Sadaharu Oh and Henry Aaron 1977 Calbee -- Hooked it
 

So I hooked a white whale of mine. Bought it from one of the foremost Japanese card historians. Probably overpaid. But I'm ok with that in this case.

But I love the symmetry between Sadaharu Oh's story as someone who endured discrimination in Japan for a long time as his father was Chinese (Oh still apparently holds Taiwanese citizenship), with that of Henry Aaron, whose struggles are well known and well documented.

I'm not sure if there are other vintage-ish cards with icons from two countries. If so, I'd love to learn more about them as well.

What a great card. :eek:

I didn't even know it existed before I saw this thread.

Sometimes you just have to man up if you really want something and it's hard to find. Nice acquisition.

Congratulations! That is an awesome acquisition!

1932 Bulgaria Rurh and Schmeling - 2 icons

You did well. Mazel Tov !!! Attachment 633253Attachment 633253Attachment 633253

Not sure if Lutz Long was an icon but there are cards of him and Jesse Owens.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/25654686030...Bk9SR66x__e1ZA

Thanks for the feedback, gents (apologies if I've misidentified an intrepid female on Net54). The Schmeling/Ruth is pretty neat, as is the Jesse Owens / Lutz Long. I'm not a Ruth collector per se, as that is an expensive rabbit hole that I wish to dodge for as long as possible!

As a general matter, I think Jesse Owens is highly undervalued relative to his athletic achievements and his historical significance. He met the moment in that 1936 Olympic performance like no one else -- while his treatment on his return to American soil is arguably one of the few, but great, stains on FDR's legacy.

I, too, didn't know this card existed. Thanks for showing it off.

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I'd say the "1934" American and Japanese All Stars postcard qualifies. Quotes around 1934 because the postcard almost certainly dates from the 1950s or 1960s but PSA calls it 1934 so everyone wants a thousand dollars for it... the postcard shows used to have these for $25 all the time, because they are not very rare. [getting off soapbox now]

I realize I have no idea who the Japanese players are, but I'm assuming at least one of them must have been an icon, if they got to play against the Americans.

https://www.vintageball.com/files/Tokyo_1934_web.jpg

There are about 10 Japanese Hall of Famers in the photo.
SGC started to label the postcard as 1970s

Thanks, guys. I think I'm going to have to do some looking around for this one.

Indeed

Nice card! I’ve been looking for that for a while. And an amazing grade!!! The closest I got was this:
https://i.ibb.co/K7KkSR5/AA7-DF9-C1-...4-B7-C74-C.jpg

That's very cool. I've been looking for that NST for a long time myself.

From the 1974 Mets Tour of Japan most likely,

Both Japanese cards are terrific and are on my long term want list. As long as we're on Aarons from overseas, Korea 1982:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...0Aaron%201.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...0Aaron%202.jpg

Wow. I've been looking for that one as well for a long time. Doesn't seem to turn up anywhere.