Early Japanese Baseball.

[JACKIE42]

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Waseda baseball players sitting on the bench on the sidelines at a game against the University of Chicago played at Marshall Field. Marshall Field (renamed Stagg Field in 1915. Date- 1911

[JACKIE42]

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Japanese baseball player K. Tanaka, Waseda, on the field at Stagg Field.- 1921

[JACKIE42]

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Japanese baseball player G. Taniguchi, Waseda- 1921

[JACKIE42]

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Japanese baseball player O. Shita, Waseda- 1921

[JACKIE42]

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Japanese baseball player T. Kubata, Waseda,- 1921

[JACKIE42]

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Japanese baseball players of the Waseda University baseball team, wearing street clothes and military uniforms, standing in front of a passenger train car in a railroad station in Chicago, Illinois. 1911

[JACKIE42]

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Japanese baseball player Matsuda, Waseda team captain, in front of a passenger train car in a railroad station. 1911

[JACKIE42]

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Japanese baseball player Matsuda, Waseda team captain, and University of Chicago baseball captain Frank Collings- 1911

[JACKIE42]

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Japanese baseball player Houkabou, Waseda- 1911

[JACKIE42]

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University of Chicago baseball player sliding into home plate during a game against the Waseda baseball team played at Marshall Field. 1911

[JACKIE42]

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Japanese baseball captain S. Takanatsu, Waseda, standing on the field at Stagg Field- 1921

[JACKIE42]

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Waseda baseball players sitting on a bench and warming up on the field for a game against the University of Chicago played at Marshall Field. Marshall Field (renamed Stagg Field in 1915)- 1911

[JACKIE42]

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Baseball players and a "Waseda" banner at a Waseda University (Japan)-University of Chicago game. 1911

[JACKIE42]

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Play at first base during Waseda University (Japan)-University of Chicago baseball game. 1911

[JACKIE42]

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Waseda baseball players and University of Chicago's Pat Page- 1911

[JACKIE42]

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Waseda baseball players sitting on a bench and standing with Coach Stagg (University of Chicago football) and Pat Page on the field for a game against the University of Chicago- 1911

[JACKIE42]

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First base action during Waseda University (Japan)-University of Chicago baseball game. 1911

[JACKIE42]

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Washington U. played 10 games against top Japanese university teams, winning six and losing four. The postcards in this lot depict the team playing against Waseda and Keio universities. 1908

[JACKIE42]

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Wisconsin University was one of the first American teams to tour Japan to play Japanese university teams. Two of these postcards depict games between Wisconsin and Keio U., while the other depicts a match with Waseda U. Wisconsin won only two of eight Tour games. 1909

[JACKIE42]

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In 1910, 1915 and 1920, the University of Chicago team toured Japan, playing Japanese university teams. Two postcards depict games played against Waseda U., while the other depicts a game between Chicago and Keio U. The one used postcard is written by an American (team member?) named Clem during the 1915 Tour. "12,000 to 15,000 present. Chicago 5, Waseda 3. Fine game."

[JACKIE42]

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The scene depicted on this postcard is the Broad Street office of the Philadelphia Telegraph newspaper during the 1915 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox. During each game, the Telegraph displayed a large sign containing the lineups, line score and play-by-play action of the game in progress. Tens of thousands of Philadelphians jammed the street around the display board, hanging on every pitch. Alas, the Red Sox won the World Series in five games. You can tell from the result that this was a really long time ago! The caption text, printed in Japanese, describes the scene

[JACKIE42]

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The postcard contains Japanese text below the photo. The 1920 Indians players depicted are (from left to right): Wambsganss, Johnston, Gardner, HOFer Joe Sewell and Barnes. The caption discusses the legendary triple play which occurred during the 1920 World Series.

[JACKIE42]

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Upon completion of the highly successful San Francisco Seals Tour of Japan which followed the 1949 season, members of the All Japan team were invited by Lefty O'Doul to join the San Francisco Seals for spring training in 1951. This photo shows the All Japan team disembarking from their Pan American Airways flight to the US. Pictured are Japan Hall of Fame Members Tokuro Konishi, Tetsuharu Kawakami, Makoto Kozuru, Fumio Fujimura, Shigeru Sugishita and Lefty O'Doul. Also present in the picture is Tour organizer Cappy Harada.

[JACKIE42]

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the US team's arrival in Tokyo. The entire team is clearly visible in the photo. Players pictured include Yogi Berra, Bob Lemon, Nellie Fox, Enos Slaughter, Ed Mathews, Billy Martin, Robin Roberts and Ed Lopat. 1953

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Wow! great pitctures!! Where did you find them...

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Great pictures Jackie, as usual!

Japanese baseball... It's something different for the change!! :clapping :clapping

[JACKIE42]

Wow! great pitctures!! Where did you find them...

Glad you like the photo's, i find them by searching the internet.

[JACKIE42]

Great pictures Jackie, as usual!

Japanese baseball... It's something different for the change!! :clapping :clapping

Thank you.

[JACKIE42]

Not a Typical College Road Trip
By David Marasco

In 1910 the University of Chicago baseball team undertook an unusual road trip. They accepted an invitation from Tokyo's Waseda and Keio universities for a series of games in Japan. The trip began in September, which meant special plans for the ballplayers. The athletes took Summer classes (including Japanese) as they would miss the Fall offerings. They took advantage of their time in Chicago to practice baseball. Their competition also made good use of the time. Waseda was coached by Albert "Stuffy" Place and Fred Merrifield, two UoC baseball alumni. Waseda spent two months training in Hawaii, where Ned Jones of the Japan Advertiser (Tokyo) claims that the team "more than held its own with all the teams that were brought out to meet them." Keio's coaching staff included minor leaguer Art Schaeffer and New York Giant Tommy Thompson. Their highlight was the 3-2 defeat of the USN cruiser New Orleans. The sailors of the New Orleans had toured the ports of the Pacific and won 19 straight games before running into Keio. The two Japanese teams were practicing for four hours a day in preparation for the Americans. But before Waseda and Keio could face Chicago the Maroons would have to get to Tokyo.

