Grounds in Shock, “What’s to Become of the Games?”

“Can’t even sleep. We have no idea who will be next.”

Such is the concern that burdens anyone involved in professional baseball these days. It is because of the “tempest” that is sweeping the ground for military service evasions. A number of professional baseball players are featured in newspapers and TV programs with their faces hidden inside caps.

With the post-season, better known as “Autumn Festival,” coming in a few days, festivity is no where to be found in the stadium. Seats are empty and even the cheerleaders disappeared; there isn’t much to cheer about. Ever since September 4, when this crackdown on players who fraudulently evaded the draft started, the average number of baseball fans watching the games at the stadiums was well below 2,000.

The total number of spectators who visited four major stadiums in the nation on September 9 was 6,313. That is an average of 1,500 per stadium. It is not even half of the regular season average of 4,608. With their fellow players taken away on subpoenas, those who are left did not seem too eager to play; what they were certainly eager to do was to finish the game as soon as possible.

All four games on that day ended sometime within three hours, quite a rarity. The game between Lotte and LG at Sajik Stadium ended in two hours and 22 minutes. That is 50 minutes short of regular season average of game time, three hours and 10 minutes. Such melancholy lets the people see the greatest crisis that professional baseball has ever faced since its birth in 1982. The number of players named in the client list of the broker who helped them out of military service jumped from the original number of 50 reported by the police to over 110. There was a team with 39 players accused of military service evasion. Forty of the players in eight teams are considered among the very best in professional baseball.

Although the list has its flaws, naming those who have finished their military duties, the fact that such evasion was done in an organized fashion at such a scale is enough to become a critical calamity that warns against moral hazard in the field of professional baseball as a whole.

One of the players pointed out, “The biggest concern is that it will bring about misunderstanding by the fans that players gave into the temptation thinking little of the consequences since there are so many players who chose to resort to such actions.”

The real reason for their choice, as he meant, is that players have to give up their career in their mid to late twenties, while their physical fitness is at the peak, if they have to serve in the military. Even if they go back to the field, the financial loss will mount up to several billions of won when it comes to the top stars. On top of that the Free Agent system that promises the dream of the “big break” only enticed the players into taking chances with the improper decision.

After the crackdown, the regular season and playoffs cannot be expected. The public looks on with disapproving eyes, and with more and more fans turning their backs on the games, the stadium is sure to freeze up. Even with some continued streams of spectators, the game will not be the same because of the absence of some players and coaching staff.

However, the president of Korea Baseball Organization, Lee Sang-gook denied any intention of ending the season. “The games will go on no matter the circumstances.”

A star player that was charged with evasion of military draft said, “This is most regrettable, but I will do the best I can while I still have my uniform on,” and added, “The games will continue and we need more support now than ever.”

Once loved by everyone as a national sport, pro-baseball’s integrity was greatly undermined with this crackdown. The bigger problem, however, is that there seem to be no way out of the situation.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com