Don Newcombe played one season with the Newark Eagles in the Negro leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949.  During a stellar Rookie of the Year Campaign, he won 17 games, led the league in shutouts and pitched 32 consecutive scoreless innings. 

Following his illustrious U.S. career, Newcombe, along with Larry Doby, ventured to the Land of the Rising Sun for the 1962 season.  The two were teammates for the Chunichi Dragons.  Newcombe, his pitching arm no longer serviceable, played first base in Japan, batting .262 with 12 homers in 81 games.  This was the first time that former U.S. Major League stars had played in Japan for a Japanese team.

Presented here is one of the few JG 31 1962 Tachibana Seika cards of Don Newcombe in existence.  The card has received the scarcity factor of R5 in Japanese Baseball Cards Checklist & Price Guide, Vintage Edition 3.0 by Gary Engel, signifying that five or fewer copies of this card are known to exist today.  This is only the third example to be professionally graded.  The other two cards received PSA 4 and PSA 5 grades.  The only other known Newcombe Japanese card type is the 1962 JCM 57b menko card.  While the JCM 57b is quite rare in its own right, the JG 31 is definitely scarcer. 

The example offered here is complete with the redemption point section still attached.  It would make a great addition to any Dodgers or Negro League collection.

Size:  1 5/8" x 2 5/16"

Condition:  PSA 3 (Vg)