Jimmy Newberry and John Britton were the first two African American ex-Negro leaguers to play in Japan Pro Baseball. Both made their debuts in 1952 with the Hankyu Braves. The two players had been teammates with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League during the mid to late 1940s, and more recently had been St. Louis Browns farmhands. Bill Veeck, the Browns' owner, loaned both players to the Hankyu Braves for the 1952 season.

Britton, a third baseman, performed especially well in 1952 batting .316. Newberry, a pitcher, had an 11-10, 3.22 record. Newberry returned to the U.S. after the 1952 season, while Britton played a second year in Japan. Newberry returned to the U.S. Well past his prime. He pitched four years in American Class B and Class C leagues before retiring after the 1956 season. Jimmy Newberry's story is an important chapter for both Japan Pro Baseball, and for racial progress.

According to Japanese Baseball Cards Checklist & Price Guide, Vintage Edition 3.0, the JF 62b set has been given a scarcity factor of R5, meaning that five or fewer copies of this card are known. This is the only example of the JF 62b Newberry card to have been evaluated by any third party grading company Thus, it is 1 of 1 and highest graded.

Size: 1 15/32" x 2 1/16"

Condition: PSA 4 (Vg/Ex) 1 of 1 with no other example graded by any third party grading company