"Higher Culture" returns with more baseball fun and history-making, as someone I've written about a few times before gets recognized for an exceptional feat in his profession.
I realize that some might argue that sports exploits and news about professional athletes are a waste of valuable oxygen in the larger world of important topics. "Why does something so mundane even matter, when X, Y, and Z are still happening in our country?" they argue. I promise to get to that in a minute.
Read related:
Farewell to the Say Hey Kid, Calling Out the Umpires, and Otani's Doggo Giveaway
A Major League Baseball player reaching the 40/40 milestone is a special thing. It's when a ball player garners 40 stolen bases and 40 home runs in the same season. That's what Shohei Otani, in his first year as a Dodger and seventh year in the major leagues (he played for the Angels), has just accomplished--and remarkably, he did it faster than anyone else ever did.
Let's take a look back at Otani's first homer in Dodger Blue, on April 4th. Just watch the level of pandemonium in the stands:
THE FIRST OF MANY FOR SHOHEI OHTANI. pic.twitter.com/6x0zye1GnZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 4, 2024
There's also this fan's-eye-view of it, so to speak.
On Aug. 23, he reached 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases for the season to reach the milestone, with a single (walk-off) homer and a single stolen base in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Watch:
SHOHEI OHTANI JOINS THE 40-40 CLUB WITH A WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM!!!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 24, 2024
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/CHBmkMw25g
The 40th stolen base:
Llegó la base robada número 40 para Shohei. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/D9rifFBHtI
— Los Dodgers (@LosDodgers) August 24, 2024
Ohtani launched a 389-foot home run off Rays left-hander Colin Poche over the wall in right-center for the milestone homer, lifting the Dodgers to their fifth straight win. He notched his 40th stolen base in the fourth inning to set himself up for the historic finish.
The Dodgers went on to win the game, 7-3.
There's even more to be in awe of here, since he doesn't seem to be finished, and could create a new yardstick this season:
Ohtani joined the 40/40 club in just 126 games, shattering the previous record of 147 games by the Washington Nationals' Alfonso Soriano in 2006.
And with more than a month remaining in the season, Ohtani could soon become the first player in MLB history to tally 45 homers and 45 steals in a season.
It's more than likely he will. As of the end of Friday night's opener at Chase Field against my Arizona Diamondbacks, Otani stands at 43 homers:
SHOHEI OHTANI IS INSANE!!!
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 31, 2024
He becomes the first player in MLB History with 43 Home Runs and 43 Stolen Bases in the same season 😳
pic.twitter.com/QKtBBQp0iq
Not only that, phenom Otani has now become the first-ever member of the historic team to reach this rare echelon. How rare? There are only six players who have done this, all-time, in MLB. He also did it in the fewest-ever games.
Here's the full list, courtesy of MLB:
Shohei Ohtani, 2024 Dodgers: 126th game (129th team game)
Alfonso Soriano, 2006 Nationals: 147th game (148th team game)
Jose Canseco, 1988 A's: 151st game (154th team game)
Ronald Acuña Jr., 2023 Braves: 152nd game (154th team game)
Alex Rodriguez, 1998 Mariners: 153rd game (153rd team game)
Barry Bonds, 1996 Giants: 158th game (160th team game)
Here's why it matters. Our culture today has a dearth of examples to follow on excellence (and before anyone calls me on it, the best example remains Jesus Christ in our lives). Otani has more money than he will ever need coming his way, with that record-breaking deal, but it happened because the man has shown he brings the goods. Who can help but be inspired when watching his quick bat or the passion he puts into taking a base from the other side's defense? When much of society values superficial "wins" and "losses" that will fade with time, being the best person God made us, using the gifts He gave us, is priceless. We could use more like Otani in the world.
Hopping back to the historic nature of Otani's still-green career, they're already gathering gear from him in Cooperstown:
Shohei Ohtani’s 40/40 season will live on in Cooperstown!
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) August 28, 2024
See this artifact from the first @Dodgers player to reach the mark and other treasures in the Museum’s Today’s Game exhibit. pic.twitter.com/EXxz70pFUD
The Fox Sports story linked above reported that Otani spoke at a press conference after his achievement, saying through an interpreter:
One of my top memorable moments. I hope that I can do more and make more memorable moments.
So do we, Shohei. So do we.
