Endless madness. We are witnessing the era of one of today’s most relevant athletes. While many obsess over figures in other sports, in baseball, Japan’s Shohei Ohtani continues to shatter Major League Baseball (MLB) records. On the night of September 19 in Miami, during the game between the Marlins and the Dodgers, fans of both teams had the luxury of witnessing a historic milestone: the Asian player hit 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season for the first time in the history of the competition.
The last player who came close to achieving something similar was Latin American Álex Rodríguez, who in 1998, playing for the Seattle Mariners, hit 42-42. Ohtani, aware of his million-dollar contract, knew he had to perform at his best. On a spectacular night, where the Dodgers crushed the Marlins 20-4 as visitors, the gifted Ohtani stole his 50th base in the first inning and hit his 50th home run in the seventh inning, sending the ball into left field. Simply spectacular.
The Japanese closed the game with 3 home runs, 6 hits, 10 RBIs and 2 stolen bases, something unheard of in MLB history.
HOW DID THE PUBLIC REACT?
Despite the fact that the Marlins are having a season to forget, 15,548 people witnessed the historic moment. Men, women, children, Marlins fans and Dodgers fans alike were thrilled by this unique event. Below we show moments of how this unique moment in MLB history was experienced from the stands.
— real person (@naptimefan) September 19, 2024
A man in a black T-shirt caught Ohtani’s 50th home run. Did he give the ball back?
El jonrón histórico de Ohtani, lo narré sin voz, pero con el alma pic.twitter.com/lHuspxSJs9
— Eduardo Cepeda Visbal (@EduardoCepedaV) September 20, 2024
A Colombian tourist narrated the moment from the stands.
I just witnessed Shohei Ohtani steal his 50th and 51st base AND hit his 49th and 50th Home Runs!!! 🤧😭🍿🎥 🐐💎
These are the two home runs! @MLB @Dodgers #FiftyFifty #History pic.twitter.com/MPAFBspHFo
— Immortal Legend (@MarleyBrooker) September 19, 2024
A Florida resident also expressed his pride at being there.
FIGURES
Ohtani reached 51 home runs on the season and is just 2 away from matching Aaron Judge, who has 53 homers this year. Both have 9 games left to play, who will be the champion?
