I mentioned the other day that I had a number of Epoch One cards of Munetaka Murakami. I actually have 14 in all (along with a 2023 promo card) which is the most I have of any one player. I can't say that I set out to get that many of him - it's just that his Epoch One cards have tended to have really attractive photos so I've picked them up.
Murakami has a lot of Epoch One cards. TCDB lists 119 between 2019 and 2024 and a quick eyeball count of the Epoch One website (TCDB does not have the 2025 cards listed) came up with another 11 2025 cards. (It's a little frustrating that there doesn't appear to be any way to do a search on the Epoch One website.) So I have a little more than a tenth of his 130 Epoch One cards (not counting the various other Epoch One varieties - "Holospectra", "Signature DECO", etc). 50 of his 130 cards were released in 2022, the year he hit 56 home runs and won the Triple Crown. I don't know if he has the most Epoch One cards of any player but it wouldn't surprise me if he did.
I thought I'd do a quick post to show off the Epoch One cards of his that I have - you'll see what I mean about how attractive a lot of the photos are. I've included on each of these what the event each card represents - some are more mundane then others.
This first card commemorates his first ever walk off grand slam on July 2, 2020:
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| 2020 Epoch One #120 |
He stole three bases in a game on November 5th, becoming the first player to do so in 41 years:
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| 2020 Epoch One #642 |
This next card is for him hitting his 13th home run of the 2021 season:
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| 2021 Epoch One #264 |
The next two cards commemorate him hitting home runs in five consecutive at bats over two games from July 31 to August 2, 2022 (the Swallows were off on August 1st). The first card shows the three home runs on July 31 while the second card shows the second home run (and fifth overall) from August 2:
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| 2022 Epoch One #601 |
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| 2022 Epoch One #615 |
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| 2022 Epoch One #667 |
This card commemorates his 56th home run of the 2022 season and is actually a promo card from the following season:
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| 2023 Epoch One Promo |
Late in Game Three of the Final Stage of the Climax Series in 2022, Murakami beat out an infield single with two outs and the bases loaded, helping the Swallows rally to eliminate the Tigers:
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| 2022 Epoch One #956 |
In 2023, he homered in his first at bat of the season:
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| 2023 Epoch One #032 |
I'm not entirely sure what happened in this next card but I think with the score tied late in the game against the Carp on April 2nd, Murakami hit a ball that he thought was a home run but the wind kept it in the ballpark at Jingu. The defense, however, misplayed the ball and Murakami ended up scoring what proved to be the winning run for the Swallows. He got credit for a double and a two base error.
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| 2023 Epoch One #037 |
He hit his 17th home run of the 2023 season on July 22nd:
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| 2023 Epoch One #555 |
He hit his first home run of the 2024 season on April 14th:
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| 2024 Epoch One #222 |
Five days later, he hit his third home run of the season. It was his first that year at Jingu Stadium and the solo shot in the eighth inning put the Swallows up for good against the Baystars:
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| 2024 Epoch One #271 |
He hit his 23rd home run of the 2024 season on August 24:
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| 2024 Epoch One #919 |
This final card commemorates him hitting his 30th home run on September 20th, becoming the fourth player in club history to hit 30 home runs in four consecutive seasons. The card shows him celebrating with Jose Osuna:
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| 2024 Epoch One #1033 |
I know I promised a post with all his Samurai Japan cards as well - I'll get to that when I get a chance.
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