Taiyo Baseball Team

Wing Luke Museum Collection 2007.036.388

The Summer Olympics begin tomorrow in Tokyo and that has us thinking of athletes past and present. Check out this photo taken of the Taiyo baseball team from September 15, 1938. During the early 20th century, Japanese and Seattle baseball teams frequently made the journey to play each other, specifically from 1905 to 1936. The Japanese American community in Seattle had a strong interest in baseball and began sponsoring teams in 1904. Seattle's Japanese American teams hosted Japanese university teams throughout the 1930s and competed in various leagues, including the Seattle City League. The last Seattle Japanese American team to travel to Japan was the Taiyo Athletic Club, one of the top teams at the time, which made trips in 1933 and 1936. 

Which sports will you be watching during the Summer Olympic Games?