The 1908 Reach Tour, so called because it was sponsored by sporting goods magnate A. J. Reach, is considered to be the first organized Tour of Japan made by an American pro baseball team. These two rare postcards consist of a team photo and action from one of four games played between the Reach All Stars and Waseda University. We do not know which of four games is depicted in the postcard, but we know that the Reach team won all four games handily.

Twelve American players made the trip: Bill Burns (Washington Senators), Jack Bliss (St. Louis Cardinals), Babe Danzig (Sacramento PCL), Jim Delahanty (Washington Senators), William Deveraux (Santa Cruz, Cal Lg.), Pat Flaherty (Boston Nationals), Jack Graney (Cleveland Indians), Heinie Heitmuller (Philadelphia Athletics), George Hildebrand (San Francisco PCL), Harry McArdle (San Francisco PCL), Nick Williams (San Francisco PCL). They are all seen in the team photo, along with Mike Fisher, manager of the Sacramento Solons of the PCL, who organized the Tour. The All Americans won all 17 games against various Japanese opposition. The first game in Japan was played on 11/22 with the last encounter on 12/6.

This Reach vs. Waseda postcard is unused on the address side. The team photo postcard has been used.

Size: Each postcard is 5 1/2" x 3 5/8".

Condition: The Reach vs. Waseda postcard is Nm unused. The Reach All-American team postcard has a horizontal crease running the entire width of the postcard and would grade Good.