TOKYO — The Athletics’ first year in their new Oakland home left Joe DiMaggio, their vice president in charge of class, enthusiastic over the club’s chances for a pennant.

"Off the showing we had this year against teams that are in the same regional area as we — the same division — I’d say we have an excellent chance for next year," DiMaggio, former New York Yankee star, said in Tokyo.

DiMag and Athletics’ pitching coach Bill Posedel are in town for an eight-day coaching stint with the Taiyo Whales of Japan’s Central League.

"We did well against the teams in our division last season. (The other clubs in the same American League division are Minnesota, Chicago, Kansas City, Seattle and the Angels at at Anaheim.)

"And Minnesota didn’t have (Harmon) Killebrew for a good part of the year. If we had had the setup last season that goes into effect next year, we would have won it," DiMag said.

DiMag wasn’t as cheery about the team’s attendance. "I was disappointed. We drew about 830,000. We had 50,000 opening day and I think we pulled in 34,000 on `bat day’ (when bats are given to youngsters), but we also had games of 3.000 and 4,000.

"However, Mr. (Charles) Finley (A’s owner) has done — and is continuing along these lines — some fine promotional work around the Oakland area. We had six players who went around to appear at banquets, luncheons and functions like that. They answered questions about the team and the individual players."

DiMag was the classic ballplayer of his — perhaps any — generation. A supreme center fielder, he made chasing a fly ball seem as routine as a stroll to the corner cigar store.

He was that rare athlete who was at his best under pressure. He holds the major-league record for consecutive games batted safely — 56 — and finished with a lifetime batting average of .325 after 13 seasons as a Yankee. Three times he was league Most Valuable Player.

He was named to the Hall of Fame in 1955.

He noted that the naming of Hank Bauer as Athletics’ manager would be a reunion for him and the ex-Orioles’ manager. The two had been teammates as Yankees.

"I had nothing to do with the naming of Hank. In fact I was taking a shower in the clubhouse when somebody told me that Bob Kennedy had been fired. Kennedy did some fine work, especially with our younger players. I’m sure Hank will do a good job for us, too."

Losing righthander Diego Segui on the expansion draft surprised Joe. "He was good. He could come in at any time and he was always ready. The guy had a rubber arm. But with the expansion coming up we could only protect so many players."

Posedel, who pitched for Brooklyn and Boston of the National League in the late ’30s and early ’40s, said, "The draft hurt us another way. Because Seattle was coming in to the league we had to let go of our Triple-A franchise, nearby Vancouver."

"So," DiMaggio added, "we have to make hay with what we have. And we have an interesting team. Of course everybody knows about Bert Campaneris. He’s fast. A crackerjack at stealing bases. He’s a darn good glove man, too.

"We should have big years out of Rick Monday, Reggie Jackson (outfielders) and Sal Bando."

Posedel was enthusiastic about pitchers Jim Nash, Jim Hunter, John "Blue Moon" Odom, Chuck Dobson and Lew Krausse.

"Each of them is ready for a good season," Posedel said.

Commenting on the early progress of the St. Louis Cardinals on their Japan barnstorm (they were 1-2 at this writing and are now 3-2), DiMag said:

"I’ve been telling players who were coming over here to look out. The Japanese are getting bigger and stronger and they were always highly skilled in the technical aspects of the game."

DiMag first played an exhibition in Japan in 1951. He’s been here twice since.

Asked how he rated the Whales’ players he was coaching, DiMag praised outfielder Shozo Shigematsu, catcher Isao Itoh and Hawaiian-born Marcelino Agcaoili. "They’re real hustlers. And each of them has good potential."

Joe was supposed to come to Japan on a USO tour, earlier in October, but had to put off that trip because he underwent surgery in San Francisco.

"Nothing serious. Just a deviated nasal septum. I feel fine now."

While in Japan he plans to visit the Army hospital at Camp Zama.