Homerun Cards

Between 1973 and 1979, Calbee issued variant "Homerun Cards" which featured the same card fronts, but different card backs (which gave instructions for returning the prize card to Calbee in exchange for a premium). Once redeemed, the Homerun card was returned with the selected prize, so a number of these cards exist with some child's selection and a redemption stamp.

(The same card, regular on the left, "Homerun" on the right)

JC 1a: 1973 Calbee Homerun
This is the only Homerun set that featured unique backs, which had the orignal card numbers still there. In blue ink printing, the top of the card looks like the regular series, but beneath the crossed baseball bats and card number is the word "Homerun" between two baseballs. A redemption date of September 30, 1973 is at the bottom.

(Note, this is not a Sadaharu Oh card....)


JC 2a: 1973/74 Calbee Homerun
With blue ink printing, the word "Homerun" is written at the top, centered between two small baseballs. There are five slight variations on these Homerun cards. They feature redemption dates of September 30, 1973, December 31, 1973, or March 31, 1974.

JC 3a/4a: 1974-76 Calbee Homerun
With grey ink printing, these can have "1974", "1975", or "1976" written on top above a large image of a baseball. A variety of redemption dates include: September 30, 1974, February 28, 1975, August 30, 1975, November 30, 1975, March 31, 1976, and October 31, 1976.

(Homerun cards for 1974,1975, and 1976)

JC 5b: 1977 Calbee Homerun
These cards have either grey or blue lettering (seemingly grey for Homerun cards from the 5a set, and blue printing for the cards from the 5c set). It features a large baseball in the top left of the card, and the year "1977" at the top. These have redemption dates fo March 31, 1977, June 30, 1977, September 30, 1977, and March 31, 1978. Some of the earlier grey-backed ones also include card-fronts from the previous 1975-76 Calbee set, but with the 1977 Homerun backs.

(Grey back and blue back variants)

(an example of a card from JC4a 1975/76 with a 1977 Homerun back)

JC 7k: 1978 Calbee Homerun
These cards are printed with blue ink, and feature the word "Homerun" at the top between two small baseballs. There are 3 variations: a wavy-lined box in the center with an image of a baseball on 3 mini-bats, a solid-lined box with the same image, or a solid-lined box in the center without the image.

(three versions)

JC 8m: 1979 Calbee Homerun
These are printed with pink ink, with the word "Homerun" across the top. An image of a baseball on 3 mini-bats is in the top right corner.