There are eight card fronts in the JCM 44 set, each featuring a different prominent Japanese player. Interestingly, there are ten different Ted Williams backs, each with a number from 1 to 10 and a math equation, but all having the same image of Williams. Any of the eight Japanese player fronts can be matched with any of the 10 Ted Williams backs! This card has Kazuto Tsuruoka on the front and it is special because it is matched with the #9 Ted Williams back (Williams' uniform number). Any JCM 44 card with the number nine back always commands a premium.
Kazuto Tsuruoka's rookie season was 1939. He then left for the war effort, and did not return to Japan Pro Baseball until 1946. In his eight short seasons as a player in Japan Pro Baseball, he batted .295 and was a two time league MVP. He then went on to manage the Hawks for 23 seasons, leading the team to 11 pennants and two Japan Series titles. Overall, he had 1,807 wins and a .609 winning percentage as a manager.
Size: 1 3/8" x 2 3/4"
Condition: Fair to Good