Hung Tai-shan

Hung Tai-shan was a Taiwanese baseball catcher and outfielder who played on the Kano [baseball team] in the Japanese-rule era and several amateur teams after World War II.

Early life and education

Hung was born in Kagi, Tainan Prefecture in 1924. He attended the Kagi Agricultural and Forestry School and played on the baseball team.

Playing career

Hung was a slugger who gained the nickname, “Babe Ruth of Taiwan.” After World War II, Hung moved to Kaohsiung and competed several times in the Provincial Games, representing Penghu and Kaohsiung. In the 1946 Provincial Games, he was batting champion.
Hung represented the Taiwanese national team in 3 consecutive Asian [Baseball Championship]s, acting as team captain in 1954 and 1955. He retired from his playing career following the 1959 tournament.

Later life and legacy

After retiring from playing, Hung served as a consultant for the Kaohsiung Baseball Committee to help develop Taiwanese baseball. He was inducted into the Taiwanese Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2019. He died on 10 June 2019, at the age of 97.