Shohei Ohtani's 50-50 : Its historical significance and his future challenges

It's amazing that Shohei Ohtani achieved 50-50 (50 or more home runs, 50 or more stolen bases) in 2024, because no one in the long history of Major League Baseball had ever done it.

I'm a huge Ohtani fan, and happy or sad about his daily batting performance. I'm in a great mood on the day he hits a home run or gets multiple hits. On other days, I'm in a bad mood. So I was really happy and delighted that Ohtani achieved 50-50 in 2024. But after basking in that happiness and joy, I calmly thought about the historical significance of Ohtani's 50-50 and his future challenges.

Here, I would like to present my thoughts on the historical significance of Ohtani’s 50-50 and his future challenges. However, before I write my thoughts, there are some important things that I must mention. So, this is going to be a bit of a long column, but I will try to write it as orderly and clearly as possible, so I would be grateful if you would read it to the end. I would also be grateful for any opinions or criticisms you may have about my thoughts.

(A)  Another great 50-50 record

When Ohtani achieved 50-50, I was surprised that no one mentioned another great 50-50 record in Major League Baseball. At least, there was no one around me. None of the Japanese media mentioned it at all. What about the American media?  From what I have searched on the Internet, it seems that not a single American media has mentioned it. So, I would like to start with this another great 50-50 record.

In 1912, Tris Speaker achieved 50-50, hitting more than 50 doubles and stealing more than 50 bases. This was a fantastic achievement, the first in the history of Major League Baseball. The next time this 50-50 was achieved, 86 years later, in 1998, by Craig Biggio. Since then, no one has achieved it. So even now, Tris Speaker and Craig Biggio are the only two to have achieved this 50-50.

Here, I am going to write some important things.

1. Neither Tris Speaker nor Craig Biggio achieved 50-50 by chance. A close look at their records makes it clear to anyone that it is not surprising that they both achieved 50-50. In other words, these two were worthy of being the men to achieve 50-50. First, about Tris Speaker. His 792 career doubles are the most in history. He led the league in doubles eight times. He never won the stolen base title, but he had seven seasons with 30 or more stolen bases. He had 30-30 (30 or more doubles or 30 or more stolen bases) five times (one of which was 50-50) and 40-40 twice (one of which was 50-50). Next, about Craig Biggio. His 668 career doubles are the sixth most in history. He led the league in doubles three times. Five times he stole 30 or more bases (once as the stolen base leader). Five times he had 30-30(one of which was 50-50). One time he had 40-40 (when it was 50-50).From the above, I’m sure everyone thinks that Tris Speaker and Craig Biggio were worthy of being the men to achieve 50-50.

2. Tris Speaker and Craig Biggio achieved 50-50 in the same season, but are there any major leaguers who achieved both 50 or more doubles and 50 or more stolen bases in different seasons?  There are four. Two of them achieved this in the 19th century,   before Tris Speaker became the first player to achieve 50-50 in the same season : Hugh Duffy (51 doubles in 1894, and 50 or more stolen bases four times in 1889, 1890, 1891, and 1892) and Ed Delahanty(55 doubles in 1899, 58 stolen bases in 1898). One of the other two is Ben Chapman (50 doubles in 1936, 61 stolen bases in 1931), who appeared between Tris Speaker and Craig Biggio's 50-50. The other is Brian Roberts (50+ doubles in 2004 and 2009, 50 stolen bases in 2007) who appeared after Craig Biggio achieved 50-50.

A panel photo commemorating Craig Biggio's achievement of 50-50 after Tris Speaker. (I found this in an exhibition room celebrating the achievements of Tris Speaker, located in the historical building of Hubbard High School where Tris Speaker attended and studied.)

(B) 40-40 (40 or more home runs, 40 or more stolen bases)

In 2024, Ohtani achieved 40-40, and further extended his record to achieve 50-50. Six players, including Ohtani in 2024, have achieved 40-40 once each. Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Alfonso Soriano (2006), Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023), and Shohei Ohtani (2024). Of these six, only Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ohtani are still playing as active players. 

Here, I'm going to write some important things.

1. Are there any players who did not achieve 40 or more home runs and 40 or more stolen bases in the same season but did achieve 40 or more home runs and 40 or more stolen bases in different seasons?  There are three. One of them achieved it before Jose Canseco achieved 40-40 for the first time in 1988. That is Willie Mays, who is said to be the greatest all-around player of all time. He hit 40 or more home runs six times: in 1954, 1955, 1961, 1962, 1964, and 1965. He also stole 40 bases in 1956. The other two were Ryne Sandberg (40 home runs in 1990, 54 stolen bases in 1985) and Brady Anderson (50 home runs in 1996, 53 stolen bases in 1992).

