Byung-hyun Kim
A trailblazing Korean pitcher whose devastating submarine delivery brought World Series glory and heartbreak, changing how MLB scouted Asian talent.
Born 1979 (age 47)·South Korean baseball player·Birthday: January 19·Generation X
Biography
Byung-hyun Kim arrived in Arizona as a slight, unknown rookie with a delivery that baffled hitters: a true submarine sling that saw the ball rise from the dirt. He quickly became a sensation, a lockdown closer with a lethal slider. In 2001, he saved 19 games for the Diamondbacks and was nearly untouchable in the postseason—until the World Series. There, in two consecutive nights in Yankee Stadium, he suffered devastating blown saves, surrendering game-tying homers in the ninth inning that became instant baseball lore. Yet, his team rallied to win the title, and Kim returned to save 36 games the next year. His career was a rollercoaster of high-pressure moments, including a trade to Boston where he started games in the 2004 playoffs. While his later years were marred by injuries and inconsistency, Kim's impact was profound. He proved a pitcher from Korea could dominate in the majors, paving the way for a generation of talent and forcing scouts to look seriously at the Korean Baseball Organization.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Byung-hyun was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Byung-hyun Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Byung-hyun's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded 86 saves for the Arizona Diamondbacks, including a career-high 36 in 2002, and was a key part of their 2001 World Series championship team.
- Became the first South Korean-born pitcher to appear in a World Series game and to record a save in the MLB postseason.
- Struck out 16 batters in a single game as a starter for the Boston Red Sox in 2003, showcasing his versatility.
- Finished in the top 10 for the NL Cy Young Award in 2002 after his 36-save season.
Did You Know?
He was famously nicknamed 'BK' and his submarine style inspired the creation of a fictional character in the Japanese anime 'Major.'
Kim served mandatory military service in South Korea as a sports instructor after the 2004 season.
He attempted a comeback as a knuckleball pitcher in the minors in 2015 before officially retiring.
In the 2001 World Series, he gave up game-tying home runs to Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius on back-to-back nights, two of the most famous homers in Series history.
“I threw the best pitch I could, and he hit it.”
