Father of Taiwan Baseball

Moving to Japan at a young age, Mr. Hsieh attended elementary school there and even won a mock election as a 'Member of the House of Representatives.' He played on the soccer team at Tokyo Prefectural Fifth Middle School and later entered Waseda University, absorbing much from Japanese educational philosophy. However, he strongly opposed the Japanese colonial rule of Taiwan. He enthusiastically supported the nationalist movements championed by his Taiwanese peers in Japan, actively participating in speeches and marches.

During middle school, he befriended many anti-Japanese literati and engaged in petition movements for the establishment of a Taiwan Parliament. While at Waseda University, he became a special correspondent for the Taiwan New Minpao, writing political commentary under the pen name 'Chang Wan-li.' These experiences highlight his complex and profound historical ties with Japan.

Following the end of World War II in 1945, Taiwan entered a period of recovery, yet baseball was already the most popular sport. It wasn't until 1949, when Hsieh Tung-Min, then Chairman of the Taiwan Cooperative Bank, aligned with the establishment of the 'Taiwan Sports Association' to form the 'Taiwan Provincial Baseball Committee,' that baseball gained official recognition. Mr. Hsieh served as a standing committee member.

The baseball fever that swept Taipei during the Japanese era gradually shifted southward after the Nationalist government relocated to Taiwan, creating a divide of 'baseball in the south, basketball in the north.' At this time, baseball received minimal government support and relied almost entirely on private, grassroots efforts.

In 1957, to promote national sports, the government established the 'National Baseball Committee.' When Mr. Hsieh took over as Secretary-General, the committee's total assets amounted to just 72 dollars. At the time, an average civil servant earned 514 dollars a month, and 72 dollars could only buy 10 bottles of sake.

Mr. Hsieh dedicated his post-war years to aggressively promoting baseball in Taiwan, propelling the nation onto the global stage and achieving the prestigious 'Triple Crown' across Little League, Junior League, and Senior League. A true practitioner of sports professionalism, Mr. Hsieh passed away in 1980 at the age of 69. His only regret was not seeing Taiwan's adult national team dominate the world stage.

In an era when the government neglected baseball, funding was scarce, and many hadn't even heard of a 'base hit,' Mr. Hsieh fought to build the Taipei Municipal Baseball Stadium. He invited foreign teams for exhibition games, promoted the three-tier student baseball system, and led the Golden Dragons Little League team to defeat Japan and conquer Williamsport, opening a brilliant new chapter in Taiwan's baseball history.

In honor of his monumental contributions, the baseball community reverently remembers Mr. Hsieh Kuo-Cheng as the 'Father of Taiwan Little League Baseball' and the 'Father of Taiwan Baseball.'

Following Mr. Hsieh's passing, the foundation established by Dr. Hsieh Nan-Chiang continues to promote the sport through the annual 'Hsieh Kuo-Cheng Cup.' It has also created scholarships to reward schools that demonstrate excellence in baseball.

The foundation continually supports underfunded and highly-performing youth baseball teams with equipment donations, encouraging young athletes to work hard and excel on the field.

Since its inception, the foundation's annual Hsieh Kuo-Cheng Cup championships for Little League and Junior League have elevated the level of domestic competition and popularized the sport, keeping Mr. Hsieh's enduring legacy alive.