'74 Calbee Archive

This page serves as the master archive of all the 1974 Calbee cards I have translated. Cards are presented here in numerical order and without the occasional extra commentary provided in the original posts in which they appear. 

#1  Sadaharu Oh - First Baseman・Captain (Giants)

 

1

He’s dashing toward two consecutive triple crowns, a record the world has never seen! This year too, Wan-chan’s feats will be a sight to see.

[Baseball Museum]   There are players who have won 2 triple crowns in the American Major Leagues, but none who have done it two years consecutively.

 

#2  Sadaharu Oh - First Baseman・Captain (Giants)

 2

 

This season, Oh has a lot of challengers aiming to be the home run king. Yamashita and Tabuchi cannot be overlooked.

[Baseball Museum]  During his high school days, Oh was Waseda Jitsugyo’s ace. He threw an 11 inning no-hit, no-run game against Neyagawa High at the 1957 Summer Koshien Tournament.

 

#3  Sadaharu Oh - First Baseman・Captain (Giants)

 3

 

The single season home run record is Oh's own 55 (1964). He’s made it well known that he’s looking to break it with at least 60.

[Baseball Museum]   Hank Aaron of the Major Leagues hit home run #714 on Opening Day, tying Ruth’s record.

 

#4  Sadaharu Oh - First Baseman (Giants)

 4

Oh was a pitcher at his alma mater Waseda Jitsugyo High, where he helped his team win Spring Koshien in 1957. In ‘59 he joined the Giants as a pitcher.

[Baseball Museum]  Sakushin Gakuin High won the spring and summer National High School Baseball Tournaments back-to-back in 1962. In ‘65, Chukyo-Sho High became just the second to do so.

 

#5  Sadaharu Oh - First Baseman・Captain (Giants)

 5

 

Oh won the coveted Triple Crown. Now he’s got big plans: 800 homers and another one back-to-back.

[Baseball Museum]   Oh’s home run total is 585. Naturally, that’s the Japanese record.

 

#6  Shigeo Nagashima - Third Baseman・Hitting Coach (Giants)

 6

 

The word “limits” isn’t in Mr. G’s dictionary. It’s all down to this year, and Cho-san is ready to go after it.

[Baseball Museum]   Most National High School Baseball Tournament Championships by Prefecture: Summer Tournament Best 3 - ① Aichi (7x), ② Hiroshima (6x), ③ Ehime (5x)

 

#8  Shigeo Nagashima - Third Baseman・Hitting Coach (Giants)

 7

 

Speculation is growing that Nagashima will be the next manager of the Giants, but he is on the active roster for another year yet, and it’s best that he continues to focus on his play.

[Baseball Museum]   The oldest active player is Manager Nomura of the Hawks at 39 years-old; Nagashima (Giants), Hirose (Nankai), and Miyagawa (Hiroshima) follow at 38. (Japanese players only)

 

#10  Tsuneo Horiuchi - Pitcher (Giants)

 10

 

Horiuchi and Kazumi Takahashi are the only two pitchers to have never pitched for the farm team after joining the Giants.

[Baseball Museum]  The Giants’ ace number is 18. It was passed down to Horiuchi from pitcher Fujita (who is now a coach).

 

#11  Kazumi Takahashi - Pitcher (Giants)

 11

  

Takahashi’s goal is 20 consecutive wins. A Giants mainstay along with Horiuchi, his exploits as a lefty ace will be must-see.

[Baseball Museum]  16 players have achieved a no-hit, no-run game at the Summer High School Baseball Tournament.

 

#12  Kazumi Takahashi - Pitcher (Giants)

 12

 

Takahashi is the steadiest pitcher in the Giants’ rotation. His results last year calmed any worries about a lack of stamina.

[Baseball Museum]  The single season record for wins by a pitcher belongs to Inao of the Nishitetsu Lions. Now the Lions manager, he won 42 games in 1961.

 

#13  Shigeru Takada - Outfielder (Giants)

 13

 

Fleet of foot and with sound defense, Takada is the point man of the Giants’ advance and a prime target of the opposing team.

[Baseball Museum]  Takada is the only Giants outfielder to have won Rookie of the Year (1968).

 

#15  Isao Shibata - Outfielder (Giants)

 15

  

Shibata has declared that he will take back his stolen base title. It’s the return of the red-gloved gentleman thief!

[Baseball Museum]  Fukumoto (Hankyu) has the most stolen bases in a single season with 106—a world record.

 

#17  Toshimitsu Suetsugu - Outfielder (Giants)

 17

 

Suetsugu is the big hitter protecting ON in the Giants’ starting lineup. This season, for a complete change of pace, he’s been settling into the three hole and showing off his power.

[Baseball Museum]  There are 25 players on the bench for each club’s A-Team.

 

#19  Shozo Doi - Third Baseman (Giants)

 19

 

A vital team player, Doi has been called a computer for his masterful defense.

[Baseball Museum]  Record for most home runs at the Summer National High School Baseball Tournament==① 19 (10th Tournament, 1924), ② 13 (50th Tournament, 1968), ③ 12 (45th Tournament, 1963)

 

#20  Yukinobu Kuroe - Shortstop (Giants)

 20

  

Although pleased with youngster Kono’s development, veteran Kuroe, with his clutch hitting, is still going strong.

[Baseball Museum]  Called “Ushiwakamaru,” former Hanshin shortstop Yoshio Yoshida was just 165cm tall. He played for 17 years.

 

#22  Kurata - Pitcher (Giants)

 22

 

He’s prioritizing throwing his forkball and is getting the hang of winning. It will be a defining year for Kurata.

[Baseball Museum]  A forkball is thrown by gripping the ball between the middle and index fingers. It is thrown with the same movement as a fastball, but it breaks below the batter’s hands.

 

#25  Yanagida - Outfielder (Giants)

 25

 

Yanagida is the youngest left-handed batter and can hit impressive home runs. It remains to be seen if he can break into the lineup regularly.

[Baseball Museum]  Yanagida wears #38, which was assigned to him by current Second Team manager, Kunimatsu.

 

#27  Tabuchi - Catcher (Hanshin)

 27

This should be a decisive year for a potential “Post-Oh” Era. Only Tabuchi can compete with Oh for the home run crown. It may hinge on him hitting .300.

[Baseball Museum]  Everyday catchers are also called the “cornerstone.”

 

#29  Tabuchi - Catcher (Hanshin)

 29

 

 Everyone agrees that Tabuchi’s power rivals Oh’s. He may soon compare to Manager Nomura in home runs.

[Baseball Museum]  A protector is a piece of equipment catchers and umpires wear to prevent injury.

 

#30  Enatsu - Pitcher (Hanshin)

 30

 

His fastball has returned. And so, on to year three of 20 or more wins. Enatsu is unquestionably the league’s ace.

[Baseball Museum]  Records for most home runs hit by an individual at the National High School Baseball Tournament:  Fujisawa (Kurashiki Technical [31st Tournament, 1949] ), Inada (Heian [13th Tournament, 1927] where he hit 1HR, and [16th Tournament, 1930] where he hit 2HR).