To reach Tokyo the Maroons first had to leave Chicago. By necessity they could not take Amos Alonzo Stagg, he had a football team to coach. The men selected to represent Chicago were thirteen in total, a number that would have spooked the typical superstitious ballplayer of the early century. The squad was lead by Professor Gilbert Bliss and consisted of Pat Page, Joe Pegues, Collings, Cleary, Boyle, O. Roberts, P. Roberts, Baird, Sunderland, Steinberecher, Ehrhorn and Paul. At 10:15 PM on the 2nd of September they left Union Station on the Burlington Oriental limited, headed for Washington state. The Chicago Tribune notes that four Japanese students were among the UoC crowd that gave the team its send off.

Along the way the team practiced at train stops. On the 3rd they entertained the locals in Clear Lake and St. Cloud with their drills. When they reached Kalispell, Montana they stopped for some games. There they split a pair. The morning game was a slugfest that saw UoC win 11-9. The second game featured a matchup of Page for Chicago and Thompson for Kalispell. Thompson had pitched well in the Northwestern League that year and held the Maroons scoreless until they pushed across two in the ninth. The locals responded with a pair in the bottom of the ninth and then won it in the tenth.

Rain prevented a scheduled game in Spokane, so the next opponent the Maroons faced was the Everett, Washington team. The game featured a steal of home by Collings, but the Maroons would drop the game 4-3. The next day UoC threw Page at Everett. Actually, Page threw at Everett, at one point hitting four men in a row. Outside of that episode he had an excellent game, giving up only a walk and a hit. This time the Maroons would prevail 3 to 2.

When the train pulled into the station in Seattle it was met by a crowd. Yamasaki, the Japanese consul in Chicago, had cabled ahead to his counterpart Mr. Abe in Washington. The Maroons got a Japanese escort to their hotel. The next day before a crowd of 2000 saw UoC play the Mikado team, the champions of the Japanese Northwest League. The Maroons sent G. Roberts to the mound against Otani. Roberts was able to one-hit Mikado, while the Maroons piled up fifteen runs at the expense of their hosts. Page notes that "Their pitcher had considerable speed and a good curve but their team play was a little ragged, probably due to overanxiety to register the first defeat to the travelers by a Japanese team." After the game they went to the Japan City club, where they sampled Japanese cuisine with the consul. That night the local alumni hosted another banquet for the team, there "every Maroon vowed to bring back to the Midway the baseball championship of the orient."

The team left Puget Sound on the good ship Kamakura Maru. As they travelled up the coast the players marvelled at the beauty of nature. After their first meal at the hands of their Japanese cook, the Maroons were glad that they were near the mainland. At the next port they hit the store hard for non-perishable foodstuffs. After a short period of good weather, the outlook changed. Page Page notes that the English department may see themes along the lines of "Echos from the Aft - the Blondes at the Rail." Despite their unhappiness with the ocean, the players kept busy on their voyage. They did calisthenics and threw the ball around. They were entertained by both Japanese sword exhibitions and Japanese dramatics from the passengers in steerage.

After the voyage of 16 days the Kamakura Maru pulled into its berth at Yokohama. The team was met by Professor Iso Abe of Waseda and Alfred Place, a UoC alumnus. With the two gentlemen was a large number of students from the two Tokyo universities. The press assaulted the ship, taking pictures and interviews. After clearing customs the players took rickshaws to the Imperial Hotel, where they would quarter for the first portion of their trip.

The Maroons were the guests of honor at a banquet hosted by Professor Abe. It was a 20 course monster, with dishes of both native and American flavor. The occasion was attended by the creme of society -- American Ambassador Thomas O'Brien, Waseda founder Count Okuma, Waseda's President Takata and Keio's President Kamada.

The Maroon's first appearance was a public practice attended by 3000. The team was well photographed by the crowd. Rain crabbed the first scheduled meeting, so the Maroons first met Waseda on October 4th. They won 9-2, with eight hits for Chicago and two for Waseda. Details of the game did not cross the Pacific. It cost the Chicago Tribune $1.30 a word to get cabled accounts from Japan, roughly $1,800 a column. Pat Page kept a journal that was later published in part, but the first game seems to have been lost.

Keio University met Chicago on the playing field on October 6th. 12000 came to see the game, and it is noted that women were included in the crowd, an oddity at the time. The only real scoring occurred in the third, a testament to the pitching of Pat Page and Sugase, who had beat the University of Wisconsin the year before. In the third O. Roberts doubled and was followed by an Ehrhorn walk. Sunderland plated the two with a triple, and then himself scored on a Page sacrifice. Keio would score an unearned run in the ninth to close the final to 3-1.

It rained on October 8th, limiting the crowd to a mere 7000. One of these fans was of high stature, "The game was marked by the presence of Count Okuma, founder of Waseda University. Addressing the Maroons, he said he and all of Japan greatly appreciated the skillful baseball ability of the Chicago men and admired their gentlemanly sportsmanship. He also stated that he rejoiced in noting the friendly social relations that existed between the American and Japanese college men." G. Roberts started for the Maroons and struck out 11 on his way to a shutout. The final would be 5-0 Chicago over Waseda, on the strength of good pitching and the hitting prowess of O. Roberts.

Keio gave the Maroons their closest game of the series on the 14th. In the third the Japanese were able to push a run across the plate. Chicago answered with a run in the fifth, and the game rumbled into extra innings. In the tenth Pegues was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second. After being bunted to third Pegues scored on a ball mishandled by the infield. 9000 saw the 2-1 Chicago victory.

