This hard-to-find, U.S. baseball card sized issue has a scarcity factor of R4 in the Japanese Baseball Card Checklist & Price Guide, Vintage edition, signifying that fewer than 10 copies of each of these cards is known. For this set, we would put the number closer to five examples each. The cards could be redeemed for various prizes. The red stamps found on the backs indicate that these cards have already been redeemed. The key card in this lot (top row) depicts Japan Hall of Fame Member Shigeru Mizuhara, who has Hall of Fame credentials as both a player and manager. As the starting third baseman for the Yomiuri Giants from 1936 to 1942, he was considered the league's best. While fighting in World War II, he was captured and spent four years as a POW in Siberia. Upon his return, he managed the Yomiuri Giants to eight pennants between 1950 and 1960. Hiroyuki Komatsubara is the player pictured on the card at lower left. He originally joined Japan Pro Baseball in 1942 as a pitcher. After the war, he was converted to the outfield, where he enjoyed six seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. Yuko Minamimura (card at bottom right) was a three time All Star and 1951 Japan Series MVP.

Size: 2 9/32" x 3 9/32"

Condition: The Mizuhara card is Fair to Good. The Komatsubara and Minamimura cards are Ex to Ex/Mt. All have a red redemption stamp on the back.