Shohei Ohtani
Positions: Designated Hitter and Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-4, 210lb (193cm, 95kg)
Team: Los Angeles Angels (majors)
Right now, I'd vote for Shohei Ohtani as 2021 American League MVP. Ohtani is hitting great and pitching well. The only precedent is Babe Ruth hitting great and pitching well in 1919, his final season with the Red Sox. As soon as the Red Sox noticed that Ruth could do both, they traded him to the Yankees.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1919-batting-leaders.shtml
https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2021-batting-leaders.shtml
| 1. | Johnson • WSH | 10.8 |
| 2. | Ruth • BOS | 9.9 |
| 3. | Cicotte • CHW | 9.7 |
| 4. | Alexander • CHC | 7.5 |
| 5. | Adams • PIT | 7.5 |
| 6. | Vaughn • CHC | 7.3 |
| 7. | Coveleski • CLE | 7.1 |
| 8. | Hornsby • STL | 6.7 |
| 9. | Veach • DET | 6.7 |
| 10. | Peckinpaugh • NYY | 6.3 |
| 1. | Ohtani • LAA | 8.9 |
| 2. | Wheeler • PHI | 7.3 |
| 3. | Semien • TOR | 7.2 |
| 4. | Soto • WSN | 7.2 |
| 5. | Correa • HOU | 6.9 |
| 6. | Ray • TOR | 6.9 |
| 7. | Guerrero • TOR | 6.7 |
| 8. | Tatis • SDP | 6.6 |
| 9. | Ramirez • CLE | 6.5 |
| 10. | Goldschmidt • STL | 6.2 |
| 1. | Ruth • BOS | 29 |
| 2. | Cravath • PHI | 12 |
| 3. | Kauff • NYG | 10 |
| Sisler • SLB | 10 | |
| Baker • NYY | 10 | |
| Walker • PHA | 10 | |
| 7. | Williams • PHI | 9 |
| Smith • CLE | 9 | |
| 9. | Burns • PHA | 8 |
| Hornsby • STL | 8 | |
| Heilmann • DET | 8 |
In 1919 Ruth set the season home run record for the first of four times, culminating with 60 in 1927.
| 1. | Guerrero • TOR | 46 |
| Perez • KCR | 46 | |
| 3. | Ohtani • LAA | 45 |
| 4. | Semien • TOR | 43 |
| 5. | Tatis • SDP | 41 |
| 6. | Duvall • 2TM | 38 |
| Gallo • 2TM | 38 | |
| Olson • OAK | 38 | |
| 9. | Ramirez • CLE | 36 |
| Judge • NYY | 36 |
Ohtani is one home run behind Guerrero and Perez. He could lead the AL and MLB.
How much did Babe Ruth pitch and bat at the same time? Monday, April 9, 2018
The DH rule started in the old American League back in 1973. The old National League never adopted it. So when Babe Ruth was a full time pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1915, 1916, 1917 Ruth would bat in all games in which he pitched. Ruth never played another position until 1918 when he led the AL in home runs for the first time with 11, tied with Tillie Walker, who had been Ruth's teammate the previous two years and was playing center field for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1918...
The Red Sox played these number of games during Ruth's years with them:
1914 91-62 (2) = 153
1915 101-50 (1) = 151
1916 91-63 (1) = 154
1917 90-62 (2) = 152
1918 75-51 (1) = 126
1919 66-71 (6) = 137
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Brian Kenny, Babe Ruth died 25 years before the designated hitter rule started! Shohei Ohtani has played SIX innings in the outfield! Friday, July 9, 2021
Geez, I know he knows this but his continued comparison of Babe Ruth and Shohei Ohtani basically ignores the fact that whenever Ruth pitched or played as a non-pitcher, the Babe played the field. Ruth didn't sit in the dugout and make four brief appearances to bat. People are amazed at the physical difficulty faced by Ohtani in having to be a designated hitter (DH) and also pitch in other games. Are you kidding? The physical mess David Ortiz was a DH.
On MLB Network Brian Kenny continues to state that Ruth did both for only three months. Brian, send me a Candygram when Ohtani does it ever. Ohtani is a bloody DH! Geez, come on. How difficult can that be physically? ...
Prior to this season when Ohtani pitched he didn't bat. Now in 2021 when Ohtani pitches, he sometimes bats. Except for six innings in the outfield, in his other games Ohtani is just a DH. Basically, he's a golfer who doesn't even walk the course.
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Hitting:
Pitching:
Ohtani's ERA+ dwarfs Ruth's: 140 to 102. Ohtani does not have enough innings to be listed among leaders. On the other hand, Ruth completed 12 of his 15 starts and had a Save. And Ruth pitched more innings. (Ohtani could pitch again in 2021.)
| 1. | Johnson • WSH | 215 |
| 2. | Cicotte • CHW | 176 |
| 3. | Alexander • CHC | 166 |
| 4. | Vaughn • CHC | 160 |
| 5. | Weilman • SLB | 159 |
| 6. | Ruether • CIN | 154 |
| 7. | Toney • NYG | 154 |
| 8. | Adams • PIT | 153 |
| 9. | Sothoron • SLB | 150 |
| 10. | Mays • 2TM | 148 |
Eddie Cicotte would be one of seven Chicago White Sox who took money to intentionally lose the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. An eighth White Sox, Buck Weaver, knew about the conspiracy. All eight were banned for life following the 1920 season.
| 1. | Burnes • MIL | 185 |
| 2. | Scherzer • 2TM | 178 |
| 3. | Woodruff • MIL | 169 |
| 4. | Ray • TOR | 163 |
| 5. | Buehler • LAD | 157 |
| 6. | Wheeler • PHI | 148 |
| 7. | Gausman • SFG | 144 |
| 8. | Miley • CIN | 142 |
| 9. | Fried • ATL | 142 |
| 10. | Cole • NYY | 139 |
Fielding:
Ohtani has started 120 games as designated hitter (DH), which is not a fielding position.
The End
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