Anyone have a 1930's Japanese Bat?

[jerseygary]

I'm working on a drawing of Fujio Nagasawa, a member of the 1935 Tokyo Giants, and I'm looking for a 1930's era Japanese bat to illustrate him holding. I found a 1930's RR Mizuno Lou Gehrig model bat in the November 2001 Legendary Auction HERE (http://www.legendaryauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=18071#) but the picture is too small to make out any details. I was wondering if anyone here would happen to have any type of 1930's era Japanese bat in their collection, or even a photo of one. Thanks for your help!

[thecatspajamas]

Best I have, but not sure there is enough detail visible for what you need. Plus the scale seems off on the bat on the left. Must be some of that forced perspective hoodoo like they used for the Lord of the Rings movies ;)

[MGHPro]

I have the Gehrig Japanese bat. I don't have any photos of it saved but will try to dig it out and take some photos in the next week or so
Matt

[jpop43]

We've had a few Japanese made (Bamboo) baseball bats over time, not to mention a number of pre-1934 era baseballs and split finger gloves. Here is an image of one of our Japanese bats along with a Tamazawa Mfg. baseball...the image is a wire photo of Babe Ruth with the Governor of the Philippines during a tour in 1931.

[jerseygary]

Lance, Jonathan and Matt - thank you very much for the help and pictures.

That one with O'Doul looks like it's an H&B bat, do you know who the player is with him?

Jonathan, if you have a picture of the markings on the Gehrig bat, I'd like to use that in my drawing. I understand it has Japanese characters on the barrel? I think it would be a nice touch to have the bat be a Mizuno.

Matt, if I can't get good pictures of the Mizuno, I'll use the one you sent, that it's made from bamboo would be a cool exotic touch to the illustration.

Thanks again guys, I really appreciate the fast help!

[jpop43]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-ALL-BAMBOO-BASEBALL-BAT-HAGOROMO-SHIM-ZU-JAPAN-Professional-model-/261377886622?pt=Vintage_Sports_Memorabilia&hash=item3cdb56099e#ht_98wt_1031

Here is one with nice, deep markings up on ebay right now...

[thecatspajamas]

That one with O'Doul looks like it's an H&B bat, do you know who the player is with him?

T. Tabe?

[jerseygary]

Thanks for posting the slug for the photo. Takeo Tabe was a pitcher and he toured with the Tokyo Giants in 1935 and 1936 when they came to the States. He was one of the stars of the first Japanese Baseball League and was killed fighting on Okinawa in 1945. He was one of the first players inducted into the Japanese Hall of Fame when it was founded.

[thecatspajamas]

Cool! Thanks for the ID. My knowledge of Japanese baseball is practically non-existant :o

[MGHPro]

Sorry it took so long
Matt

[MGHPro]

More

[jerseygary]

Thank you so much for sharing that bat, the little detail will make a great addition to my illustration. Would you happen to have any close up of the Lou Gehrig endorsement? Was it a facsimile like on a Hillerich & Bradsby?

[MGHPro]

Here you go

[jerseygary]

Perfect! Thanks so much for posting it.