Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato announced Thursday his resignation to take the fall for the uproar over the secretly altered baseball.

The 72-year-old Kato, who was elected to a third two-year term in July last year, said he will quit after the regular season, which ends Oct. 6, but no later than Oct. 25 — the day before the Japan Series starts.

"I caused a lot of problems over the ball, and that was a huge reason for my decision," Kato said following an owners' meeting at which he relayed his resignation to the 12 teams.