Lin Chih-Sheng Ends CPBL Career With a Perfect Swing
There must be a baseball god, because you simply cannot write a better script for a retirement game. In the most dramatic fashion, Wei Chuan Dragons’ 林智勝 (Lin Chih-Sheng / Ngayaw Ake’), the CPBL’s all-time home run king, crushed a home run in his final career plate appearance, pushing his record total to 305.
It was the kind of scenario pulled straight out of a baseball dream. Moments like this are what separate regular players from legends, those destined to rise under pressure and leave fans with timeless memories by giving them exactly what they want to see.
Coming into that at-bat, Lin Chih-Sheng was 0-for-9 across the three-game retirement series. At 43, with declining power, expectations were modest. It was safe to assume that CPBL fans only hoped to see him reach on base with a base hit so they could send him off properly.
But in the bottom of the sixth inning, what looked to be Lin Chih-Sheng’s final trip to the plate became a timeless moment in CPBL history. With 40,000 fans at the Taipei Dome on their feet, singing his iconic walk-up song one last time, Lin took a moment to acknowledge the crowd before stepping into the box.
“Before my last plate appearance, the home plate umpire told me to walk slower to the batter’s box, so the fans can cherish this moment and thank me for my years of service,” Lin Chih-Sheng revealed this heartwarming gesture from the umpire to Liberty Sports after the game.
After working the count to 1-0, the magic happened. Lin Chih-Sheng turned on a fastball up the middle and launched it deep to left for a solo home run. The stadium instantly erupted. As the 22-season veteran circled the bases for the last time, he received a standing ovation not only from fans and teammates but also from the opposing dugout. When he returned to his bench, the crowd thundered his name, “Lin Chih-Sheng, Lin Chih-Sheng”, over and over again, sealing the perfect ending to a legendary CPBL career.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I could finish my career on a home run. I’m just glad I can give what the fans want to see,” said Lin Chih-Sheng to Liberty Sports.
During the retirement ceremony, the Wei Chuan Dragons team owner announced that Lin Chih-Sheng will take on a coaching role in the future. As for what sort of coaching role? It will be up to the Dragons manager to decide at a later stage.
“Today, Lin Chih-Sheng transitions from a Wei Chuan Dragons player to a coach. We will not only rely on his professional skills in hitting, but also learn from his unwavering spirit, which is the true legacy he will pass on,” said the Dragons’ team owner Wei Ying-Chung.
“Becoming a coach is a little intimidating since I’ll need to guide over forty players, not just focus on myself, but I’m ready to face that challenge. The harder it is, the more determined I am to start from zero, learn step by step, and help every player reach their full potential for the team and our fans,” said Lin Chih-Sheng to ETtoday.
Lin/Ngayaw’s record won’t be broken for a while unless the CPBL juices up their baseballs again.
I prefer a baseball where the CPBL leader would hit around 30 a season.