SADAHARU OH Memorabilia (Yomiuri Giants)
and his historic 800th Homer
On this day in 1978, Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh hit his 800th career home run for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League. The, then 38-year-old, left-handed slugger became the first-ever (and still today the only) baseball hitter in the world to reach 800 homers.Oh (also known as Wang Chen-chih) ended up with 868 HRs in his 22 year career which started out - like MLB legendary home run champion Babe Ruth - as a pitcher.
Oh's feat of passing 800 career round-trippers is put into perspective in that only three batters in the North American Major Leagues have ever passed 700 dingers: Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Ruth (714).
It was reported that Sadaharu's historic 800th blast somehow landed in a fan's shoe in the right field stands of Korakuen Stadium - which prompts the headline - "Shoeless Oh Jacks One!"
More than a foot-note in baseball history this feat is suitably remembered as that historic (and extremely valuable & collectable) ball is now safely on display in Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame.
What is not known is the origin of a Yomiuri Giants baseball signed by Sadaharu Oh now safely on display at Uniquely Sporting's head office in the UK. This ball is believed to date from the same period (late 70s) as Oh's 800th home run. Would be nice to think our ball was one of the 868 !!
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| Uniquely Sporting's SADAHARU OH signed Yomiuri Giants baseball |
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