Newcombe played one season with the Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949. During a stellar Rookie of the Year campaign, he won 17 games, led the league in shutouts and pitched 32 consecutive scoreless innings. Following his illustrious U.S. career, Newcombe, along with Larry Doby, ventured to the Land of the Rising Sun for the 1962 season. The two were teammates for the Chunichi Dragons. Newcombe, his pitching arm no longer serviceable, played first base in Japan, batting .262 with 12 homers in 81 games. This was the first time that former US major league stars had played in Japan for a Japanese team.
Presented here is a newly discovered JG 31 1962 Tachibana Seika card of Don Newcombe. Currently there are only two copies of this card known to exist, the other example well ensconced in a private collection. The only other known Newcombe Japanese card type is the 1962 JCM 57b menko card. While quite rare in its own right, this card is definitely more scarce.
The example offered here is complete with the redemption point section still attached. It would make a great addition to any Brooklyn Dodgers or Negro League collection.
Size: 1 5/8" x 2 5/16"
Condition: Ex+
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