1958 Fujiya Caramel

In 1958 the confectionery company Fujiya launched Fujiya’s Baseball Caramel complete with its own card set. Each about the size of a passport photo and printed on paper thin stock, these cards were included in every individual sized box of the product. I don’t think it is definitively known how many cards are in this unnumbered set but it seems to be at least 120. 

Premiums were also offered. According to one advertisement, one in three boxes of Baseball Caramel came with a voucher for a large size bromide. Whether the bromides were redeemed at the shop of purchase or if they had to be mailed in for, I don’t know. The premiums come in slightly different types; they can be found with a facsimile signature, printed name, both, or neither. All are blank backed. Although all ‘58 Fujiya Caramel cards are scarce, the premiums seem to be a little more available, surprisingly. I guess this may make some kind of sense. The regular cards are so small and flimsy they were no doubt very prone to damage, loss or being thrown away. PSA has only graded three of the regular cards.

1958, of course, was Shigeo Nagashima’s rookie year. Before he was "Mister Pro Baseball," the inevitable Nagashima was already a star because of his exploits in college, and he featured on the advertising for Baseball Caramel. The hype for Nagashima, which would later be completely validated, was real. He’s on at least 14 different premiums. Fujiya Caramel issues are among his most sought after and valuable cards—they are some of the only cards with Nagashima as the sole subject that are pricier than his ‘73 Calbee.

Fujiya itself is still very much around. Its most famous product is Milky, a kind sweet milk candy with the consistency of taffy that debuted in 1951. Milky’s mascot (and really Fujiya’s de facto mascot) Peko-chan, a cartoon girl licking her lips, is an icon in Japan. She appears in the print ad for Baseball Caramel along with Nagashima.

I got three standard cards and one premium, all of Osaka (now Hanshin) Tigers players. As you’ll see, the backs on these are pretty simple but pack a lot into the small space: physical stats, a player blurb and a “baseball memo” with trivia or explanations of different baseball terms. One quirk of these cards is that some of them use the traditional Japanese measurements of shaku (~30cm) and sun (3cm) for player height, and kan (3.75kg) for weight. I’ll just convert these units into metric in the translations. Another quirk, to put it mildly, is that they give each player’s address. Presumably, this was for the purpose of sending fan mail. Even if this was the era of stickball-in-the-street-with-the-kids innocence, it’s still pretty unbelievable.

Hanshin 16  Hideshi Miyake

Infielder, Age 23, 174cm, 67.5kg. Nankai High School, Throws Right-Bats Right—Miyake could represent the Central League at third base. He’s been showing off his sharp hitting since opening day, and his competition with the Giant’s number 1 rookie, Nagashima, is a sight to see.  There really isn’t one hole in his offense or defense. NISHINOMIYA CITY NARUO-CHO NISHIHATA 3-5. Hobby: movies.

 ----------Baseball Memo----------

 An “earned run” is a run charged to the pitcher. That is, one that is not caused by a fielding error. It is a run scored after getting on base via base hit, sac bunt or fly, stolen base, or wild pitch.

不二家野球キャラメル

Hanshin 22  Kenjiro Tamiya

Vice Captain, Outfielder, Age 30, 171cm, 71kg. Nihon University, Throws Left-Bats Left—Tamiya is Hanshin’s dependable fourth batter. He was a pitcher during his time at Nihon University, but after entering the pros his hitting prowess was recognized and he converted to outfield. A leader on a young Tigers team. NISHINOMIYA CITY NARUO-CHO TASHIRO 1-8. Hobbies: judo and reading.

----------Baseball Memo----------

“Follow through” is when, after having hit the ball, the bat is swung to the left shoulder (in the case of a right-handed hitter) without stopping abruptly. It is necessary for pitching as well.

不二家野球キャラメル

Hanshin  Mitsuo Osaki

Pitcher, Age 25, 173cm, 75kg. Meiji University, Throws Right-Bats Right—Last season, Osaki achieved 20 wins again. He is, along with Koyama, the heart of Hanshin’s pitching corps. His velocity isn’t particularly noteworthy, but his command of his pitches belies his age. NISHINOMIYA CITY KOFUEN 2-10. Hobbies: reading and flower arrangement.

----------Baseball Memo----------

The "hit and run" is an offensive strategy where the base runner and batter, after getting the signal, will take off and attempt to hit a pitch that could be a strike. A pitcher may throw a waste pitch to prevent it.

 

不二家野球キャラメル

 

Did you catch how all the cards refer to "Hanshin?" As I alluded to earlier, the Tigers were officially known in 1958 as the Osaka Tigers, though these cards offer some evidence that they were probably referred to as both Osaka and Hanshin interchangeably at least to some extent at the time. Although originally called the Osaka Tigers from 1936, the team switched to “Team Hanshin” during World War II due to league, and perhaps government pressure to bar English nicknames for being too Americanized. The Osaka name returned until 1961, and they have been the Hanshin Tigers ever since. 

 Yoshio Yoshida

 

Yoshio Yoshida was the Tigers shortstop for most of the 50’s and all of the 60’s. He profiles a bit like the Ozzie Smith, with modest offensive numbers and great defense. Like Smith, he was also a skilled base thief, earning the stolen base title twice. He is one of three Tigers with his number retired (#23).