Through the Magpie Eye: Japanese Baseball Cards

09.11.2021

Worn illustrated baseball card: a player in a blue Dragons uniform and cap on a red background, with Japanese lettering

Japan’s love of baseball is well known, and their attention to detail is world-renowned, so it shouldn’t come as a shock that Japanese baseball cards are a proverbial teppanyaki grill of highly-detailed visual treats.

Considering Poten’s back in the building, we’ve gone deep into the virtual outfield and sourced (well… pilfered, depending on how you look at it) some choice ones from the golden era of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Halftone baseball card of a player in yellow and green crouching to field, a temple roof behind and red Japanese lettering

Sepia baseball card of a batter in stance with a large number 30, a bird emblem and Hawks in script beside Japanese text

Green-bordered baseball card of Hawks pitcher Masanori Murakami in a grey uniform and navy cap, stadium floodlights behind

Front of a Fumio Fujimura scorebook: a player in a grey Tigers uniform and green cap, with Hujimura in red script

Illustrated baseball card of a catcher in a mask and chest protector against a blue background, with Japanese lettering

Illustrated baseball card on a red wall: a smiling figure in a navy cap and pinstripe Seals shirt, with Japanese lettering

BBM 2006 Nostalgic Baseball card of Eiji Sawamura, standing in a grey Tokyo uniform and navy cap with a glove and ball

Baseball card of four colour player photos, three at bat and one pitching in a Tokyo shirt, each with Japanese captions

Cover of The Base Ball Graphic: an illustrated player leaping to make a catch in front of a blue panel, with Japanese text

Safety Matches label with three illustrated baseball players on globes, a batter in yellow between a fielder and a pitcher

Black and white baseball card of a player in a Toei jersey and cap, with a vertical Japanese caption

Baseball card of a player in a cream Giants uniform and navy cap, kneeling behind a fan of wooden bats by a wire fence

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