Pro-baseball Betrayers

The Commissioner of Nippon Professional Baseball, Katsuhiko Kumazaki, made a decision to permanently disqualify three pitchers affiliated to Yomiuri Giants on Tuesday. They were suspected as committing gambling over baseball games, which should be accused to be inappropriate as professional baseball players. This is the first case for NPB to be involved in major gambling case since 1969, when match-fixing by the players with Nishitetsu Lions, or Black Fog Incident, shook the pro-baseball leagues.

Three players involved in gambling were Satoshi Fukuda, Shoki Kasahara and Ryuya Matsumoto. Giants announced last month that Fukuda had involved in gambling over high-school baseball championship this year and some games of Giants. Later, it was revealed that the relationship between Fukuda and a private gambler was introduced by Kasahara. Kasahara and Matsumoto committed gambling over ten or more pro-baseball games last year. The Contract of NPB prohibits pro-baseball players commit any gambling.

Permanent disqualification is the heaviest penalty following permanent expulsion. As long as evidence of match-fixing was not found from three players, the commissioner chose the second-worst penalty. NPB also vested penalty on Giants of ¥10 million for its failure in controlling its players. Although Giants, as the first professional baseball team in Japan, had been a central figure of popularity to baseball, credibility not on the team but on the pro-baseball as a whole may collapse with the scandal.

One important point is whether the gambling was about three players and a private gambler. It is common that illegal mafia has been involved in baseball gambling behind the scenes. Gambling is generally one of the major incomes for yakuza organization. In 2010, a number of sumo wrestlers and coaches were exposed as committing match-fixing and baseball gambling, which was presented by some members of Japanese mafia. It is doubted that baseball league might also have close relationship with criminal organizations.

NPB has to expose all facts about the gambling scandal. Although pro-baseball is recognized in a context of business, it is also a matter of education for kids or popular amusement prevalent in the society. If the players had been committing match-fixing, it should be a betrayer to the public. Gambling is generally a crime in Japanese laws. Some other players with Giants are suspected as being involved in other gambling cases. Police or prosecutors office have to reveal true story inside professional baseball leagues.