Wendell Kim - One of the most dedicated third base coaches in Major League Baseball (MLB) has been reported dead at the age of 64.
Wendell Kim, who has been battling with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease, reportedly died in Arizona on Sunday. Kim was diagnosed with the rapidly debilitative disease towards the end of his professional coaching career.
Kim had reportedly lost most of his cognitive abilities - including his memory. Prior to his death, he was reportedly living at a special care givers facility.
At the twilight of his life, Kim looked starkly different from the energetic third base coach, who earned the name"Wave 'Em Home Wendell" for the way he urged his players during a home run.
Although he was born in Hawaii, Kim and his family moved to California when he was still a boy. Kim is one of the first people with Korean-American heritage to don an MLB uniform. Despite his rough childhood and being relatively small at 5-feet-4, he excelled in sports.
At a young age, Kim was forced to give up boxing for baseball after his abusive father, who was a boxer, got killed by the mob. He played baseball in High School and made such a great impression on the field that he continued to play the game in college. At the California State Polytechnic University, Kim played for three years. He was even selected to join the team of the All-State Collegiate Athletic Association.
After graduating, he was signed by the San Francisco Giants as a free agent after visiting the team's training camp. Despite an impressive season, Kim was not destined to make it to the major league and he was released by the team.
It was then that he started his successful coaching career. Kim coached several small teams before landing the job of the Giants third base coach. He held the position for a few years, before moving on to join Boston Red Sox and later Chicago Cubs.
Kim is best remembered for his willingness to stand up and take responsibility when his decisions on the pitch didn't turn out well.
He is survived by his wife Natasha, as well as his son and a grandson.
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