1931 World Tour Yuasa and Co. Card (actually G.T. Son Co.)

[benchod]

It is a Japanese issue to commemorate the MLB tour of Japan produced by Yuasa.

[benchod]

There are beautiful cards of the individual players as well including Gehrig, Grove, Cochrane etc.
Did you come across this one? They are very scarce

[Jobu]

Thanks for the info Craig. Looking online, I only see this site:

http://www.vintageball.com/1931Tour.html

A very cool site if that happens to be a board member's. But, not a ton of info on the Yuasa issue - are there any better discussions of it?

[benchod]

Rob Fitts wrote a fantastic article about this issue in the April 6th 2010 SCD.
You should be able to find it online.
Since that article I have been looking for any examples of these cards. It took many years but recently I was ecstatic to pick this one up

[Jobu]

Wow Craig, I see why you were excited, that Gehrig is fantastic!

I found the article you mentioned:

http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.co...d-with-hofers/

I see Rob is a board member and last posted in 2016. I am going to try a pm and email and see if he can add some photos of the set.

[benchod]

Here are some others from the set including the Team photo like yours.
Interestingly they aren't numbered like yours. The #15 on yours makes sense since I believe there are 19 different subjects known at this time

THESE ARE NOT MINE!

[Bicem]

Beautiful set, that Lou is spectacular.

[Leon]

I love it when the pictures are so sharp they are almost 3D-like. Great cards. That said, are these cards a series of photos that were distributed akin to a photo pack? Or....?
And thanks for sharing!!

Originally Posted by benchod

Rob Fitts wrote a fantastic article about this issue in the April 6th 2010 SCD.
You should be able to find it online.
Since that article I have been looking for any examples of these cards. It took many years but recently I was ecstatic to pick this one up

[Jobu]

I thought I should add some additional info to this thread to make it more of a reference.

I spoke with Robert Klevens of Prestige Collectibles who also spoke with Gary Engle (thanks for your help Robert!). Gary's checklist for this set is below. Robert mentioned that he doesn't know of more than 1 or 2 of each card. My copy of the team card is also the first they have seen with a number on the front.

PSA doesn't list signature/no signature/variations and has graded one each of Cochrane, Cunningham, French, Frisch, Grove, Kammn, Kelly, Maranville, O'Doul, Ruel, Simmons. SGC doesn't seem to have graded any.

Facsimile Autograph Cards
Mickey Cochrane
Larry French
Lou Gehrig-end swing/empty stands
Lou Gehrig-hands on hips
Lefty Grove-end of delivery
Lefty Grove-top of windup
Lefty O’Doul-at bat
Al Simmons-port./hands behind back
Al Simmons-holding three bats

No Facsimile Autograph
Dick Cunningham-bat in left hand
Frankie Frisch-warmup jacket
Willie Kamm-hands on hips
George Kelly-batting cage
Rabbit Maranville-RHB #5 at left
Lefty O’Doul-hands on hips
Tom Oliver?-sitting in front of fence
Muddy Ruel-end of swing/catcher rt.
Simmons/Shinners?/Cochrane
1931 Tour team card

[Baseball Rarities]

Awesome cards. Love seeing those images.