6
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) July 23, 2017
Best Birthday Celebration Award
When you are playing a jungler without wards and nobody call missing.
Happy cake day to #CTBros' 王威晨 (Wang Wei-Chen) ?. Also some TK action by veteran 陳江和 (Chen Chiang-Ho) towards the end of the GIF. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/GuwUAW06Zm
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) July 6, 2018
Cheering for the Other Team Award
[2018 #CPBL All-Star Game] Players from the All-Star red team are cheering for All-Star white team player 陳子豪 (Chen Tzu-Hao). #CTBros pic.twitter.com/VSjR6QtRul
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) July 7, 2018
Windup of the Year
#CTBros Mitch Lively is back with his unique wind up. Here is a compilation from last night. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/k68rysT5uo
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) March 28, 2018
Mascot in Stealth Mode Award
Victor in stealth mode: Victor the space ape scaring the Lotte Giants cheerleaders. #CPBL #Lamigo pic.twitter.com/DjUVpc5yUh
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) June 16, 2018
Laziest Mascot Award
Me at the work function after lunch. Also, can anyone ID this mascot? #CPBL pic.twitter.com/C6vLVSGyE6
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 19, 2018
Most Annoying Mascot Award
I see you are trying to do an interview… #CTBros' mascot being a pest at the first pitch ceremony. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/sYP4ctg7t5
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) September 15, 2018
Unique Home Run Call Award
A LO PROFUNDO!!! #CPBL announcer 洪志瑋 (Hong Chih-Wei) have a new home run call for this season. Here is a supercut of all his Spanish home run call from the last weekend series between the Monkeys and Brothers. pic.twitter.com/1uVuuVS0Ee
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) April 2, 2018
Most Uncoordinated Thumbs Up Award
The infectious thumbs up. ???? #CPBL #NPB pic.twitter.com/z6SpRLBZlX
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) December 21, 2018
Play of the Year: Outfielder Edition
Definitely #CPBL play of the year material. #Fubon Guardians' 高孝儀 (Kao Hsiao-Yi) tracks a deep fly to the wall and leaps to make an outstanding catch to rob a 2-run home run! pic.twitter.com/0sSRpeAWue
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) April 15, 2018
Play of the Year: Infielder Edition
Another angle of 郭阜林 (Kuo Fu-Lin)'s off-balance throw. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/mV3ulS8PVW
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 6, 2018
Play of the Year: Fans Relay Catch Edition
Smooth bat flip from #Fubon Guardians' 林益全 (Lin Yi-Chuan) after launching a solo shot. Also a relay catch by fans. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/BoBFsiGE7T
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) April 29, 2018
Pitcher Acting Like Shortstop Award
#Fubon Guardians' 賴鴻誠 (Lai Hung-Cheng) deflects a comebacker and makes an acrobatic play to first base for the out. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/FmnzPKTXmx
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) April 11, 2018
Iron Hand Award
#UniLions' Twitch Streamer/ Setup man 邱浩鈞 (Chiu Hao-Chun) makes a barehanded play on a comebacker. ? #CPBL pic.twitter.com/98mpT6pTmG
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 25, 2018
Best Assisted Home Run Award
Well, here's a home run you don't see everyday. #Lamigo Monkeys' 王柏融 (Wang Po-Jung) belts his 2nd home run of the night with an assist by the left outfielder. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/VjQA8hi44g
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 13, 2018
Best Non-Human Assisted Putout Award
Here is a rare 6-3 putout with an assist from the photographers' safety net. #CPBL #Fubon pic.twitter.com/HRRFbYIDEz
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) April 19, 2018
Best Home Run Award: Amateur Edition
Team Taiwan takes the early lead with a 2-run homer from 林加祐 (Lin Chia-Yu) against Korea's Yang Hyun-Jong. #AsianGames2018 pic.twitter.com/z3OptRj75B
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 26, 2018
Best Home Run, Pitching of the Year Award
Talk about killing two birds with one stone. We have our 2018 home run of the year and pitching of the year award in the same video.
