40 year quest finally completed

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

O/T, but does anyone else wonder why in heck the Japanese teams use the English alphabet on their jerseys?? That's odd.

Lefty O'Doul helped set up the Japanese professional leagues. The Tokyo Giants were named in tribute to his then-team. He is one of only a few Americans in the Japanese baseball HOF. Part of the modeling on the American game was the use of English language in team logos. That tradition has remained. After the war Lefty was among the first to bring American baseball to Japan, touring with the Seals as well as some MLBers. Here are some cards:

1949:



1951 Lefty and Joe D:



1951 PC