Mon, Nov 04, 2002 page3

• `Flying Knife' changes his game for Taipei's politics

  DIAMOND MOUND? As a feared pitcher for the Brother Elephants, Chen Yi-hsin was once one of Taiwan's favorite baseball players. Now he is looking for another home run

  • By Ko Shu-Ling / STAFF REPORTER
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  A country boy from the Aboriginal Ami tribe in Hualien County once stood on a baseball diamond and pitched his way into the nation's consciousness, but now Chen Yi-hsin (陳義信) is looking to make a different contribution.

  The 39-year-old Chen, once known as "The Flying Knife," is running for a Taipei City councilor seat.

  

  Kaohsing County Commissioner Yu Cheng-hsien, left, stands as former pro baseball player and DPP candidate for Taipei City councilor Chen Yi-Hsin, center, shakes hands with Kaohsiung City Mayor Frank Hsieh.

  PHOTO: TAIPEI TIME FILE PHOTO

  After he lost his bid in last year's legislative election, Chen joined the DPP and he is in high gear as he campaigns for the seat. The election is slated for Dec. 7, the same day as the mayoral elections for Taipei and Kaohsiung cities.

  Before getting his feet wet in politics, Chen played professional baseball for 10 years. He was named the most valuable player of the year for four consecutive years and he struck out 1,000 players in eight years.

  Prior to his career in Taiwan, he played professional baseball in Japan for three years.

  Self-confident and good-looking, the internationally acclaimed pitcher thought his professional career would reach its climax as a player for Taiwan's Brother Elephants (兄弟象).

  Yet gambling scandals and the creation of another pro-baseball association prompted baseball fans to turn their backs on the sport.

  The Chinese-Taipei Baseball Association (中華民國棒協) started the nation's first Professional League (職棒聯盟) in 1989.

  In 1997, the Naluwan Professional Baseball Company (那魯灣職棒公司) began a second pro league, the Taiwan Major League (台灣大聯盟).

  Many baseball observers attribute a decrease in the quality of play to the establishment of the second league as the creation of many more teams made it significantly easier to go pro.

  Eventually fans became disenchanted with the already struggling game and the sport suffered a near-fatal blow when a betting scandal surfaced.

  Among the players alleged to have taken bribes from organized crime to throw games, Chen -- dubbed by some critics as a "sleek demon" for his personal characteristics -- was singled out by the press as the player most likely to have committed a crime.

  The Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau failed to find any evidence against him and exonerated Chen.

  Commenting on Chen's candidacy, a senior sports reporter covering baseball said that it did not strike him as surprising to see Chen entering politics.

  "He's intelligent and an extraordinary baseball player. We've known all along that he's interested in politics," the reporter said, who refused to be named.

  He added that Chen had intended to go back to Hualien to run for a county councilor position after losing his legislative bid last year but decided to stay in Taipei.

  "I wouldn't be surprised if he made a comeback if he loses this time around," he said.

  Lo Shih-hsing (羅世幸), a former pro baseball player who has known Chen since the fifth grade, said, "Since he's the kind of guy who is persistent and not afraid to stand up for himself, I believe politics is not a bad thing for him to pursue after all."

  Lured by more money and better benefits to the Naluwan Professional Baseball Company, Chen left the Brother Elephants to pursue a better playing environment.

  The move, however, drew much criticism because many fans considered him as "ungrateful."

  Lo, however, disagreed.

  "It's not all about money, you know. The message he wanted to get across here is that talented players deserve better pay and better treatment," Lo said.

  Recruited by the government as a seed player, Lo had been in the same schools and teams with Chen since little league, all the way up to the majors.

  During his 11 years as a pro, Lo hit a record 23 home runs in one year and was named best second-baseman twice.

  He retired two years ago because of waist injury and joined the Bureau of Public Works under the Taipei City Government, doing road repair work.

  "It's taken me awhile to adjust to such a different life, but what can I do? Life must go on," he said.

  Commenting on the controversy surrounding Chen, Lo said that he has always believed in the innocence of his childhood friend.

  "I believe that the allegations must have a lot to do with his being a popular public figure and a talented baseball player," Lo said.

  If there is any advice for Chen, Lo said, he should be a little more patient. Other than that, he is perfect, Lo added.
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