The JF 35b set carries an R5 designation in the Japanese Baseball Card Checklist & Price Guide, Vintage Edition 2.1 by Gary Engel, signifying that five or fewer copies of each of these cards is known. Actually, we know of only two copies each of these two cards. Kazuo Kasahara (right) would have been the 1948 Japan Pro Baseball Rookie of the Year had the award been initiated at that time. It was not presented until 1950. That season, the right fielder was the first player to hit at least 40 doubles in a season, and also was the first to score at least 100 runs. His .296 batting average that season further solidified his credentials. Kasahara spent the majority of his nine season career with the Hawks, finishing up with the Unions. He batted .286 lifetime. Kazuhiro Kuroda's career (1949-56) almost completely overlapped with Kasahara's. He joined the Hawks one year later, and both moved to the Unions for 1954 and 1955. Also primarily an outfielder, Kuroda was more of a power hitter than Kasahara, but was not nearly the star that Kasahara was. These cards would fit nicely into a type collection, especially for a Hawks fan. Blank backed cards.

Size: Each card is 1 1/16" x 1 7/16".

Condition: The Kuroda card is Ex. The Kasahara card is Good/Vg.