[Archive]

Posted By: Robert S

Your picture comes from the collection of Mitsuhiko Fujita, grandson of Baron Denzaburo Fujita, who grew up watching and playing baseball in Kobe, Japan. According to Sotheby’s/SCP, which recently auctioned off his collection: “Young Mitsuhiko always carried his camera, taking as many photographs of both the Japanese and American baseball greats as he could. He then had the photographs developed, ready to be signed at the ballpark the following day.”

Your photo of Ty Cobb comes from November 1928, when Ty Cobb traveled to Japan with a few other Major Leaguers including Bob Shawkey and Herb Hunter. They were invited to Japan by the Mainichi Newspaper to train with and play 12 games with the Japanese Daimai team.

Here are other photos from the tour (from various sources), featuring Cobb, Shawkey and Hunter, as well as another featuring Cobb and the Damai team:








No, I don't own all these photos...I wish I did, though!