Yukio Sunahara

BayStars owner Yukio Sunahara (pictured) announced his resignation hours before Hanshin Tigers owner Shunjiro Kuma said he would quit along with club president Katsuyoshi Nozaki after both clubs tried to lure Ichiba by paying money in violation of collegiate baseball bylaws.

Shunjiro Kuma

According to sources, a Yokohama scout paid a total of ¥600,000 to the highly touted 22-year-old former Meiji University pitcher.

At an Oct. 22 news conference, the Tigers admitted that they paid a total of ¥250,000 to Ichiba.

Yasuhiro Ichiba

In August, Yomiuri Giants owner Tsuneo Watanabe stepped down following revelations that Yomiuri had broken collegiate rules by paying ¥2 million to Ichiba.

In other baseball news, the Seibu Lions defeated the Chunichi Dragons 7-2 in the deciding game of the Japan Series on Oct. 25 to win their first championship since 1992.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 30, 2004
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