The Tokyo (Yomiuri) Giants were Japan's first pro baseball team. They were organized by the Yomiuri newspaper company immediately following the successful U.S. All Star Tour of Japan featuring Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. From 1935 through the present, the Giants have been Japan's team. They've won far more championships than any other and their fan base is larger than the number of supporters for all other teams combined. The Giants' early history is defined by two lengthy U.S. Tours in 1935 and 1936 (the Japan Pro Baseball League had not been established yet).

During the 1936 Tour, taken immediately before the beginning of the inaugural season of Japan Pro Baseball, the Giants played 76 games against U.S. major league, minor league and amateur opposition, winning 42, losing 33 and playing to one tie. Their lineup was a star studded "who's who" of prewar Japanese baseball. 17 players and two managers made the trip, including seven Japan Hall of Fame members.

This International News Photo--San Francisco Bureau contains descriptive English text on the back about the 1936 Tour and features an image of four of these Japan Hall of Famers. Takeo Tabe (left) a speed merchant who purportedly stole 110 bases on the Tour, had a falling out with management immediately afterwards and never played Japan Pro Baseball. He was killed in World War II. Osamu Tsutsui (top) was a middle infielder whose career ended when he lost a finger in World War II. Shigeru Mizuhara (right), a Hall of Fame player and manager was voted league MVP in 1942, but couldn't accept his award because he was already fighting in the army. After four years in a P.O.W. camp, he returned to manage the Giants to eight Central League championships and four Japan Series titles in 10 years. Katsumi Shiraishi (bottom) played in Japan Pro Baseball from 1936 to 1956. He left the Giants in 1950 to join his hometown team, the Hiroshima Carp.

Size: 8 1/2" x 6 1/2"

Condition: Ex/Mt