JBR 153 cards are known for their sepia colored decorative text artistically placed around the player images. JBR 153 carries a scarcity factor of R4 in Japanese Baseball Cards Checklist & Price Guide, Vintage Edition 3.0, meaning that between six and ten copies of the card offered in this lot are known to exist. Pitcher/manager Bozo Wakabayashi is depicted here, surrounded by Japanese text listing his name, his team name and team nickname (Hanshin Tigers), his place of origin (Hawaii), his Tokyo Big Six University team (Hosei), and the fact that he was currently a manager as well as a pitcher.

It is believed that this set was issued in the off-season between the 1947 and 1948 seasons. In 1947, Wakabayashi managed the Tigers to the league pennant with a 79-37-3 record, and a 12 1/2 game margin over the second place Chubu Nippon Dragons. Additionally, as a pitcher, Wakabayashi led the team with a 26-12, 2.09 season on the mound. It was quite a year for the Hawaiian right hander who would ultimately be one of the few Americans enshrined in the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame.

Blank back card

Size: Approximately 1 1/2" x 2 1/8"

Condition: Vg/Ex