Original Issue Date: Feb. 24, 1964 Translated by The North American Post Staff
Three Japanese baseball players who just graduated from high school signed a minor league contact with the notable San Francisco Giants. They will be sent to an A level team in Fresno to play in the California League for this coming season.
This is the first time a Major League Baseball team has signed players from Japan. The players, left-hand pitcher Masanori Murakami, infielder Tatsuhiko Tanaka and catcher Hiroshi Takahashi of the Osaka Hawks in the Pacific League, are the most talented high school graduates on the team.
The trio will arrive in San Francisco on March 10 and begin practicing on March 14 at Casa Grande in Arizona, where the Giants’ Minor League training camp is held. The Fresno team was picked for the players since the area has many Japanese American residents.
The Giants plan to have the three players in the Minor League this season. If any player displays enough talent to play at the Major League level, the team will extend the player a contract. Otherwise, they will return to the Osaka Hawks at the end of the season.
