• 100% Silk
• 3 1/4" width
• Handsewn
• Made in USA

1977. Tokyo.

A hush comes over the izakaya as the patrons look up from their beer glasses to the TV. The air is heavy with yakitori smoke and anticipation. The Yomiuri Giants are playing their crosstown rivals, the Yakult Swallows, and Sadaharu Oh marches up to the plate.

The camera cuts to the number one emblazoned on his back, as he hunches down to his trademark “flamingo” batting stance. A quick swing of the bat and the Korakuen Stadium crowd comes to a roar. The television speaker crackles as home run number 756 soars to the sky and passes Hank Aaron’s legendary record. 

By the time the ball had left the field, it had lifted Sadaharu Oh to the status of a baseball god. 

Incidentally, in Japanese, Oh translates to “king.”  A question still lingers of whether his ascension as king of baseball is sheer coincidence, or sign of a divine plan, but any question of his greatness ended that night.