2. Some people call a player who has achieved 30-30 (30 or more home runs and 30 or more stolen bases in the same season) at least once a first-class player. To date, 47 players have achieved this feat a total of 72 times. This means that there are players who achieved 30-30 multiple times. The most are Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds (these two are father and son) who achieved 30-30 five times. Next is Alfonso Soriano with four times. In other words, of the six players who have achieved 40-40, Barry Bonds and Alfonso Soriano frequently achieved 30-30. Of the six players who have achieved 40-40, the only other player to achieve 30-30 multiple times is Ronald Acuña Jr., who has achieved it twice. Just to be clear, one of the multiple times that these three players achieved was 40-40. The other three of the six players who achieved 40-40 achieved 30-30 only once (when they achieved 40-40).

3. Of the six players who achieved 40-40, only Alfonso Soriano also achieved 40 or more doubles at the same season i.e., 40-40-40. In 2024, Ohtani had 38 doubles, just two doubles short of 40-40-40. No player has achieved 40-40 twice, but the closest he came was Alfonso Soriano. Soriano achieved 40-40 in 2006 (and also achieved 40-40-40), but in 2002 he had 39 home runs and 41 stolen bases. It's a shame that if he had hit one more home run, he would have gone down in history as the only player to achieve 40-40 twice. It's also worth noting that Soriano had 51 doubles that year. In other words, if he had hit one more home run, he would not only have been the only player to achieve 40-40 twice, but he would have also achieved 40-40-40 twice even though no one other than Soriano has ever achieved this once. What a shame. Such a shame. But in the world of sports, "if" is a taboo word. Results are everything.

(C) 50-50 (50 or more home runs, 50 or more stolen bases)

No one had been able to achieve this in the same season until Ohtani achieved it in 2024, but there are two players who achieved 50 or more home runs and 50 or more stolen bases in different seasons. I already mentioned Brady Anderson (50 home runs in 1996, 53 stolen bases in 1992) in the 40-40 section, and Barry Bonds (73 home runs in 2001, 52 stolen bases in 1990). However, it's fair to say that there are problems with the records of these two players.

First, about Barry Bonds. It seems that most people believe that the 73 home runs he hit in 2001 were due to the use of steroids. ... Incidentally, we have the impression that Barry Bonds always hit a lot of home runs, but apart from 2001, he never hit 50 or more home runs in a single season.

Next, about Brady Anderson. There seems to be some people, both then and now, who suspect that his 50 home runs in 1996 were due to the use of steroids or other drugs. The reason why some people have such doubts is due to the following facts. In 1995, the year before he hit 50 home runs in 1996, he hit only 16 home runs, and in the following year, 1997, he also hit only 18, and before 1996, when he hit 50, the most home runs he hit was four years earlier, in 1992, with 21. The most home runs he hit after 1996 was 24, three years later in 1999. Given these records, it is understandable that some people find it strange and odd that he hit 50 home runs in 1996, and suspect that he used drugs such as steroids. However, there is no evidence that Anderson used drugs, and he strongly denies it. So, I think it is fair and reasonable to think that Anderson shone in 1996 without using drugs. I think that human beings can suddenly do something great, even without the use of drugs. However, there will continue to be those who suspect Brady Anderson used drugs.

For reference, here is an example of a hitter who shone amazingly for just one season without using drugs.

In 2000, Darin Erstad of the Anaheim Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels) hit 240 hits. This is truly an amazing achievement. In the history of Major League Baseball, only 13 players, including Erstad in 2000, have ever achieved 240 or more hits in a season at least once. Since World War II, only three players, including Erstad, have done so. However, the only year that Erstad hit more than 200 hits in a season was 2000, when he hit 240. Erstad's batting average in 2000 was .355, and 2000 was also the only year that Erstad's batting average exceeded .300. Of the 13 players who have achieved 240 or more hits in a season at least once, 12 players other than Erstad had multiple seasons with 200 or more hits in a season, and multiple seasons with batting averages over .300. Strangely enough, Erstad's batting was brilliant only in one season, in 2000.

In Erstad's case, it wasn't about the home run. But human beings can accomplish great things only for a certain period, even without using drugs.

The opening game, Cubs vs Dodgers, was held on March 18, in Tokyo. A shot of me wearing Ohtani’s uniform, waiting for the stadium to open.

Now, I’m finally ready to write my thoughts on the historical significance of Ohtani's 50-50 and his future challenges.

