For Major League players, winning the World Series is something truly special.

One of the greatest examples is legendary New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra, famous not only for his championships but also for his unforgettable “Yogi-isms.”

Berra won the World Series an astonishing ten times as a player — the most in MLB history — while also earning three MVP awards and later managing in the majors.

Among active players, Shohei Ohtani’s teammate Mookie Betts has already won three championships: once with the Boston Red Sox and twice with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Betts once joked that he wanted to keep winning until he could wear championship rings on every finger like Yogi Berra.

That alone shows how meaningful winning the World Series is to elite players.

For Shohei Ohtani, reaching — and winning — the World Series had long been a dream.

Yet during his six years with the Los Angeles Angels, the team never even reached the postseason.

Year after year passed without a single opportunity to compete for a championship.

That experience shaped Ohtani’s priorities when he became a free agent.

More than money or fame, joining a team capable of winning became the most important factor.

Explaining why he chose the Dodgers, Ohtani said:

“I don’t know how many more years I’ll be able to keep playing, and that’s exactly why winning is my top priority.”

Professional athletes have limited careers.

Because Ohtani understands that reality better than anyone, he refuses to waste valuable seasons without a real chance to compete for championships.

After winning his first World Series title, Ohtani reportedly smiled and said, “Nine more.”

If he were to achieve that, he would tie Yogi Berra’s legendary total of ten championships.

Source

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

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