The 1952 JGA 38 Osato Gangu Color Cards are orders of magnitude scarcer than the 1951 black & white issue. Only three copies are known of this card of Japan Hall of Fame member Kaoru Betto, and this is the finest example of the three.
Before becoming a U.S. cultural icon, known for being the face on the clothing worn by Jeff Bridges in several cult movie classics, Betto was known as the "Gentleman of Baseball". He was a collegiate star who didn't begin professional play until he was 28 years old. The bespectacled right handed slugger had a graceful, spread legged stance reminiscent of Joe DiMaggio. In each of his first six professional seasons, first with the Hanshin Tigers, and later with the Mainichi Orions, he was selected to the league's Best 9 team as an outfielder.
Size: 1 5/8" x 2 1/4"
Condition: Ex/Mt