(A) The historical significance of Ohtani's 50-50

Before Tris Speaker became the first player to achieve 50-50 with 50+ doubles and 50+ stolen bases in the same season, there were already two players who achieved this 50-50 in different seasons. Before Jose Canseco became the first player to achieve 40-40 with 40+ home runs and 40+ stolen bases in the same season, there was already one player who achieved this 40-40 in different seasons. In other words, neither Tris Speaker nor Jose Canseco suddenly achieved something amazing, but rather there were already “signs (omens)" before their achievement. ... Not only in the field of baseball, but in this world, it is very rare for something to suddenly happen without any "signs (omens)".

So, what about Ohtani's 50-50?  There were already two players who achieved 50+ home runs and 50+ stolen bases in different seasons. However, it is fair to say that those two players have problems. Most people believe that one of them achieved 50+ home runs due to drug use. There are also people who suspect that the other achieved 50 home runs due to drug use. In other words, it is safe to say that there were no obvious "signs (omens)" that no one would doubt.

Ohtani's achievement of 50-50 is amazing even from a historical perspective. It may be said that a great genius suddenly appeared without any obvious "signs (omens)".

The first 50-50 record by Tris Speaker, with 50+ doubles and 50+ stolen bases, had obvious "signs (omens)" that no one would doubt. And it was 86 years after Tris Speaker that Craig Biggio achieved this 50-50 record. On the other hand, there were no obvious "signs (omens)" that no one would doubt when Ohtani achieved 50-50. This means that it is tempting to say that it will be more than 86 years before this 50-50 is achieved again. I'd even go so far as to say that no one will ever be able to achieve this.

A female fan before entering the stadium wearing Ohtani’s uniform from his time with the Angels.

(B)  Ohtani's future challenges

Everyone has different outlooks on life and values. I have my own outlooks on life and values. One of them is that there is a difference in meaning between achieving something once and achieving it multiple times. If you achieved something only once, it may be because of luck or the course of events. But if you achieved it multiple times, it may be said that it was natural that you could achieve it. It may be even said that you deserve to achieve it.

According to this kind of outlook, the six players who achieved 40-40 (40 or more home runs and 40 or more stolen bases in the same season) can be divided into two groups. There is a group of three who achieved 30-30 (30 or more home runs and 30 or more stolen bases) multiple times, and a group of three who achieved 30-30 only when they were 40-40 (Ohtani is one of these three). And it may be said that it was natural that the three who achieved 30-30 multiple times were able to achieve 40-40 because they always kept working hard, hitting home runs and stealing bases. It may be even said that they are worthy of being the men to achieve 40-40.

On the other hand, the remaining three may have only worked hard for one year and achieved 40-40.

I think that I said something very presumptuous and rude. I would like to apologize to the three who did not achieve 30-30 multiple times but did achieve 40-40. Whatever the circumstances, it does not change the fact that they achieved something amazing. There must have been some reasons why these three people did not achieve 30-30 multiple times, and those reasons must be found if we look into them. However, I worry about whether people 100 years from now will look into such reasons.

Before he achieved 50-50 with Dodgers, Ohtani never had a 30-30 season in his six years with Angels. More precisely, he never had a season with 30 or more stolen bases for those six years. So, It may be said that Ohtani’s 50-50 was not natural. There will be many people who strongly disagree with this and insist as follows. "Ohtani did not achieve 30-30 before achieving 50-50 because he was a two-way player. If he had focused on batting, he could have done it many times. In 2024, he was not able to contribute to the team as a pitcher, so he decided to contribute to the team by increasing his stolen bases. From now on, he may be able to achieve 30-30, 40-40, and 50-50. If he focuses on batting instead of being a two-way player, he will definitely be able to achieve it."

I agree that these opinions are correct. I know that Ohtani in 2024 trained hard before the season to increase his stolen bases, and worked closely with his coach to understand the pitcher's habits. However, I worry about whether people 100 years from now will properly investigate these circumstances. Also, I think we should not bring up the word " if".  Bringing up the word " if" for Ohtani is similar to bring up “if” for Alfonso Soriano. If Soriano had hit one more home run in 2002, he would have achieved not just 40-40 but 40-40-40 twice. But, bringing up the word “if” is taboo in the world of sports. Results are everything.

I don't know what kind of player life Ohtani will have from now on. How long will he continue as a two-way player? Will he have another year where he focuses on batting? And I don't know what kind of results he will achieve as both a pitcher and a batter. But I hope that Ohtani will be a player who achieves 30-30 multiple times, and that people 100 years from now will think that Ohtani was worthy of being the first man to achieve 50-50. This is my small humble wish as an Ohtani fanatic.

( If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)