Masanori Murakami is a baseball pioneer remembered as the first Major League player born in Japan. Signed by the Nankai Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League in 1962 while in high school, Murakami was sent to the San Francisco Giants Single-A team in Fresno in 1964.

Thought to be a short-term exchange, Murakami pitched well enough to earn a call up to the big club on September 1st. He debuted later that day against in New York against the Mets with a scoreless inning in which he struck out two.

In the collection is a photo of the trailblazer signed in both English and Japanese. The photo was signed in Los Angeles while Murakami was a color commentator covering Hideo Nomo for Japanese television network NHK.

Before Masanori Murakami came to America he was a pitcher with the Nankai Hawks. Shown here is a photo of a teenage Murakami with his Hawks teammates.

Taken in 1962 or 1963, this photo is boldly signed by the Murakami in the margins of the print. He has added the inscription, “First Japanese Major League Baseball Player” and has signed the image in both English and Japanese.

In the collection is a “1965 Rookie Stars” Topps card featuring the first Japanese-born Major Leaguer Mashi Murakami. During his big league career, Murakami pitched in 67 games for the Giants in 1964 and 1965.

In 1964 he went 1-0 with a 1.80 earned run average while striking out 15 batters in 15 innings. The following season Murakami posted a 4-1 mark for San Francisco.

After that he returned to Japan.