An extraordinarily rare and historically significant piece of international baseball history, this 1959 Menko JCM39 #7480 Sadaharu Oh Rookie Card (Type 2) is authenticated and graded PSA 1, with a total PSA population of only 37 graded examples known across all conditions. Hand cut by design, this menko issue stands as the true rookie card of Sadaharu Oh, widely regarded as one of the greatest power hitters the game has ever produced.

Issued in 1959, the card captures Oh at the very beginning of his legendary career with the Yomiuri Giants, long before he set the all-time professional home run record with 868 career home runs. The Type 2 designation refers to a scarcer variation within the JCM39 menko series, making this example especially desirable among advanced collectors of Japanese baseball cards and international Hall of Fame–caliber material.

Menko cards were traditionally produced for play and were hand cut, a characteristic that naturally limits condition and significantly contributes to their rarity today. The PSA 1 grade reflects heavy wear consistent with age, use, and method of manufacture, yet the card remains fully identifiable and rich in visual and historical appeal. PSA encapsulation provides critical authentication for an issue that is often misidentified or absent from collections.

Sadaharu Oh rookie cards are cornerstone pieces in global baseball collecting, and original 1959 menko examples—particularly the scarce Type 2 variant—are seldom offered for public sale. With only 37 total PSA-graded examples, this card represents a true hobby rarity and a museum-worthy artifact, commemorating the beginning of a career that reshaped Japanese baseball and left a lasting legacy on the sport worldwide.

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