On October 7, the Uni-Lions’ Ryan Verdugo pitched a perfect game against the Chinatrust Brothers. What makes it extra special was Verdugo did it with his teammates Kuo Fu-Lin’s walk-off home run at the bottom of the ninth.
Which brings us to the next question, perhaps is the world’s first-ever Walk-Off Perfect Game?
You can not write a better script than this. #UniLions' Ryan Verdugo pitched 9 perfect innings and his teammates 郭阜林 (Kuo Fu-Lin) finished the game with a walk-off home run. Final score, Uni-Lions 1 : Brothers 0.
Verdugo's final line: 9IP, 0ER, 0H, 0BB, 8K, 92 pitches. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/0PvKnmW2vb
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) October 7, 2018
Longest Home Run Award
#Fubon Guardians' 蔣智賢 (Chiang Chih-Hsien) crushes a monster 2-run home run (460 to 490 ft?) out of the Xinzhuang stadium. ? #CPBL pic.twitter.com/XrCX8RRntE
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 19, 2018
Taunt of the Year
COME AT ME BRO! #CPBL #Fubon pic.twitter.com/cA0WgCBAUG
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) April 21, 2018
Mid-Inning Entertainment of the Year
More from Maurizio Zavatta the Guinness World Records holder for extreme tightrope walker in between innings. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/ycK0yZtbU7
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) April 21, 2018
Rain Delay Entertainment of the Year
I call the big one bitey. #CTBros #CPBL pic.twitter.com/ilyDlbYoS1
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) June 18, 2018
Creepiest Pre-Game Entertainment
In Taiwanese culture, the 7th month in the lunar calendar is regarded as the "Ghost Month". #CPBL #CTBros #CourtOfOwls pic.twitter.com/uTrvEjJbhs
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 12, 2018
Best Product Placement Entertainment
The 2018 vacuum cleaner dance! If you are interested, here all the previous Electrolux themed uniforms and the vaccum cleaner dance from 2014 to 2018. #CPBL https://t.co/2XnNDzThjx pic.twitter.com/CzPffJEC21
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) April 28, 2018
Most Unnecessary Pre-Game Entertainment
Oh nothing, just two kiwifruits dancing before the #CPBL game. pic.twitter.com/TLOxyLL8my
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) July 29, 2018
Secret Handshake of the Year
New home run celebration for #CTBros 陳子豪 (Chen Tzu-Hao) and Mitch Lively. ? #CPBL pic.twitter.com/qU7pbfe2w9
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 4, 2018
Cup Check of the Year
Cup check! #CPBL #CTBros pic.twitter.com/J7iulOm86l
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 4, 2018
Celebratory Gesture of the Year
If you're not down with that, we got two words for you.. The #UniLions channelling their inner WWE after securing a spot in the upcoming Taiwan Series. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/pcwOXHKyT9
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) October 23, 2018
It’s the Thought That Counts Award
Helping your trainer helping the injured teammate off the field. ? #CPBL #Fubon pic.twitter.com/hMYrpKHP8D
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 4, 2018
Taiwan-USA Cultural Exchange Award
English lesson from #CTBros' pitching coach Scott Budner. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/Mz3T3pEIdP
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 6, 2018
Confusion on the Field Award
The downside of having two orange colour teams on the field. ? #CPBL pic.twitter.com/1zMpPatjGG
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 6, 2018
Multiple Personality Disorder Award: Uniform Edition
Talk about multiple personality disorder in this #CPBL All-Star uniform by Mitchell & Ness.
– Taiwan
– Republic of China flag
– Chinese Taipei
– Formosan Mountain DogLook, I'm just a simple guy, make an uniform with only Team Taiwan and dog logo on it, you will have my money. pic.twitter.com/mmtEYOy1Vt
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) November 14, 2018
Multiple Personality Disorder Award: WBSC Edition
Always find it funny seeing tweets like this. Calling Taiwan "Chinese Taipei", but using the Taiwanese flag because "Chinese Taipei" is not a real country, and there's no emoticon for it.
