Collecting and Translating the 1973 Calbee Bat-Backs (Part 6)
#32 Sugawara - Pitcher (Giants)
#33 Yanagida - Outfielder (Giants)
An Ace-In-The-Hole Batting Left! Yanagida
With decent range, Yanagida has made his presence known as a clutch pinch hitter from the left side of the plate. This year marks the fifth since he was acquired from Nishitetsu, and he is really finding his stride.
Yanagida's Giants Batting Record
Yanagida had a long productive career primarily with the Giants. His best season was 1977 when he hit .340 with 21 home runs and 17 steals. He was named Player of the Month for May that year.
#34 Doi - Second Base (Giants)
Dashing Hero Doi
With great speed to the right or left, Doi will put his whole body into catching a hot grounder like it’s nothing. A big hit with the kids, his competitiveness is unrivaled. Doi often plays through minor injuries, but you wouldn’t know it from his face. He often surprises his manager, who will have had no idea he was banged up in the first place. How best to execute a double play with a runner on first... the cerebral Doi will consider it right in the middle of the action.
This card’s heading literally describes Doi as ‘Ushiwakamaru-esque.’ Ushiwakamaru, or Minamoto Yoshitsune was a samurai whose life and exploits have long been romanticized and fictionalized. He is considered to be a kind of Renaissance man and a hero archetype. I opted for ‘dashing hero’ given his obscurity outside Japan.
#35 Takada - Outfielder (Giants)
Takada’s Batting Record By Opposing Team in ‘72
My goal for this year is to hit at least .280 against Hiroshima. Please cheer me on!
The short statement on the back of this card is unique in that it is written as though Takada himself is saying it. Whether or not it is an actual quote, I don’t know.
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