Japanese MLB player Japanese/American rookie cardsby Slug03 - 135 cards (Last updated on Feb 18, 2023) |
All 67 Japanese MLB players rookie cards, from both America and Japan. There are also a few fun facts thrown in here as well about some of the players. Happy reading!
Many players have many, many rookies from the same year and other brands not listed here. My order of preference for choosing rookie cards were as follows:
Japanese rookies:
Year, BBM preferred (except for Murakami). Lowest card number chosen if BBM issued multiple cards of the player in the same set.
American rookies:
Topps base preferred, then bowman, then other major releases (Upper Deck, Donruss, Fleer/Fleer Tradition), then more minor sets released by the main companies (Topps Finest, Bowman's Best), and if no major releases exist for a player, then the earliest minor league card is selected.
Many players have many, many rookies from the same year and other brands not listed here. My order of preference for choosing rookie cards were as follows:
Japanese rookies:
Year, BBM preferred (except for Murakami). Lowest card number chosen if BBM issued multiple cards of the player in the same set.
American rookies:
Topps base preferred, then bowman, then other major releases (Upper Deck, Donruss, Fleer/Fleer Tradition), then more minor sets released by the main companies (Topps Finest, Bowman's Best), and if no major releases exist for a player, then the earliest minor league card is selected.
34. 1992 BBM #448 So Taguchi
Taguchi played in the MLB for almost 9 seasons despite being a 32 year old "rookie." He also won 2 world series championships with the 2006 Cardinals and the 2008 Phillies. |
36. 1993 BBM #423 Hideki Matsui
Another very popular player. Being a Yankee probably didn't hurt his popularity either. This former Japanese slugger is the only player to win a Japan Series MVP (2000 Yomiuri Giants) and a World Series MVP (2009 Yankees). |
Comments
Awesome list! I’m a big fan of Japanese Baseball. | ||
I learned much just by putting this together. I may have to scoop a box of BBM at some point if I can find one cheaply. Really cool stuff. |