Having said all that, should still check out the Women's Baseball World Cup though.?⚾️ pic.twitter.com/IKasfdvB2G
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 24, 2018
Best Strikeout Call: High School Edition
Came across this great umpire strikeout call while doing research on Taiwanese high school baseball. Oh the pitcher's name is 古林睿煬 (Ku-Lin Jui-Yang), 17-yr-old, 184cm, 81kg, fastball around 146kph. #UmpGifs #TWHSBaseball pic.twitter.com/fgEUorQfTq
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 9, 2018
Best Strikeout Call: University Edition
"L stands for Lethal!" Great strikeout call from World University Baseball Championship. This one is from Japanese umpire Akira Sakumoto, who is also a part-time kung-fu master. #UmpGifs pic.twitter.com/RXftEPQNxn
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) July 11, 2018
Best Premature Strikeout Call: Professional
When umpire forgot the count 🙂 #CPBL pic.twitter.com/sRpEMNlnQy
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 12, 2018
Bat Flip of the Year
#Fubon Guardians' 胡金龍 (Hu Chin-Lung) starts the game off with a bang. #CPBL #BatFlip pic.twitter.com/vheXruQWOM
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) September 23, 2018
Accidental Bat Flip of the Year
Different kind of bat flip from #Lamigo Monkeys' 藍寅倫 (Lan Yin-Lun) ? #CPBL pic.twitter.com/kZhNgKodjX
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 16, 2018
Prankster of the Year
Oh, 陳江和 (Chen Chiang-Ho) please never change ?. #CTBros #CPBL pic.twitter.com/UftZ81rOdB
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) May 24, 2018
When Themed Night Went Wrong Award
Wear your school uniform to the game tonight eh? ? #CPBL #Fubon pic.twitter.com/JptiYBMzUQ
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) June 9, 2018
When Going Around the Horn Went Wrong Award
[Taiwan High School Baseball] When going around the horn went wrong. #TWHSBaseball pic.twitter.com/WtkwQGBbSN
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) December 24, 2018
Glitch of the Year: Professional Edition
That's me walking down the stairs after my leg day. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/pqhEjInsQa
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) June 10, 2018
Glitch of the Year: Amateur Edition
Well, this is err… a very interesting way to pitch. Video taken from Taiwan's College Rubber Baseball Series. 鮑加安 (Bao Chia-An) allowed 1 earned run across 5 innings with 6 walks and 12 strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/uuz9yZSppT
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) December 27, 2018
Snack Mule of the Year
When you are the youngest player on the team. 19-year-old #CTBros RHP陳柏豪 (Chen Po-Hao) is on bullpen snack duty with Doraemon backpack ?. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/xVbtO0Jfzn
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) July 26, 2018
Underdog Award: When Amateurs Beat KBO All-Star
Great start of the tournament for Team Taiwan tonight. Final score, Taiwan 2 : Korea 1 #AsianGames2018 pic.twitter.com/RJT7qAkR8d
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 26, 2018
Tactical Smoke Bomb Deployment Award
#Lamigo Monkeys' Zeke Spruill threw a tactical smoke grenade. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/ST1p4MAVif
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) September 22, 2018
Pain of the Year: Positional Player
#UniLions' 鄧志偉 (Teng Chih-Wei) gets carried off the field on a stretcher after a nasty accident while sliding into second base. ?? #CPBL pic.twitter.com/g50oMAXOki
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) September 23, 2018
Pain of the Year: Pitcher
[Asia Winter Baseball League] #Hanshin Tigers' Masumi Hamachi (浜地真澄) was drilled in the face by a comebacker. ? #NPB pic.twitter.com/D3Gx9eygsZ
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) December 9, 2018
Random Game Interrupted Award
[Asia Winter Baseball League] Ah yes, I see you guys are playing baseball. Here's 5 minutes of firework. Turns out it was from an event next to the stadium celebrating the Bank of Taichung's 65th anniversary. pic.twitter.com/1DiY2F1zc5
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) December 12, 2018
Cutest Baseball Fan Award
Cute kid watching baseball ❤️ pic.twitter.com/EmIz2WZq4o
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) December 14, 2018
