Both the 1947 Marusaka Sepia Bromide Type 1 and Type 2 sets will be included in the Japanese Baseball Card Checklist & Price Guide, Version 3.0, due to be released later this year. Both types contain the Marusaka logo, which can be seen on this card at lower right. Only Type 2 cards feature either a bat or baseball glove near the bottom. Each bat or ball has the name of a baseball play printed on it. In this case, "Second base fly" is inscribed. This leads us to believe that the Type 2 cards might have been used to play some type of baseball game. The Type 2 cards will be designated R4, meaning that fewer than 10 copies of each card are known.

This is a second year card of Hiroshi Oshita. Raised in Taiwan, Oshita entered Japan Pro Baseball in 1946 following a stellar career at Meiji University. He was the most feared hitter in the early years of the Pacific League. Oshita was named to eight Best 9 teams during his career. He batted an astounding .383 in 1951. He was elected to the Japan Hall of Fame in 1980.

The card was originally issued as a grand prize winner in a taba (hanging bundle), as "home run" was stamped on the blank back by the manufacturer. We would assume that this grand prize consisted of an uncut panel of cards from a display sheet associated with this set, but we do not know for certain.

Size: 1 9/16" x 2 3/8"

Condition: Vg/Ex. The manufacturer's "home run" prize stamp appears on the back. Also, the number 379 has been added to the back in pencil. The numerical designation could have been made by the manufacturer or by a previous owner.