Collecting and Translating the 1973 Calbee Bat-Backs (Part 7)
#37 Shibata, Takada, Suetsugu (Giants) The Trio Backing ON Fully entrenched as the leadoff man, Shibata ’ s goal this year is to hit .300 and raise his on-base percentage. Preceding ‘ ON ’ is a big job. It ’ s do-or-die this year for Takada as the #2 batter. Naturally, his goal is to hit .300. Every year Suetsugu, known as ‘ Mr. Spring, ’ seems to peter out down the stretch. At the end of a pennant race his spring savings end up depleted. .300 is within his grasp, and it seems this year he could rid himself of the frustration over not realizing it. Photo: from left Shibata, Kuroe, Suetsugu This is the only card in the bat-back set featuring more than two players as subjects. The player wearing #11 in the background is either Hidetake Watanabe or Yoshimasa Takahashi, both pitchers. The set began release in early August of ‘ 73, though I am not sure when the pictures themselves were taken. Assuming they were snapped early in the ‘ 73 season, it would be Takahashi. #38 Doi -