A rare 1959 Sadaharu Oh manga

 

    Books and comics profiling Sadaharu Oh were numerous in his day, though most of these came later in his career when he was already an established legend. This comic, issued as a furoku—a kind of bonus insert—in Yakyu Shonen (Baseball Boy) magazine, is notable both for its exceptional rarity (this is one of two copies I know to exist) and its more unexpected date of publication: May 1959, about a month into Oh’s rookie season. Though pretty unusual for an unproven first year pro to get a 50 page manga treatment, the title’s tagline ‘Hope of the Giants’ does attest to Oh’s status as a highly regarded prospect. As depicted in the comic itself, Oh’s Waseda Jitsugyo High School won it all at Spring Koshien in 1957. While the April iteration of Japan’s national high school baseball tournament is not quite as prestigious as its summer counterpart, Koshien heroics of any kind are always well celebrated.

    The comic’s title is a bit of a play on words. It is read Shin-Jin! Oh which means, Rookie! Oh. Without the exclamation point separating the last kanji it would read Shin-Jin-Oh, the Japanese term for ‘Rookie of the Year.’ The manga’s author and illustrator, Michihiko Mishima, created numerous other titles around the same time period, many of which look to have been furoku as well. 

    The narrative begins with a brief recounting of Oh’s early and uncertain childhood.

NOTE: Japanese comics are read right to left. Although not typical of manga, the panels are numbered in this book—useful for orienting yourself with my translation: 

 1. A hospital in Tokyo

Um, Doctor, we were wondering if you could help us.

2. I can’t make any guarantees...

I see. Of course.

3. His heart is weak and there’s really nothing I can do.

Is that so...

4. His lips are purple and he’s so pale...

He’s still our son, dear.

5. Even if the doctor wants to give up, we’ll raise him well with all our hearts.

Yes, you’re right!

6. And so...

7. His father worked himself to the bone 

8. His mother devoted herself to the children.

9. His older brother Tetsuhiro, and his sisters Yukie and Yoriko were always looking after him. 

10. Amongst his family’s warmth and love little Sadaharu...

11. ...grew bigger and stronger before their very eyes...

And everyone was relieved.

     The slugging Oh started his baseball life as an ace pitcher (sound familiar?) and the story goes on to recap his time at Honjo Middle school and Waseda Jitsugyo High. Here, Oh’s first Koshien experience, the summer 1956 tournament, is depicted. (I particularly like page 24, with Koshien Stadium’s famous scoreboard in the upper-right).

6. And so, the 1956 Summer Koshien tournament was underway.

7. Mom, Dad...

8. I’ll do my best.

9. Game 2 was against Gifusho High.

Listen up, Gifusho is a powerhouse school. We'll let Oh start, alright?

10. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If he gets knocked around we’ll switch him out right away. If we’re going to win this tournament Oh's got to give us his best shot.

11. Alright. Everyone’s counting on me. I’ll give it my all.

12. So, representing Tokyo, Waseda’s Oh took the mound.

13. Could Oh really hold down the vaunted Gifusho High?

Play ball!

     Alas, he could not. Gifusho dumped Waseda 8-1 (en route to their own loss in the final). For Oh of course, the story was just beginning. Waseda won Spring Koshien the following year, and the volume ends with him signing with the Yomiuri Giants, where the rest is history.

     On the back, an attractive advertisement for watches.