Despite good weather, only 2000 saw the match between Waseda and Chicago on the 18th. The fans who did attend were quite vocal, and waved crimson and white banners throughout the game. Sunderland started for the Maroons and limited his opponents to a mere 4 hits, while his teammates found no problem with their puzzle. The Maroons notched a 15 to 4 victory.

On October 19 12000 saw Keio give Chicago yet another good run. Going into the bottom of the eighth it looked like the Maroons had the game in the bag. They enjoyed a 2-0 lead. Sasaki evened the matter with a solid hit with two men on. Once again Keio would push the Maroons to extra innings. Chicago didn't take any prisoners and scored 3 in the top of the tenth. The final was 5-2.

The sweep of the two three-game series gave Chicago the championship. They were awarded with a pair of bronze trophies. The Maroons didn't limit their competition to fellow students. They played a game against the Tomon club of Tokyo, a squad made up of Waseda players and alumni. The Japanese veterans did not help, Chicago took the day 11-2.

The games then shifted from Tokyo to Osaka, where Chicago played a three game series with Waseda. The first game was on the 25th. Many of the 12000 fans had spent the night on the field in order to secure good seats. Waseda finally played up to the level it was capable of playing. Waseda took the lead in the fifth, but in the end the Maroons took the day 8 to 4.

The largest crowd of the tour saw the two teams the following day. Whatever progress Waseda had made was erased when they went down on the bad side of a 20-0 blowout. The Maroons gave Waseda 11 outs in the form of sacrifices, and yet they still crushed the opposition. Waseda was 2-hit. After the game the two squads visited Nara, an ancient capital of Japan.

On the 27th the Maroons would play their last game against Japanese competition. Waseda would play decent ball, but again get blown out, this time 12-2. After the game the Maroons were presented a silver cup by Osaka Mainichi Shimbun. They then visited Kyoto and finally left Japan from the port of Kobe.

After departing the team headed for American territory - the Philippines. They set sail upon the good ship Kaifong, "meeting the Chinese at Shanghai and again at Hong Kong." It is unclear if that means that they played games against the locals or if they simply went ashore. They ran into choppy seas and a good deal of seasickness, so going ashore for any reason was a popular move. When they arrived they were the guests of a Mr. F. R. White, who was a UoC graduate and was the head of the bureau of education.

In the Philippines the Maroons were dealt their first loss. Their first game was against the Marines of Manila, the champions of the local professional league. Wet weather made for sloppy play, and poor fielding on the part of the Maroons lead to three runs for the Marines in the 4th and another tally in the fifth. UoC would be shutout for a 4-0 loss. It would be their only loss of the trip. The Maroons would get their revenge in the well-attended rematch. They took the day 4-1, but a rubber match could not be scheduled.

The next game in the Philippines was against an All-Star team of natives. While the Filipinos did well for themselves in the field it was noted that they weren't much with the bat. Page saw a rosy future, "There is no reason, with a little more practice, why these natives should not make good ball players in a short time."

The second game of the day was against the Twelfth Infantry from Ft. McKinley. This was a team that was good enough to arouse a serious rivalry with the famous 25th Infantry at the turn of the century. While the 25th Infantry itself was stationed in the Philippines at the time, no match was scheduled between them and the Maroons. It would have been interesting to see how UoC would have fared against the all-Black team that funnelled so many of its soldiers into the Kansas City Monarchs. In any case, the Maroons beat the 12th by a score of 3-0. The game was called after five innings at the request of the soldiers.

The Maroons were the guests of the alumni at the University club. They enjoyed a banquet and dance in their honor. When the time came to leave the Philippines the team broke up. Ehrhorn was offered and accepted a teaching position. Boyle and Steinbrecker decided that they would also stay. The rest headed back for Japan, and on the way stopped in at Hong Kong where they spent a few hours. In Hong Kong Cleary, Pegues and Professor Bliss left for Europe. The Roberts brothers cashed in their chips in Tacoma and Baird vanished in Nebraska. On the 26th of December the remnants of the Maroons returned to Union Station, greeted by a crowd of 200.

With the Maroons back in Chicago the story is over, no? Not at all, the 1910 tour would have a ripple that would become a tsunami in Japanese baseball. A young man named Suishu Tobita was a player on the Waseda team that was defeated by Chicago. He did not take the losses well. According to Robert Whiting's "You Gotta Have Wa," Tobita quit baseball and vowed revenge. "I'll beat Chicago if I have to die to do it." He got his chance nearly a decade later when he was offered the job as manager of Waseda. Tobita quickly instituted a training system that became known as shi no renshu -- death training. Whiting quotes Tobita himself, "A manager must love his players... but on the practice field he must treat them as cruelly as possible, even though he may be crying about it inside. That is the key to winning baseball. If the players do not try so hard as to vomit blood in practice, then they can not hope to win games. One must suffer to be good."

Tobita eventually did beat Chicago, in fact recorded three wins and a tie in 1925, and along the way he elevated Waseda to the top of the baseball heap in Japan. Tobita then moved over to the newspaper world and helped shape Japanese baseball from his column in the Asahi Shimbun. His ideas on training took hold in the Japanese baseball world and are still followed to this day. The University of Chicago's 1910 visit to Japan left its mark on the game.

[Indiana COBB]

Sad thing is Baseball would be banned in Japan by their government in the Mid 1930's the Japansese felt the game was Americanizing thier nation too much (and like opening their ports to Commadore Perry in 1853 wasn't Americanizing!) and with tensions between AMerica and Japan building up in the 1930's over Japans invasion of Manchuria, and America cutting off Japan's precious Steel imports, tenisons swelled until 1941 and Pearl Harbor, lost in the shuffle of history is the fact that baseall suffered to under Japans brutal Fascist Government.

