Not only is this card a large, beautiful color baseball card of Hall of Fame member Noboru Aota, but it is the only card we have ever seen with Akashi Castle featured prominently in the background. The Yomiuri Giants trained in Hyogo Prefecture at Akashi Castle Stadium prior to the regular season for many years. This is the only example of this card that we have ever encountered.

Noboru Aota, an outfielder, was a five time league home run champion, six time all-star and five time Best 9 award winner. His glory years were spent with the Yomiuri Giants. A hard partier, fighter and gambler, Aota had a relatively short career, retiring at age 34 after several ordinary seasons. It is said that his purported gambling activities delayed his induction into the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame for many years.

Blank back card

Size: 3 7/16" x 5 1/2"

Condition: Vg to Vg/Ex