We know that this card was originally a second prize premium for a 1949 square bromide set for which the base cards did not have any text on either the front or back. However, we do not know the exact set.

1949 was Kozuru's only season playing for Daiei. The peripatetic outfielder played for five different teams during his 15 year career. Being a member of so many teams was unusual in Japan Pro Baseball at that time. 1949 was the second of Betto's two years with the Hanshin Tigers. Both players enjoyed extraordinary seasons at the plate in 1949. Kozuru was the league batting champion (.361) and Betto hit .322 with 39 homers and 126 RBIs. The two men captured two of the three outfield spots on the league's Best 9 team that season. Both continued their excellent production for several seasons thereafter.

Kozuru is seen in this image holding his Wilson Famous Player Ralph Kiner model bat. Kiner hit 54 homers for the Pittsburgh Pirates that season. Kozuru's choice of bats must have brought him good luck, as he clouted 51 homers in 1950 to set a Japan Pro Baseball season record. We can't see exactly what model bat Betto is holding, but it appears to be of Japanese manufacture. In any case, this is an excellent close-up image of two of Japan's greatest mid-century sluggers.

Blank backed card.

Size: 4 5/16" x 6"

Condition: The front is Nm/Mt with outstanding borders, corners, surface gloss and clarity. The blank back contains glue remnants and minor paper loss from having been originally attached to a display sheet, and later being pasted into a photo album.