[JACKIE42]

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Photos taken at Kusanagi Stadium in Shizuoka the day that the legendary Eiji Sawamura pitched against the mighty All American team led by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Although the All Japan team lost 1-0 on a 7th inning home run by Gehrig, the game would go down as the most important baseball contest in Japanese baseball history. Sawamura was a mere 17 year old boy at the time, and yet he held the Americans in check for the entire game. The high point of Sawamura's performance was when he struck out Hall of Famers Charlie Gehringer, Ruth, Gehrig and Jimmy Foxx in succession. For this feat, he would be forever enshrined as Japan's greatest.- 1934

[JACKIE42]

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These very large cards, published in December 1933, were given to purchasers of the January 1934 issue of Yakyukai (Baseball World). During this era, the Big Six University baseball league was the top league in Japan, as professional baseball had not yet begun in that country. These large portraits of Big Six University stars are printed on somewhat thin cardboard stock and are blank backed. This near set includes players Fuma, Miura and Wakahara-Waseda U., Katsukawa, Miyake and Ogawa-Keio U., Kajiwara-Tokyo U., Matsui-Meiji U. and Yamashiro-Rikkio U.

[JACKIE42]

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The immediate postwar period included some very lean times for much of the Japanese populace. On occasion, baseball stars, who were not particularly well paid at the time, received very much needed items for their families as rewards for stellar play. Frequently, these rewards consisted of food. Kozuru is shown here accepting a large fish from a kimono clad presenter in front of a full house of enthusiastic fans. 1948

[JACKIE42]

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1949 SF Seals Japan Tour -Lefty O'Doul w/Sumo Yokozuna Maedayama & Sotaro Suzuki.

[JACKIE42]

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The photos used for this set are the standard "stock shots" that the San Francisco Seals sent to Japan prior to the Tour. We have seen these photos often in magazines, and occasionally in other bromide sets. But this is the first time we've encountered cards from this particular set. Players include Elmer Singleton (only Japanese Seals Tour card), Roy Partee, Jack Brewer, Con Dempsey, Mickey Rocco, Gene Brocker and a player identified only as "coach," who is Del Young. 1949

[JACKIE42]

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Tetsuharu Kawakami (HOF)





Known as the God of Batting, Kawakami was the greatest Japanese hitter of his generation. His greatest season came in 1951, after a meeting with Joe DiMaggio about batting. He used the Yankee Clipper's advice, which enabled him to bat .377 while striking out only six times. In 1956, Kawakami hit .364 during the Brooklyn Dodgers Japan Tour. He won three MVP awards and five batting championships. After retirement as an active player, he became Japan's all time greatest manager, leading the Yomiuri Giants to 9 consecutive Japan series titles.

[moviegeekjan]

http://www.robsjapanesecards.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/sgckaneda50.jpg Japanese born Korean pitcher Masaichi Kaneda amassed 400 wins and 298 losses over his 20 year career--the only Japan League pitcher to ever win 400 games and only the third in the world to do so (behind Cy Young and Walter Johnson). He also holds the Japan League record with 4490 strikeouts. After playing for the weak Kokutetsu Swallows for 15 years, he finished his career with the Yomiuri Giants, helping them to win five consecutive Japan Series championships.

[JACKIE42]

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Six members of the pitching staff that faced the San Francisco Seals in 1949 are depicted on this card in their All Japan Tour uniforms. Foremost among these players is Victor Starffin, the Russian immigrant who pitched against Babe Ruth & Co. during the 1934 Japan Tour and was later the first Japanese pitcher to win 300 games. Also shown are HOFers Hideo Fujimoto, who is the all time ERA leader, and Hiroshi Nakao. Also pictured is Tokuji Kawasaki.

[JACKIE42]

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Victor Starffin- 1948

[JACKIE42]

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The 1949 Giants won the pennant by a whopping 16 games! Included on this card are HOFers Hideo Fujimoto (all time career ERA leader), Takehiko Bessho (300 game winner) and Hiroshi Nakao. Others are Tokuji Kawasaki and Fukuzo Tada. The other card depicts HOFer and Orions pitching ace Atsushi Aramaki and is a rookie card.

[JACKIE42]

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Victor Starffin in his All Japan uniform, pitching against the San Francisco Seals in late 1949.

[JACKIE42]

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Makoto Kozuru (HOF) & Kikuji Hirayama






Kozuru is the first Japanese player to hit 50 HR in a season, and he is also the holder of the single season RBI record. Hirayama was a Giants outfielder from 1937 to 1949.

[JACKIE42]

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1922 US All Star Tour of Japan Shipboard B&W Photo





Most of the players who participated in this Japan Tour are pictured, including Casey Stengel, Herb Pennock and George Kelly.

[JACKIE42]

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Yale University was one of several US college teams to Tour Japan during the 1930s. By far, the best known member of the Yale touring party was baseball coach Smokey Joe Wood, who is in the upper left side- 1935

[JACKIE42]

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One card shows HOFer Fumio Fujimura in his All Japan uniform taking a lead off first base in a game against the San Francisco Seals with Jim Moran holding him on. The other three cards show Fujimura batting, Takehiko Bessho (HOF) in a close-up portrait, and Noboru Aota in a fielding postion. 1950

[JACKIE42]

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The three players depicted are (l to r) Yoshiyuki Iwamoto, Michio Nishizawa and Makoto Kozuru. All three are members of the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame. Iwamoto, an outfielder, played for the Hawks from 1940 to '42. He then decided to play industrial league ball, until he made a grand comeback in 1949 at the age of 37 with the Robins. In 1950, he hit .319 with 39 homers, 121 RBI and 34 stolen bases. In 1951, he improved to .351 while still slugging 31 homers. On 8/1/51 he hit four homers in one game. Nishizawa, a first baseman, made his pro debut at age 15! He started as a pitcher, but after his arm gave out, he converted to the infield. In his career he batted as high as .353, hitting as many as 46 homers. Kozuru's early career was interrupted with a stint in the Japanese navy. After he returned, his bat caught fire. In 1950, he hit .355 with 51 homers and 161 RBI and was selected MVP. He was the first Japanese to hit 50 homers, and his RBI total still stands as the single season record.

