Lot # 22: 1949 JCM 153 Kaoru "Big Lebowski" Betto (HOF) & Michio Nishizawa Large Size Menko Cards--Scarce

Category: Baseball Cards

Starting Bid: $50.00

Bids: 16 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Auction 55 Ended 5/5/2019",
which ran from 4/17/2019 6:00 PM to
5/4/2019 11:00 PM



These two scarce, large size cards depict Kaoru Betto (left), the Gentleman of Baseball, and Michio Nishizawa (right) who began his career in Japan Pro Baseball at the age of 15. Betto is most famous in the United States for being the Japanese player whose image graces Jeff Bridges' baseball shirt in The Big Lebowski. Bridges wore the same shirt in the movies, The Fisher King and Cold Feet as well. Betto played in the Zen-Osaka Industrial League until the age of 28, when he joined the Osaka Tigers, batting .328 as a rookie. In 1950, Betto left the Tigers for the Mainichi Orions. He led that first year franchise to the Japan Series championship, batting .335 with 43 homers and was awarded the Pacific League MVP. Michio Nishizawa was a pitcher early in his career who converted to the outfield. In 1939 he was a 20 game winner. In 1942, he pitched an entire 28 inning complete game! In 1947, the former Dragons player moved to the Stars. From then on, Nishizawa was a feared slugger. Returning to the Dragons, Nishizawa led them to their first Japan Series title in 1954.

Size; Each card is 2 3/4" x 5 3/8"

Condition: Both cards are Nm/Mt.

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