Only two copies of this large card are known.  It is part of a set of 10 Hanshin Tigers players.  Wakiabayashi’s team, position and name are printed horizontally across the bottom of the card in white Japanese text.  Interestingly, “Japan Baseball Federation issued” is printed at lower right in parentheses, making JBR 78 one of the first card sets, if not the first, ever authorized by Japan Pro Baseball!

By 1949, Henry Tadashi “Bozo” Wakabayashi, a native of Oahu, was a player/manager winding down his Hall of Fame career.  As a pitcher, he had already won 20 or more games during six seasons.  He had been managing the Tigers since 1942.  At the age of 41, he put together a respectable 15-14, 3.29 record on the mound for the Tigers in 1949.

Blank back card

Size:  3 3/8” x 5 7/8”

Condition:  Ex