Former Lafayette Drillers’ Fan Favorite Wendell Kim Passes Away

Wendell Kim, a fan favorite for the Lafayette Drillers back in 1975 and 1976 seasons, passed away over the weekend.

A native of Hawaii, Kim died at his Phoenix, Arizona home. He was 64.

Kim, a pint-sized second baseman, was a fan favorite, who never made it to Major League Baseball as a player, but did spend 14 years as a third base coach/bench coach, with the likes of the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Montreal Expos, and Chicago Cubs.

At 5-foot-5, 160 pounds, Kim brought passion and enthusiasm to the park everyday for the Drillers, who called Clark Field their home for two seasons of play in the Texas League.

Kim split time at second base in 1975, playing in 57 games there, and seven more at shortstop, while hitting a .238, with 19 runs batted, and three stolen bases.

In 1976, his second season in Lafayette, Kim became the full-time second baseman for the Drillers, and led the team in hitting, at a .305, hits, with 164, and runs scored, with 71, while hitting six homers, and driving in 45 runs.

Kim, who was also regarded as a very good defensive player, made it as high as AAA ball the next two seasons, but never made it to MLB.

Still, any Lafayette Driller fan that ever had any kind of contact with Wendell Kim will always consider him a true All-Star.