Retirement games, or "intai shiai," are common in Japanese baseball, but the one that took place in Sendai on Aug. 9 was a most unusual occurrence.
![News photo](/images/photos2005/sb20050814wga.jpg)
Yokohama BayStars closer Kazuhiro Sasaki made his final appearance as an active player, going out in a blaze of glory but not without controversy and some criticism over how, where and when his last trip to the mound took place.