Masaichi Kaneda began his Japan Pro Baseball career
in 1950 at the tender age of 16 with the Kokotetsu Swallows. He was immediately inserted into the team’s
starting rotation. In his second season,
at age 17, he was a 20+ game winner for the first of 14 consecutive years,
including two years in which he won at least 30 games!
After the 1964 season, Kaneda signed with the
Yomiuri Giants, where he put in five decent seasons. 1969 was Kaneda’s final year in Japan Pro
Baseball. This card emanates from that
last season.
The JGA 183 set has received the designation R5 in Japanese
Baseball Cards Checklist & Price Guide, Vintage Edition 3.0, which
means that five or fewer examples of the card on offer here are known. The card is truly a rarity. It is speculated that the JGA 183 set was
originally a furoku (bonus gift) included with an edition of an unknown
Japanese children’s magazine. In any
case, this is one of the only Masaichi Kaneda cards that was produced in his
final year as an active player.
Blank back card
Size: 1 3/16”
x 1 1/2”
Condition:
Good