Need help identifying Japanese circle Menko. Babe Ruth?

[Forza_azzurri]

I think this might be a 1948 or 49 Circle Menko of Babe Ruth. Does anyone know the set name or know if that is him? It doesn't have his name though, but it looks like him enough
The back is blank.


Thanks,
John

T206: 340/524

[Frankish]

That's a neat card. Unfortunately, I don't know which set it is from. There are so many uncatalogued round menko sets. Of course, this could be catalogued and I just didn't see it....

Anyway, it does look similar to some of the other menko card illustrations of Ruth. And the hand and the layout and features of the card (the white hand in circle, the text in a kind of hot-dog shaped box that seems cut off at the bottom, even the unusually fat pin-striping) look like other cards I have seen of American players, although I think that (uncatalogued) set was issued around the Yankees 1951 tour of Japan.

So my (wildly unexpert) opinion is that it is in fact a Babe Ruth card but not from his playing days.

[Frankish]

Here is a Joe Dimaggio card (based on the illustration) that may be from the same or at least a very similar set. The text at the bottom reads "home run" rather than a player name.

[japanbb]

I don't believe the player in question is Babe Ruth. First of all, the player shown on the round menko is right handed. Ruth was left handed. There is no name printed on the card. It's most likely just a generic card.

Also, I don't think the "DiMaggio" card is really Joe DiMaggio. It is from a generic set that contains several cards with various elongated features. Again, DiMaggio's name is not printed on the card.

Neither of these cards will ever appear in the Guide.

There are several Ruth and DiMaggio Japanese menko that contain the player's name on them. There are also a number of photographic bromide cards of these players which either have the name printed on the card, or are obviously images of Ruth or DiMaggio.

Sorry to spoil the party.

[Frankish]

Gary, good to know. I like them, nonetheless, and would be happy to have either one.

[Forza_azzurri]

Thanks Gents!

I suppose if it was really Ruth then they would have his name on it.
But I think it was supposed to look close enough to him and Joe D.
Actually the seller of this card mentioned Joe D was in the same set as well.

Frank, it is in an auction here in Japan right now, so if you really want it I could get it for you! I don't mind being a proxy with something like this. It is about $20 right now, and ending Sunday morning US time.
Small note, but the word on the bottom is cut off, but I think it is saying "Out"