Thanks to American businessmen and missionaries, Japan has been playing baseball almost as long as it’s been played in the United States. Since the early 1900's, American players have visited Japan, but by far the most successful and influential tour arrived in the fall of 1934. Newspaper owner Matsutara Shoriki wanted only the best American stars and the roster of the group led by Connie Mack certainly met his expectations. Much to the delight of the Japanese fans the tour was headlined by none other than Babe Ruth and his easily recognizable mug was featured on poster plastered up all over the island.

Ruth and a dozen other American League stars thrilled Japanese fans for 18 games held from one end of the island to the other. By the time they left, the island was baseball-mad and a professional league was organized which thrives to this very day. This Spalding Cork Center League baseball has been signed by the tour's star, Babe Ruth, on the sweet spot. Five other's who played during Ruth's era have also signed the ball: Tour of Japan Teammate Hall of Famer Charles Gehringer (who signed it his customary “Chas. Gehringer”) on the south panel; Pinky Higgins of the Philadelphia A’s who was not included in the Tour of Japan on the east panel; Heinie Manush who also did not play in Japan and Team USA teammate Luke Sewell of the Washington Senators, along with Hall of Famer and Team USA teammate Earl Averill on the north panel. All of the signatures on this ball are in bold black steel-tipped fountain pen. This baseball has red and blue stitching and displays toning. The ball has a coating of shellac that has perfectly preserved the signatures. This baseball comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (AH87065).

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