On September 19, 2024, Shohei Ohtani cemented his place in Major League Baseball history, becoming the first player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. The Japanese sensation led the Los Angeles Dodgers to a dominant 20-4 victory over the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park, securing a playoff berth in dramatic fashion.
Ohtani, who entered the game just two home runs and one stolen base shy of the milestone, turned in a legendary performance. In a display of unparalleled versatility and power, he belted three home runs, collected 10 RBIs, and stole two bases, becoming the first player ever to homer three times and swipe two bags in the same game. His career-best six hits included two doubles, one of which came in the very first inning and set the stage for his 50th steal when he swiped third base moments later. By the second inning, Ohtani added his 51st stolen base, further etching his name into the record books.
The historic night continued in the sixth inning when Ohtani launched his 49th home run—a 438-foot moonshot to the second deck in right-center off reliever George Soriano, pushing the Dodgers to a commanding 9-3 lead. When his turn came again in the seventh inning, Ohtani delivered the iconic blast: his 50th home run, an opposite-field shot to left off Mike Baumann, making him MLB’s first 50-50 player.
Ohtani wasn’t done there. In the eighth inning, he hit his third home run of the night, a line-drive laser that brought his home run tally to 51 for the season. The barrage not only secured Ohtani’s place in baseball immortality but also broke Shawn Green’s Dodgers franchise record for home runs in a season, which had stood since 2001.
Ohtani’s offensive explosion led the Dodgers to a playoff-clinching victory, finishing with 10 RBIs—a new Dodgers single-game record—and tied his career-high with six hits. His phenomenal combination of power and speed has redefined what is possible in the game, as he continues to push the boundaries of baseball’s most sacred records.
For Dodgers fans, the night was about more than just a playoff berth; it was a celebration of Ohtani’s generational talent, his combination of elite pitching, hitting, and base-running making him unlike any player the sport has seen before. As the postseason looms, Ohtani’s historic season has elevated the Dodgers to championship contenders and set the stage for a thrilling October.
With the playoffs now clinched, Ohtani and the Dodgers look poised to continue their quest for another World Series title, as the newly-minted 50-50 man continues to add to his already legendary 2024 campaign.
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