[bluezebra]

Sad thing is Baseball would be banned in Japan by their government in the Mid 1930's the Japansese felt the game was Americanizing thier nation too much (and like opening their ports to Commadore Perry in 1853 wasn't Americanizing!) and with tensions between AMerica and Japan building up in the 1930's over Japans invasion of Manchuria, and America cutting off Japan's precious Steel imports, tenisons swelled until 1941 and Pearl Harbor, lost in the shuffle of history is the fact that baseall suffered to under Japans brutal Fascist Government.

Very interesting, considering the fact that in the Doolittle Raid over Tokyo on April 18, 1942, some of the B-25s flew over a ballpark where a game was in progress. The fans in the park waved to the Americans, thinking that they were Japanese aircraft.

The US embargo on oil to Japan was as important as the steel embargo.

When I went to Kyoto while on R&R Leave from Korea, I watched a baseball game on television in the lounge of a hotel that catered to GIs. One afternoon, I watched what looked like a HS team practice at a public park. It was the first time that I had seen a composition-covered baseball. I wanted to take a few swings, but i thought that with my luck, I'd be busted by the MPs for being out of uniform.

Bob

[moviegeekjan]

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1958 depiction of Katsuya Nomura--the greatest catcher in the history of Japanese baseball. Holding the world record for most games played by a catcher with 2918 over his 27 year career, he also has hit more home runs than any catcher in history with 657 (a total that ranks second to Sadaharu Oh in Japan). Nomura once caught every single inning of a 150 game season, including 16 double headers.

Nomura won nine home run championships (8 in a row), six consecutive RBI titles, and one batting average title. That came in 1965 when he won the triple crown with 42 homers, 110 RBIs, and a .320 batting average. He retired in 1980 and is a member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. Below is a more current photo:
http://tigersisno1.web.infoseek.co.jp/photoseries/player_05n/nomura_katsuya/000809_01.jpg

[jalbright]

Sad thing is Baseball would be banned in Japan by their government in the Mid 1930's the Japansese felt the game was Americanizing thier nation too much (and like opening their ports to Commadore Perry in 1853 wasn't Americanizing!) and with tensions between AMerica and Japan building up in the 1930's over Japans invasion of Manchuria, and America cutting off Japan's precious Steel imports, tenisons swelled until 1941 and Pearl Harbor, lost in the shuffle of history is the fact that baseall suffered to under Japans brutal Fascist Government.

With respect to baseball, there's a great deal of inaccuracy in this post. The current Japanese professional leagues began in 1936 and have played continuously except for the suspension of play in the final year of WWII, 1945. The way Japan was getting bombed then, in preparation for an anticipated invasion, it would have been absurd to play ball that year. The 1944 season was only about 30 games for much the same reason. Japanese baseball did suffer terribly due to the War, but not in the way the poster thinks. Many ballplayers served in the Japanese military, and several of their hall of famers died in such service. Many other players careers were delayed or interrupted by the war, and some older players didn't come back due to simple time away from the game.

Jim Albright

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_991_1.jpg
http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_991_2.jpg

This is a much scarcer card than the often seen "Ted Williams back" menko. Moreover, unlike the other card, this one has his name printed in Japanese on the back. Other printed info includes "Home run king," "outfield," "Boston Red Sox" and "America Big League." 1950

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_993_1.jpg

Both Joe and Dom DiMaggio were part of the US Major League All Star team assembled for a post season Tour of Japan. Dom hit .319 with three homers on the 16 game Tour, eclipsing his more highly regarded brother who hit only .296 with two homers.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_994_1.jpg

Bobby Shantz was one of nearly 20 US Major League stars who journeyed to Japan after the 1951 season to play Japanese teams. Shantz pitched in six of the 16 games (35 innings) and had a record of 3-0, 1.54 on the Tour.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_995_1.jpg

1951 Wally Yonamine (Hawaii) (HOF) Rookie Bromide Card



Yonamine was the first postwar American star in Japan. Prior to his baseball career, he had been a running back for the San Francisco 49ers. He is credited with introducing the Japanese to a more aggressive style of play. Japanese had never before seen a player who slid hard with spikes up and who dived for fly balls. Yonamine's .311 lifetime batting average ranks in the top ten all time. This card shows the bespectacled Yonamine very early in his Japan Pro Baseball career.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_989_1.jpg
http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_989_2.jpg

There are two Japan Pro Baseball Hall of Fame members in the set-Atsushi Aramaki and Katsumi Shiraishi. Others are Kikuchi Hirayama, Yoshio Tenpo and Junji Nakatani. 1950

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_998_1.jpg

Jim Konstanty was a member of the New York Yankees when they made their first and only Tour of Japan. 1955

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_988_1.jpg
http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_988_2.jpg

Victor Starffin (HOF) (Russia)



. It contains a high quality likeness of Starffin compared to most menko. Shortly after this card was produced, Starffin went on to be Japan's first 300 game winner. 1950

[moviegeekjan]

This is a much scarcer card than the often seen "Ted Williams back" menko. 1950 Some GREAT finds!!!!

