It's about that time to go and create another 1970's "Japan Special" card celebrating a legend from the "Land of the Rising Sun", and I thought a 1976 edition for the great Sadaharu Oh would fit nicely:
As I've stated earlier here on the blog, I just love creating cards for Japanese Hall of Famers onto Topps templates!
Sadaharu Oh is a GOD in Japan, and rightfully
so, topping 100 runs batted in 14 times, 100 runs scored 10 times and
30+ homers 19 times, which he did consecutively including his last year
in 1980.
He topped 40 homers 13 times, including 55 in 1964, a
Japanese record, then 51 in 1973 and 50 in 1977 when he broke the
record to much fanfare.
When you look at his career stats it's
like a thing out of a softball league, or some latter Barry Bonds
numbers, with on-base-percentages above .500, slugging percentages above
.700, and 100+ base on balls year after year, 16 consecutive to be
precise, on his way to 2390 by the time he hung them up.
Just a
fun angle for the blog to start designing some cards for legends of
other leagues around the world, which I hope to continue in the new
year.
Oh's final numbers: a .301 average with 2786 hits, 1967
runs scored, 2170 RBIs, 868 homers in 2831 games and 9250 official
at-bats.
Just incredible!