This card emanates from the first postwar karuta set. JK 26 is the only postwar black & white baseball karuta set of which we are aware. Unlike most other karuta, the hiragana symbols on the player cards only. Normally, both player and reading cards contain the hiragana. As a result, this set is difficult to match up. The origin of the set is unknown. This card is one of only two examples of this Hiroshi Oshita card known to exist!

Raised in Taiwan, Hiroshi Oshita entered Japan Pro Baseball in 1946 following a stellar career at Meiji University. He was the most feared hitter in the early years of the Pacific League. Oshita was named to eight Best 9 teams during his career. He batted an astounding .383 in 1951. He was elected to the Japan Hall of Fame in 1980.

Blank backed card.

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

Condition: Would be Ex/Mt to Nm, but there is residue from some Japanese text on the reverse, handwritten by a previous owner, that has been erased.