[moviegeekjan]

http://playballx.com/images/NPB-star/FukumotoYutaka002-1.jpg

Leadoff hitter for the Hankyu Braves, Yutaka Fukumoto used his blazing speed to run away with 13 consecutive stolen base crowns. His .781 stolen base percentage is higher than notable MLB thieves Ty Cobb, Maury Wills, and Lou Brock. Only Rickey Henderson has more career stolen bases than Fukumoto's 1065.

Also an outstanding center fielder, Fukumoto won 12 consecutive Golden Gloves. He also batted over .300 seven times over his 20 year career (1970-90), compiling a lifetime batting average of .291, with 1656 runs scored, 449 doubles, 115 triples, and 208 home runs.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_999_1.jpg
Despite his career batting average of .268 with 172 homers, by this late stage of his career, Eddie Robinson was basically a pinch hitter and occasional first baseman. He did play in 12 1955 Japan Tour games, batting .240 with 4 home runs in 25 at bats.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1000_1.jpg

Shohei "Giant" Baba, Rikidozan and Antonio Inoki are the three most acclaimed Japanese professional wrestlers in history. Only one of these men began his professional athletic career as a pitcher with the Yomiuri Giants! In his heyday, Baba was billed as a 7 foot two inch, 325 pound monster. In reality, he was "only" about 6 feet 8 1/2". During his baseball career (age 19), he weighed in at a svelte 200 lbs. A right handed reliever, Baba's entire career as a pitcher consisted of three games, seven innings and a 1.29 ERA. Within a few years, he was a headliner on wrestling circuits both in Japan and in the US.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1002_1.jpg

Three of the players are Japan Hall of Fame Members-Takehiko Bessho, Minoru Minagawa and Kazuhiro Yamauchi. The fourth card depicts Whales star Masatoshi Gondo. 1958

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1003_1.jpg

Shigeo Nagashima (HOF) & Masaichi Kaneda (HOF)



Prior to Sadaharu Oh's emergence in the early 1960s, Nagashima and Kaneda were considered to be the best active hitter and pitcher respectively in baseball. 1958

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1004_1.jpg






Nagashima is Japan's most popular player ever. A college superstar at Rikkio U., he signed with the Yomiuri Giants amidst considerable fanfare. His pro debut was the most highly anticipated rookie season in Japan baseball history. 1958

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1005_1.jpg

Nagashima- 1958

[JACKIE42]

http://www.lelands.com/catalog_images_412/popups/30162.jpg

In 1927 a Negro League all-star squad called the Royal Giants became the first pro team to play in Japan. Going 23-0-1, they were so popular that they paved the way for white players to tour Japan in 1931. This incredibly rare Japense sports magazine has cover shot of a Japanese player shaking hands with the Philadelphia Stars Biz Mackey.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1006_1.jpg

All time pitching great Minoru Murayama. While Oh's exploits are known to many Americans, Murayama, the Man of Flames, pitching style is not well known stateside. Murayama beat out Oh for Rookie of the Year in 1959 by winning 18 games and striking out 294 batters, with an astonishing 1.19 ERA. In fact, Murayama's ERA was under 1.20 in three different seasons, including a mindbending 0.98 (the modern record) in 1970. Another player on this uncut panel is Hall of Fame outfielder Kenjiro Tamiya. The final card depicts Carp pitcher Bizen. 1959

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1007_1.jpg
Sadaharu Oh (HOF) Rookie Menko Card




Japan's greatest power hitter of all time was consistently outstanding. Not only do his 868 homers rank first on the world's all time homer list, but he is also the Japan Pro Baseball career leader in RBI and runs scored. He won five batting titles and nine MVP awards. This batting pose card has player statistics on the back. During his rookie season, Oh was listed at 5'11" and 165 lbs. 1959

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1008_1.jpg

Jintan Gum package containing three sticks of gum and a baseball card. 1960

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1027_1.jpg

1913 Three Keio U. Player












.The three players are (left to right) Sasami-1st base, Enomoto-catcher and Togashi-right field.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1028_1.jpg

1915 Waseda U. Team.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1029_1.jpg
The 1920 Japan Tour was organized by Herb Hunter and included a mixture of US Major Leaguers, PCL players, and American Association stars. Six games were played against Tokyo Big Six U. teams, with the American team winning them all.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1030_1.jpg

The Philadelphia Bobbies were one of the leading US "bloomer girl" squads of the 1920s. After being promised $500 apiece plus expenses, the Bobbies organized a Japan Tour in which they played exhibitions against Japanese men's teams (mostly universities). Unfortunately, the trip was a disaster.
Early in the Tour, the Bobbies received a typically warm Japanese welcome. However, Japanese fans were interested in attending the games only if the Bobbies were routinely beating the men--and the Bobbies were losing repeatedly. As a result, gate receipts fell far short of expectations. Japanese promoters disappeared without paying the bills and ultimately, the team was stranded in Japan. Eventually, benefactors stepped forward to secure the Bobbies' passage home. Nevertheless, there was still a final tragedy. One member of the Bobbies was killed when powerful waves crashed into the ship hurling the woman overboard. 1925

[moviegeekjan]

http://images.collectors.com/Articles/1959Marumatsy_150.jpg
1959 Marumatsy Scoreboard Sadaharu Oh

[moviegeekjan]

http://images.collectors.com/Articles/1964Menko_300.jpg
1964 Menko Bat on Right Sadaharu Oh

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1031_1.jpg

1922 US All Star Tour of Japan Shipboard.

[JACKIE42]

http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction27/photographs/30854-212.jpg

Brooklyn Dodger tour- 1952

[JACKIE42]

http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction27/photographs/30854-181.jpg

Brooklyn Dodger tour- 1956

[JACKIE42]

http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction27/photographs/30854-182.jpg

