During his time with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Shohei Ohtani twice achieved the rare feat of recording double-digit wins as a pitcher and double-digit home runs as a hitter—something not seen since Babe Ruth.

That alone was extraordinary.

However, after moving to Major League Baseball in 2018—the very league where Babe Ruth built his legacy—comparisons to Ruth became even more frequent, and his records began to carry greater significance.

That said, Ruth himself achieved the “double-digit wins and double-digit home runs” milestone only once.

After joining the New York Yankees, he played primarily as a hitter.

Even so, he recorded double-digit wins over four seasons, clearly demonstrating his exceptional talent as a pitcher as well.

After completing his rookie season in the majors, Ohtani was asked about Babe Ruth at the Japan National Press Club.

He responded with deep respect, describing Ruth as “someone so far removed from reality that he almost feels like a mythical figure.”

At the same time, he added:

“To be the kind of player who represents an era—that’s something I should aim for. As a player, I want to perform at an even higher level.”

In any sport, there are many great players, and many popular ones.

But players like Babe Ruth—those who define an era and come to symbolize the sport itself—are exceedingly rare.

At the time, becoming such a player was simply Ohtani’s goal.

Now, he is steadily approaching that very level.

Source

This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.

Following Shohei Ohtani: A Reporter’s 10-Year Chronicle, p.204