While professional baseball in Japan dates back almost as far as it does in the United States, both countries have enjoyed a long-lasting symbiotic relationship revolving around the game. This included numerous goodwill tours and exhibitions played between American Major League teams and Japanese amateur as well as college ball clubs during the first three decades of the 20th century. The Major League tours of Japan reached a zenith in 1934 when Japanese newspaper mogul Matsutara Shoriki organized the biggest exhibition of Major League All-Stars to-date, scheduling 18 games against Japan’s Big Six University League. Legendary Philadelphia Athletics manager Connie Mack was asked to assemble the Major League team whose star-studded squad included Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Lefty O’Doul, Earl Averill, Charlie Gehringer, Mo Berg, Eric “Rabbit” McNair, Earl Whitehill, Harold “Rabbit” Warstler, Bing Miller, Frankie Hayes, athletics trainer Doc Ebbling and umpire John Quinn. The team signed this original 8” x 11.5” black and white vintage team photo taken at the site of one of the exhibition games. This photo was taken from a side angle while some of the players are looking towards one photographer and the others, at the photographer taking this picture. This resulted in capturing the team in a candid and relaxed photo session. Ruth is standing next to Mack in the center while Gehrig is casting a smiling gaze towards Mack and Ruth from the far right. Berg is squatting next to Foxx in the front row and looking directly towards the photographer taking this picture. More than 500,000 Japanese fans and curious observers lined the streets of Tokyo while the Babe stole the show, and waving a pair of American flags during a welcome parade. He also hit 13 home runs in the 18 games all won by the American team. While on the tour Catcher Mo Berg snuck onto the roof of Saint Luke’s hospital in Sukiji, one of the tallest buildings in Tokyo, and took films of the city and harbor. He captured the images with his home movie camera that he would later screen for United States military intelligence officers shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The Signatures include Ruth, Gehrig, Whitehill, Gomez, Mack, Miller, O’Doul, Foxx, Gehringer, Warstler, Averill, and Berg. Berg, who spoke many languages, has signed both in English and Japanese (show off), Gehrig has penned a large gorgeous signature across his body, and the others have signed on or near their images. The photo is in Very Good to Excellent condition with several wrinkles and creases, but the signatures are magnificent. The once black ink has morphed to a dark sepia tone on the photograph. All are legible and complete.    This fantastic piece of both baseball history and U.S./Japan relations is contained in a 19” x 22’ mounted wood frame and comes with JSA LOA.

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