Hey everyone, today I’m diving into something really cool that I recently got my hands on – a 1950 Menko Japan baseball card, specifically the 3 of Clubs. For those who don’t know, Menko is this old-school Japanese card game, and the cards themselves are these thick, kinda sturdy pieces of paper or cardboard with pictures on them. And let me tell you, these aren’t just any pictures; we’re talking vintage baseball players from Japan!
So, first off, I started digging around to figure out what the heck I actually had. Turns out, the earliest baseball Menko cards date back to like 1897! But the one I have is from a set that came out in 1950, which apparently is pretty sought after by collectors. It’s called the JCM21 set, and there are 53 cards in total. I learned all this from something called the “Gary Engel’s Japanese Vintage Baseball Card Checklist & Price Guide,” which is like the bible for this stuff.
Now, about the card I’ve got. It’s the 3 of Clubs, and it features a player named Torao Ooka. The card is in pretty decent shape for being over 70 years old. It’s an original, not a reprint, which is awesome. I’ve seen similar cards from this set online. Some are complete sets in a single uncut sheet – 53 cards all together, and it looks super cool.
- First step: I started searching online to learn all about Menko and where they came from.
- Second step: Then, I focused on this 1950 set. Read up on its history and how rare it is.
- Third step: I carefully examined the card, checking out the player, the condition, and any unique markings.
- Fourth step: Looked for similar cards online to compare and figure out if it was real.
I got this card, and I wanted to know more about it. So, I started researching. First, I found out what Menko cards are all about. Then, I dug into the history of this 1950 set. After that, I took a good look at the card, checking out the picture, the number, and any little details. It’s a 3 of Clubs, and it’s got this player Torao Ooka on it. Finally, I went online to see if I could find any other cards like it. I saw a few others from the same set, and some were even in a big sheet, all 53 cards together!
My Thoughts
Honestly, holding this card feels like holding a piece of history. I mean, this thing is from 1950! It’s wild to think about the journey it’s been on. Plus, finding out it’s part of a complete set makes it even more special. I’m no expert, but the whole process of researching and discovering the story behind this card has been a blast. It’s not just a piece of cardboard; it’s a little window into the past of Japanese baseball.
Anyways, that’s my little adventure with this 1950 Menko Japan baseball card. It’s been a fun ride, and I’m stoked to share it with you all. If anyone else out there is into this kind of stuff or has any cool Menko cards, I’d love to hear about them!
