1934 JAPAN TOUR RELATED "BABE RUTH" RARE CELLULOID SCORER "R.R. MIZUNO & BROS./OSAKA-TOKYO-KOBE".
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Winning Bid:
$4,326.23
(Includes 18% Buyer's Premium)
Bidding Ended:
Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:00:00 PM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:00:00 PM)
Item Description
1.75" double sided celluloid scorer w/five counter wheels around the edges and attached strap. There must be a fascinating story behind how this came to be produced in Chicago and its exact purpose as a promotional device in 1934 Japan. Curl names Parisian Nov. Co. Chicago. Front celluloid with action photo of "Babe Ruth" batting while the lower rim text names a (now) 100 plus years old Japanese sports outfitter founded in 1907 in Osaka whose line even back in the 1930s included selling Lou Gehrig endorsed bats and gloves. To this day, Mizuno is one of the largest manufacturers of sports equipment, most prominently baseball items, in the world and is extremely popular with little league teams here in the U.S. Reverse has colorful illustration of players on a ball diamond w/tiny cut-out windows where numerals keep track of "Runs Home/Runs Visitors/Strikes/Innings/Balls". Following the success of the 1931 U.S. Baseball Tour of Japan, the Americans were intent on making an even bigger splash the second time around and this meant nothing less than the biggest drawing card in baseball, Babe Ruth, making the trip in order to ensure the largest possible turnout of Japanese baseball fans, which certainly ended up being the case as over 500,000 fans showed up to welcome the American ballplayers when they first arrived. During the months of November & December 1934, Ruth and his famous "All Americans" teammates, highlighted by the inclusion of Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Connie Mack, played in a total of 12 cities, including all three named below the firm name R.R. Mizuno & Bros. In Kobe, near Koshien Stadium, in an area called Mizuno Square, there is a plaque picturing Ruth and commemorating the 1934 visit. The U.S. and Japan would play a total of 18 ball games with the Americans winning all 18, led by the "Sultan of Swat" with a total of 13 home runs during the 18-game tour. Many believe that the popularity and success of the two U.S. baseball tours to Japan paved the way for Japanese professional baseball to begin play in February 1936. The top loop that held the generic leather strap (not present) has been expertly reattached and this is only noticeable upon close inspection. Now firmly intact. Both sides exhibit only minor surface wear, also only seen upon close inspection, if not even magnification. Remains bright and glossy. With the repair, Fine, but displays higher than the assigned grade. The only other example we know of was from the Paul Muchinsky Collection and we sold that in our Feb. 2021 auction for $10,452. A true Ruth rarity.
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