Brooklyn Dodger tour- 1956

[JACKIE42]

http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction27/photographs/30854-183.jpg

Brooklyn Dodger tour- 1956

[JACKIE42]

http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction27/photographs/30854-111.jpg

[JACKIE42]

http://www.lelands.com/catalog_images_405/popups/26732b.jpg

1956

[JACKIE42]

http://www.lelands.com/catalog_images_405/popups/26732e.jpg

1956

[JACKIE42]

http://www.lelands.com/catalog_images_412/popups/28489_2.jpg

[JACKIE42]

http://www.lelands.com/catalog_images_405/popups/26732c.jpg

1956

[JACKIE42]

http://www.lelands.com/catalog_images_405/popups/26732d.jpg

1956

[JACKIE42]

http://www.lelands.com/catalog_images_405/popups/26732a.jpg

1956

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1053_1.jpg
http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1053_2.jpg

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1055_1.jpg

five San Francisco Seals (Arky Vaughn, Reno Cheso, Dario Lodiglani, Mickey Rocco and Frank Shofner). 1949 Tour of Japan.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1056_1.jpg

In 1950, Japan Pro Baseball separated into two leagues, Central and Pacific. This structure is still maintained to the present day. In that year, the Japan Series, matching the pennant winning team of each league in a best of seven games format, was begun. This is the equivalent of the "World Series" in the US. The first season matched the Robins led by Makoto Kozuru (HOF) (l) and the Orions, led by Kaoru Betto (HOF) (r). The expansion Orions prevailed in six games and Betto was named series MVP.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1057_1.jpg

Jackie Robinson, comic book- 1950

[VIBaseball]

Simply marvelous. I can't imagine how long and how hard you've worked to acquire these little treasures! :)

[JACKIE42]

Simply marvelous. I can't imagine how long and how hard you've worked to acquire these little treasures! :)

When it becomes work i will stop doing it, so far it's still fun.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1060_1.jpg
http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1060_2.jpg
http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1060_3.jpg

1960 San Franciso Giants Japan Tour Magazine-Willie Mays Cover

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1061_1.jpg
http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1061_2.jpg
http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1061_3.jpg
Sadaharu Oh broke Hank Aaron's career home run record when he smacked #756 on 9/3/77. This TV Guide is dated 9/16 and contains TV listings for programs from 9/10 to 9/16. Undoubtedly, it went on sale right as Oh was breaking Aaron's record.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1068_1.jpg

1933 National High School Tournament Chusho Commercial School Champions.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1071_1.jpg

1953, Tour.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1072_1.jpg

1954 Yomiuri Giants. Players such as HOFers Wally Yonamine (Hawaii), Tetsuharu Kawakami, Takehiko Bessho and Shigeru Chiba have their own squares, along with Hawaiian Jun Hirota. The large center square contains a group caricature of eight Giants.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1073_1.jpg

The Giants had a won-loss record of 82-44-4 to win the league championship. Wally Yonamine (HOF) (Hawaii) of the Giants led the league in hitting that season at .338, followed by the Giants' Tetsuharu Kawakami (HOF) at .327.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1074_1.jpg

Sadaharu Oh (HOF)
This very large advertising poster for haori (men's kimono) shows the home run champ at his most relaxed.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1075_1.jpg

this Toho Films production commemorates the 30 year history (1934-63) of the Yomiuri Giants. The two large images on the poster are the greatest Giants of them all, Sadaharu Oh and Shigeo Nagashima.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com/site/images_items/Item_1079_1.jpg

1959, Sadaharu Oh Rookie (HOF)/Shigeo Nagashima (HOF)

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectibles.com/lot2ruthswing.jpg

Babe Ruth homers in 3rd game of U.S. All Stars vs. Japan All Stars- 1934

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectibles.com/lot3babescores.jpg

Babe Ruth scores after homering in 3rd game of U.S. All Stars vs. Japan All Stars- 1934

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectibles.com/lot5averillfoxx.jpg

Averill homers off Japanese legend Sawamura scoring Foxx- 1934

with HOF catcher Kuji in crouch. Kuji was killed during a game in 1939.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectibles.com/lot10nakajima.jpg

1947.
Haruyasu Nakajima (HOF

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectibles.com/lot17giantseals.jpg

1949 San Francisco Seals Japan Tour . Betto (HOF), Fujimura (HOF), Steinhauer, Werle

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectibles.com/lot18sealsbrom1.jpg

1949 S.F. Seals Iida & Westlake.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectibles.com/lot48ohpitching.jpg

1959 Sadaharu Oh
Rookie-pitching!

[JACKIE42]

http://www.prestigecollectibles.com/lot47ohnagrookies.jpg

1958, 1959 Shigeo Nagashima (HOF) and 1959 Sadaharu Oh
Sadaharu Oh (HOF) Rookie

[JACKIE42]

http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction29/photographs/36572.jpg
http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction29/photographs/36572b.jpg
http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction29/photographs/36572c.jpg

Ball Used On The 1934 Tour Of Japan.

[Blackout]

http://www.prestigecollectibles.com/lot2ruthswing.jpg

Babe Ruth homers in 3rd game of U.S. All Stars vs. Japan All Stars- 1934

do you know what the result/score of this AS series was?

[JACKIE42]

do you know what the result/score of this AS series was?

No, i don't.

[JACKIE42]

http://www.lelands.com/catalog_images_412/popups/29625.jpg

Japanese baseball star Kuzuhisa Inao. Inao, one of the greatest picthers in Japanese baseball history, was twice voted league MVP. 1950

[jalbright]

do you know what the result/score of this AS series was?

