Great vintage lithograph (framed 18x24") featuring Japanese baseball Hall of Famer Tetsuharu Kawakami advertising Daikoku Budoshu Wine and Whiskey. As a young amateur, Kawakami played in the famous Koshien tournament, and when his team lost, he scooped some dirt from the field into his pocket, thus initiating the well-observed annual Japanese custom of losing players "saving the dirt of Koshien." As a pro, Kawakami was a first baseman who played his entire career for the Yomiuri Giants. His career spanned 1938-1958, with three years out for service in the Japanese military during World War II. Kawakami was a terrific player, winning five batting titles, two home run crowns, three RBI titles, and three league MVP awards. As a manager of the Yomiuri Giants from 1961-1974, Kawakami was known for his "tough-love" approach, a method that garnered nine consecutive championships. This beautiful lithograph shows Kawakami in his left-handed batting stance and exhibits in Excellent condition.