The JF 24d Type 1 Fujiya Gum Premiums have been assigned a scarcity factor of R5 in Japanese Baseball Cards Checklist & Price Guide, Vintage Edition 3.0, indicating that five or fewer copies are known of each card in the set.
In 1958, the God of Batting, Tetsuharu Kawakami spent the last of his 18 seasons as an active player. During most of those years, he was regarded as the best hitter in Japan Pro Baseball. Although he remained the Yomiuri Giants' regular first baseman in 1958, his average tailed off to .246 and he homered only nine times. His future success would come as the Giants manager, where he would enjoy even greater results than he did as a player.
This card depicts Kawakami at the intersection of his superstar playing career and his historic managerial career. Blank backed.
Size: 5" x 7 1/2"
Condition: Would be Vg/Ex to Ex but "No-45" is stamped on the blank back, most likely not by the manufacturer.