The 1949 JK 10 karuta set and the 1949 JG 8 game set of baseball cards were originally sold as complete sets in colorful cardboard boxes. Sets of baseball cards of the era often came in boxes containing images of baseball stars. Both of the boxes in this lot have Kaoru Betto on the lid.
In 1949, Betto was in his second and final year with the Osaka Tigers before joining the Mainichi Orions in 1950. It was 49 years after these boxes were printed that Betto, with a large assist from Jeff Bridges, became a cult hero. Certainly, that possibility was the furthest thing from Betto's mind in 1949. That season he hit .322 and led the league with 129 runs scored while the Tigers slumped to a disappointing 6th place finish.
Size: JK 10 box--4 1/2" x 6 1/4". JG 8 box--4 1/2" x 4 1/8".
Condition: Both boxes are Vg/Ex.