《紅土丘上的鬥魂》郭泰源


「棒球不單只是運動而已,棒球是靈魂的事業。」
“Baseball is more than just a sport. It’s a career that requires the dedication of your soul.”


 郭泰源,台灣棒球迷心中永遠的「東方特快車」。他曾被日本球迷公認為史上最強的「助拳手」,日本球評讚許為「控球藝術家」。1983年奧運棒球資格賽一役,中華代表隊投手郭泰源創下一天連投17局,連勝韓日完封無失分的紀錄,讓台灣取得奧運門票;1984年,台灣棒球第一次挺進奧運,郭泰源投出了158KM球速震驚世界,不僅讓世界看到台灣,郭泰源的人生自此也有了重大轉變。

Tai-yuan Kuo is the forever “Oriental Express” in the minds of Taiwanese baseball fans. He was widely recognized by Japanese fans as the most powerful supporting player of all time, and Japanese critics acclaimed him as a ball control artist. In the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 1983, he pitched two shutouts against Korea and Japan with then-record-setting 17 consecutive scoreless innings in one single day, lifting Taiwan into the Olympics. In 1984, the Chinese Taipei baseball team made its first Olympic appearance. A blistering 158 km/h fastball pitched by Kuo stunned the world, which made Taiwan visible to the world and greatly changed Kuo’s life as well.

 1985年,郭泰源加盟日本職棒,他被稱為締造西武王朝的台灣英雄。在日本奮鬥13年受到偶像級的待遇,但他從未迷失自我。從西武隊退休時,面對日本職棒球團競相邀約加入教練團,他選擇將所學貢獻台灣。郭泰源認為:棒球不單只是運動,棒球是靈魂的事業,也是面對人生的智慧和哲學。做為投手,郭泰源自信而霸氣,勇於和對手正面對決,在球場上,他臉上永遠沒有多餘表情,腦中則運轉著控球策略。做為教練,他絕對信任選手,教導球員享受比賽過程,鼓勵球員堅持自己的信念。在郭泰源心中,棒球比賽的勝負只是結果,但建立一個彼此信任且拚搏的團隊,才能真正向世界展現台灣精神,他讓我們看到競技運動存在著更珍貴且超越輸贏的價值。

In 1985, Kuo signed with Nippon Professional Baseball, and was seen as a hero from Taiwan who helped create the Seibu Dynasty. Although idolized during his 13 years in Japan, he never lost himself. On his retirement from the Seibu Lions, many professional baseball teams in Japan were eager to welcome him to the coaching staff, and yet he chose to contribute his experience to Taiwan. Kuo thinks that baseball is more than just a sport. It is a career that requires the dedication of your soul. Also, it is wisdom and philosophy that can be applied to your life. As a pitcher, Kuo is confident and aggressive, not afraid to confront the hitter with fastballs. He always wears a poker face on the court, and keeps working on better pitching strategies. As a coach, he trusts his players completely, teaches them to enjoy the game, and encourages them to stand firm on their own beliefs. In Kuo’s mind, winning or losing is just the result of a baseball game. What matters most is for team members to build trust in each other and be willing to fight for the same goal. This is the demonstration of what we call the “spirit of Taiwan.” He has shown to us the precious value of competitive sports that goes beyond winning and losing.