The 1949 JCM 191 menko set has received the designation of R5 in Japanese Baseball Cards Checklist & Price Guide, Vintage Edition 3.0, indicating that five or fewer copies of each card are known to the hobby. Thus, cards from this set are rarely encountered.

All cards feature a drawing of a baseball facsimile autographed by Lefty O’Doul on the back. All players portrayed in the set appeared for the All Japan team that faced O’Doul’s San Francisco Seals during the team’s 1949 Tour of Japan. One of the key cards in the set depicts Japan Hall of Fame member Kaoru Betto.

Known as the Gentleman of Baseball, Kaoru Betto broke in with the Hanshin Tigers in 1948, batting .328 in 89 games. The 1949 season was Betto’s first great year, as he batted .322 with 39 home runs and 126 RBI in 127 contests, putting him well on the way to the Hall of Fame.

Size: 1 3/4" x 2 9/16"

Condition: Fair