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Chang Chih-chia

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Chang Chih-chia
Chang in 2009
Pitcher
Born: (1980-05-06)6 May 1980
Xihu, Changhua, Taiwan
Died: 1 January 2024(2024-01-01) (aged 43)
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
NPB statistics
Win–loss record26–19
Earned run average3.81
Strikeouts352
CPBL statistics
Win–loss record13–13
Earned run average4.14
Strikeouts154
Teams

Chang Chih-chia (Chinese: 張誌家; pinyin: Zhāng Zhìjiā; 6 May 1980 – 1 January 2024) was a Taiwanese baseball player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics and in the 2008 Summer Olympics.[1]

Career

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Chang pitched professionally with the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball and the La New Bears of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. Chang signed with the Seibu Lions after pitching in the 2001 Baseball World Cup, during which he pitched to a 4–0 win–loss record, a 0.36 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 25+1⁄3 innings. Chang's NPB contract included a signing bonus of ¥120 million (US$845,885), the largest signing bonus given to a Taiwanese NPB player. Chang pitched for the Lions from 2002 to 2004, and produced a 26–19 record, 352 strikeouts and a 3.81 ERA. During the 2002 NPB season, Chang set a league record by recording strikeouts in 28 consecutive innings. This record was later broken by Dennis Sarfate in 2015. Chang made his final NBP appearances in the 2004 season, and spent the rest of his Japanese baseball career in the minor leagues for injury rehabilitation, and was subsequently released in 2006. After recovering from his injuries, Chang returned to Taiwan to pitch for the Chinese Professional Baseball League's La New Bears from 2008 to 2009. He was linked to the 2009 Chinese Professional Baseball League scandal [zh], and banned from the league later that season. Match-fixing allegations resulted in legal action against Chang. In 2014, the Taiwan High Court commuted Chang's four-month prison sentence to a NT$120,000 fine.[2]

Personal life

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Following the end of his baseball career, Chang found work in Taichung as a chef, and also played golf.[2] Chang died in Shenzhen, China, where he was playing softball, of a heart attack[3] on 1 January 2024. He was 43.[2][4][5]

References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Chang Chih-chia". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Yeh, Joseph (2 January 2024). "BASEBALL/Ex-Taiwanese ace, Seibu Lions hurler Chang Chih-chia dead at 43". Central News Agency. Retrieved 2 January 2024. Republished as: "Ex-pitching star Chang Chih-chia dies". Taipei Times. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Controversial Taiwanese pitcher dies suddenly in China at age 43 | Taiwan News | Jan. 3, 2024 11:51". taiwannews.com.tw. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  4. ^ 世界新聞網. "台前職棒名投張誌家驚傳猝逝 享年43歲 母證實死訊". Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  5. ^ "張誌家約定回台打球聯繫不上 姊請友人宿舍查看驚見跪椅亡│TVBS新聞網". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
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