The "Yankee Clipper" elects to fly via Pan Am Clipper. Accompanying Joe and Marilyn to Tokyo were "Lefty" O'Doul and his wife Jean. O'Doul had been Joe's mentor and originally recruited him into the San        Francisco Seals baseball team before he later   became a Yankee. Joe had been invited to coach and participate in an exhibition baseball league game and further encourage the Japanese interest in American baseball. It would be a glorious return to postwar Japan for Joe (or so he thought), as he was revered second only to General Douglas MacArthur. Joe and Marilyn leave via Pan Am Flight 831 from San Francisco's brand new $14 million   dollar (in 1954) International Airport facility