In 1950, the Mainichi Orions won the Pacific League Championship with a winning percentage of over .700, and then went on to rout the Robins in the first Japan Series ever played.

Of the three players who autographed the photo offered here, the Taiwanese superstar, Shosei Go is the best known. Known as the "Human Locomotive", Shosei Go (1916-1987) is one of the few Taiwanese stars enshrined in the Japan Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. The tiny, fleet footed outfielder was often considered to be the fastest player of his era. In a career spanning the years 1937 to 1957, he played for the Giants, Tigers and Orions. Go was a two time batting champion and was also named MVP in 1944. Interestingly, he was also used as a pitcher in 1946. During his one season on the mound, he went 14-6 and pitched Japan Pro Baseball's first postwar no hitter!

This item is one of two Shosei Go autographed images that we have ever seen.

Yasuya Hondo spent most of his first 13 seasons of his Japan Pro Baseball career with the Osaka Tigers. Along with several other members of the Tigers, Hondo joined the Orions for the 1950 season. The switch paid off, as Hondo, a second baseman, batted .306 with 12 homers and was named to the league Best 9 team for the only time in his career. Moreover, he was a member of the first Japan Pro Baseball championship team. After a career as an active player which spanned the years 1937 to 1957, Hondo became a manager.

Katsuki Tokura was a right fielder who played for Hosei U. of the Big Six University league. After graduation, he played semi-pro baseball for over a decade before joining the Mainichi Orions in 1950 at the age of 35. He hit 21 homers with 95 RBI that season. 1950 was his only season with the Orions, as he moved on to the Braves in 1951, where he stayed until he retired after the 1957 season. While with the Braves, Tokura was named to the Pacific League Best 9 team at the ages of 41 and 42!

Size: 4 1/8" x 2 7/8"

Condition: Autographs--10 out of 10. Photo--Ex.