According to http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20021106&content_id=171408&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp , the Americans won all sixteen games, by the combined score of 181-36 despite winning their game against 17-year-old Eiji Sawamura by 1-0 on a seventh inning homer by Gehrig.

Jim Albright

[runscott]

I am researching the professional Japanese team that toured the Midwest in 1911 - any information would be greatly appreciated. I have found information on the Waseda and KEIO college teams that toured the US that year and will probably find more if you are interested. Thanks, Scott

[JACKIE42]

I am researching the professional Japanese team that toured the Midwest in 1911 - any information would be greatly appreciated. I have found information on the Waseda and KEIO college teams that toured the US that year and will probably find more if you are interested. Thanks, Scott

http://japanesebaseball.com/xwiki/bin/view/Encyclopedia/1911WasedaTourAmerica

[JACKIE42]

1927— A team of Negro League all-stars becomes the first professional team to play in Japan. The players are threatened with expulsion from the white-owned Eastern Colored League if they make the trip, although no significant action is ever taken against them. The black players, or kokujin, are extremely popular in Japan, particularly catcher Biz Mackey, who later makes two more Japanese trips with the Philadelphia Stars.

1934— Another American all-star team tours Japan. This one includes Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, and, of course, O’Doul. Also on the trip is catcher Moe Berg, who, unbeknownst to his teammates, uses the trip as a cover to spy on Japanese structures for the OSS. Ruth is a big hit in Japan, but is struck out three times in one game by 17-year old pitcher Eiji Sawamura, who quickly becomes a national hero.

1942— On February 19, President Franklin Roosevelt issues Executive Order 9066, banishing persons of Japanese ancestry, including native-born Americans, to internment camps for the duration of World War II. Baseball teams quickly are formed in the camps, providing a small measure of enjoyment for those imprisoned. “More and more people are hating the Japs, it appears, which is a source of great elation to umpire Babe Pinelli of the National League,” the Sporting News writes on September 10. “Ever since he was a little boy in San Francisco, Babe says he has hated ALL Japs and long before Pearl Harbor he tried to convert everybody he knew to the same kind of hatred.”


1944— As World War II drags on, baseball is banned in Japan as an undesirable enemy influence. On November 2, Eiji Sawamura, the pitcher who had become a hero in Japan by striking out Babe Ruth, is killed in action in the Pacific.






1964— On September 1, 20-year-old Giants reliever Masanori Murakami becomes the first Japanese player in major league history. He compiles a 5-1 record with a 3.43 ERA over two seasons before his family convinces him to return to the Japanese League.

[runscott]

The team I am researching was called the "Japanese Base Ball Association" - all players were Japanese except one Indian and one Caucasian. They primarily played semi-pro teams, but I found at least one instance of an Iowa town sending a mixed college/minor league team against them. I'm interested primarily in where they originated (Japan, Seattle, San Francisco, etc.), where they toured other than the U.S., and player biographies (doubt that's possible).

[JACKIE42]

The team I am researching was called the "Japanese Base Ball Association" - all players were Japanese except one Indian and one Caucasian. They primarily played semi-pro teams, but I found at least one instance of an Iowa town sending a mixed college/minor league team against them. I'm interested primarily in where they originated (Japan, Seattle, San Francisco, etc.), where they toured other than the U.S., and player biographies (doubt that's possible).

Good luck.

[JACKIE42]

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c19000/3c19500/3c19534r.jpg

Waseda University baseball team visits U.S., in Honolulu- 1911

[JACKIE42]

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c20000/3c20000/3c20600/3c20654r.jpg

Waseda University - catchers; J. Nagano, J. Kuji- 1911

[JACKIE42]

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ggbain/09500/09599r.jpg

Waseda University- 1911

[JACKIE42]

http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/ppprs/00200/00202r.jpg

Manzanar Relocation Center, Calif.


Japanese Americans observe an amateur baseball game. 1943

[JACKIE42]

Roger Maris and Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh.
http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction30/photographs/39703f.jpg

[calhalo]

Roger Maris and Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh.
http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction30/photographs/39703f.jpg
The other guy looks more like Shigeo Nagashima.


At least its the battle of the crewcuts.

[JACKIE42]

http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction30/photographs/37192a.jpg

[JACKIE42]

http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction30/photographs/37192b.jpg

1952

[wilson]

Great photos posted by Jackie! I thought some of you might like to know that I am listing a photo on eBay today or tomorrow that shows the KEIO team with the Salida Co team in Salida 1911. ken

[chendd]

Do you know what the rosters of these series was?
1908 Reach All-America Team
1913 New York Giants and Chicago White Sox
1920 Herb Hunter's All-Stars
1922 Herb Hunter's All-Stars
1949 San Francisco Seals (Lefty O'Doul)
1951 Joe DiMaggio and Lefty O'Doul All-Stars

[Prestige Collectibles]

Almost all of these Japanese Baseball card photos belong to www.prestigecollectiblesauction.com

[LIZZYTOPPS]

I"m interested in learning about an early baseball game in Tokyo betwenn the U of C Maroons & some University there that I think begins with a K. It was in 1910 and Chicago won. Any idea's?

[Brian McKenna]

Some articles:

[Brian McKenna]

more articles:

[Brian McKenna]

article out of order:

[Brian McKenna]

the final articles:

[zod]

Does anyone know the name of all 21 U.S.A. universities that traveled to and played in Japan against waseda and Keio during the years between 1908 and 1930? I know Washington was the 1st and that Chicago went in 1910 and every five years thereafter but can't find info on the other 19. Thanks!

[MacDice]

http://www.prestigecollectibles.com/lot5averillfoxx.jpg

Averill homers off Japanese legend Sawamura scoring Foxx- 1934

with HOF catcher Kuji in crouch. Kuji was killed during a game in 1939.

Any chance of reposting the images from the 1934 series?