Taipei: Wei Chuan Dragons slugger Ngayaw?Ake’, the all-time home run leader in Taiwan’s professional baseball, ended his 22-season career on Sunday with his 305th homer. The 43-year-old veteran connected in the bottom of the sixth inning at the Taipei Dome, hitting his first and only home run of the season to give his team an 11-0 lead over the TSG Hawks. The Dragons secured an 11-1 victory after the Hawks scored their only run in the top of the eighth.

According to Focus Taiwan, Ngayaw?Ake’ has held the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) record since his 290th home run in 2022, surpassing Chang Tai-shan. Every subsequent home run extended both his personal and the league’s record. Since debuting on June 3, 2004, Ngayaw?Ake’ has consistently ranked among the CPBL’s top five in numerous offensive categories, establishing himself as one of the league’s greatest hitters.

To honor his retirement, the Dragons organized performances by pop singer Jam Hsiao after Friday’s game, Mandopop superstar A-Mei on Saturday, and Taiwanese singer and actor Richie Jen at Sunday’s finale. The team described the collaboration with A-Mei as not only a meeting of sports and entertainment but also a celebration of philanthropy between two Indigenous icons.

Ngayaw?Ake’ has been a long-time supporter of youth baseball in rural Indigenous communities through the Taiwan Indigenous Baseball Development Association (TIBDA). A-Mei has also contributed to the cause, donating 1,000 gloves annually since 2020 for the TIBDA’s Care Cup tournament.