Since the publication of Japanese Baseball Cards Checklist & Price Guide Vintage Edition 3.0, three different round menko cards similar to JRM 43 1930 Red Sky menko have been discovered. The newly discovered cards are larger and do not have menko numbers, so they are probably not JRM 43 cards. Only a few examples of any of the uncatalogued cards are known.

Masao Date first achieved acclaim as a member of the powerful Ichioka High School teams of the mid 1920s. After graduation, he played for Waseda University from 1928 to 1932. He began his career as a catcher, compiling a record .469 batting average in Big Six University play. By 1931, he had become a pitcher, and was nicknamed "Iron Arm" when he defeated arch rival Keio University in three consecutive games. He was also one of the star pitchers who participated in the 1931 and 1934 U.S. All-Star Tours of Japan.

Size: 2 1/4" in diameter

Condition: Fair to good, primarily because of a poor cut at the left edge.