Based on the success of Kobai baseball caramel cards and their redemption programs, some of Kobai's competitors began producing similar baseball cards in the early 1950s. The Kawakami Confectionary Company was one of these "copycats". While Kobai's cards depicted only Yomiuri Giants players, Kawakami featured players on other teams, including this card of Mr. Tigers, Fumio Fujimura (HOF). The size, thickness and type of printing on the back are nearly identical to typical Kobai cards. However, Kawakami Caramel cards are much scarcer, as evidenced by their R4 designation in the Japanese Baseball Card Checklist & Price Guide, Vintage Edition. This means that fewer than 10 copies of each card in the set are known. Fujimura, a third baseman, known affectionately as Mr. Tigers, was the heart and soul of the team for 23 years (1936-1958). He was the 1949 Japan Pro Baseball MVP, was named to six consecutive Best 9 teams and had a .300 lifetime batting average.

Size: 1 5/8" x 2 3/8"

Condition: Ex/Mt to Nm

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