The mid-50's marked the height of popularity for the Brooklyn Dodgers. They were coming off their very first World Series championship in 1955, so an invitation to travel to Japan several months later for a Baseball Goodwill Tour was a natural fit. Following the 1956 season, the Brooklyn boys headed overseas in search of extending the teams reach and to improve international relations. After all, Baseball was becoming a national sport on the island nation, and what could be better than to share our love of the game as a way to build bridges.
As you can imagine, all sorts of collectibles were made to celebrate the occasion. Recently on eBay, a couple of these items popped up that caught my eye. In fact, I placed a bid on both of these items, but I came woefully short of winning.
First, here is a 1956 magazine produced by Japan Pro Baseball Association that includes photos and biographies of the Dodgers. The cover features Don Newcombe. Also, check out the biography pages for Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges, and a team photo below. This vintage magazine sold for a $63.78.
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This next item is a roster card for the games played at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo. Jackie Robinson is featured on the front cover, and both the Dodgers and Japanese All-Stars rosters are printed in Japanese. This piece sold for a healthy $145.05.
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| (Auction Link) |
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