(LOT 29)
1921 Asahina Sporting Goods Walter Johnson Postcard PSA 2.5 FR – The Only Professionally Graded Example!
ONE-OF-A-KIND BIG TRAIN!!! In our 2023 Summer Auction, we electrified the hobby with a recently discovered 1921 Asahina Sporting Goods Babe Ruth postcard revealing his iconic 1916 Charles Conlon Boston Red Sox batting image that ultimately sold for $72K! Incredible as it may seem, the same consignor has now wowed us with another 1921 Asahina postcard, this one revealing the renowned Charles Conlon image of the immortal Walter Johnson. Newly discovered in Japan and graded a PSA 2.5 GOOD+, it has miraculously survived the past 102 years within a Japanese family's archives and is now available for the taking courtesy of our consignor who discovered this one-of-a-kind keepsake on one of his overseas trips.

Unique for any professional grading company, to the best of our knowledge, it is the only known Walter Johnson example. It's no secret that Japan's fascination with baseball steamrolled in the early 20th century, with the inaugural Japanese baseball tour taking place in 1908, followed by additional tours in 1913, 1920, 1922, 1931, and, of course, the most revered 1934 Tour. The Japanese based ASAHINA SPORTING GOODS CO. issued this momentous postcard in 1921, choosing baseball's greatest all-time pitcher to go along with their other momentous Babe Ruth postcard, obviously selecting two of America's elite diamond superstars to promote their products. Asahina is a Japanese surname that means "sunny place", appropriately fitting for this enthralling keepsake that will ultimately be the shining star of any world-class gathering. While we were not able to gather a wealth of information for this by-gone Japanese sporting goods store, what we do know is that, spearheaded by the Olympics and baseball, Japan was now feverishly throwing their hat into the sports ring with regard to becoming a worldly sports nation.

A vast number of Japan based sporting goods stores were capitalizing on the sports mania sweeping across the country, with the Asahina Co. likewise reaping the benefits of the booming athletic goods industry. By 1921, Walter Johnson had firmly established himself as the finest pitcher on the planet, having already compiled 305 wins in only 14 seasons with a poor Washington team. The tall flame-throwing right-hander had paced the Junior Circuit in strikeouts for nine seasons and, unfathomable to say the least, had posted sub-2.00 ERAs in 11 of his 14 campaigns, including a microscopic 1.14 ERA in 1913 when he tallied an amazing 36-7 record. Asahina chose to utilize a legendary circa 1910s Charles M. Conlon pitching pose for the Hall of Fame icon, with this iconic image one of the Big Train's most illustrious illustrations extant. The splendid aesthetics for this Cooperstown-worthy masterpiece are consistent with most VG-EX cards, with its approximate 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" measurements spot-on with most postcards. Stealing the show is the classic Conlon sepia-toned Johnson pitching illustration, as Walter has most likely unleashed another one of his blazing fastballs. The critical Asahina Brand Sporting Goods diamond-shaped logo is affixed near the image's lower left quadrant, and accounting for the grade is an area of soiling near the lower left corner. Otherwise, no notable surface flaws are evident on either side, with even corner wear actually emanating an eye-pleasing uniformity. The verso is unmarked, and of utmost significance, the English translation for the Japanese verbiage along the obverse side's bottom border is translated as follows: "The legendary pitcher of the Washington team Walter Johnson was known for his style." No truer words were ever spoken for Walter Johnson's side-winding pitching style, which ultimately led to 417 lifetime wins, 110 shutouts and a remarkable 2.17 ERA. This incomparable fresh to the hobby find is a perfect complement to the previously discovered Ruth postcard, and we cannot imagine two finer American baseball heroes for the Asahina Sporting Goods Company to utilize on their promotional postcards!

MIN BID $3,000
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