Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani extended his on-base streak to 51 games against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
With his third-inning double, Ohtani passed Willie Keeler in the Dodgers’ all-time on-base streak rankings in the modern era to take sole possession of third place. Earlier in the week, Ohtani surpassed Legends of Dodger Baseball member Ron Cey for fourth place, and tied Keeler with a ninth-inning single on Saturday.
“I was hoping he’d get that last at-bat and give him an opportunity to change the game,” manager Dave Roberts said after Saturday’s loss against the Colorado Rockies. “And he found a way to get on base. It was good to see it, and that’s quite the streak. And you’ve got to be pretty dang good to do something like that. He’s in a class by himself.”
The Dodgers who sit ahead of Ohtani in the rankings now are Shawn Green, who had a 53-game streak in 2000, and Duke Snider, who set the Dodgers’ modern era record in 1954 with a 58-game streak.
The Dodgers’ record for longest on-base streak is also the record for the longest in the National League, a record Ohtani could most definitely break.
The MLB record, though, could be a little more troublesome for the reigning MVP.
Ohtani is more than 30 games off of the all-time record, which Hall of Famer Ted Williams set in 1949. His streak lasted 84 games. Another Hall of Famer in Joe DiMaggio holds second place on that list, posting a streak of 74 games.
If Ohtani continues to reach base, he could find his name written in the history books once again very soon.
His opportunity to surpass Snider for the longest streak in modern Dodgers and National League history will come against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium later in the month if he keeps things moving.
As far as the all-time record goes, Ohtani’s opportunity to break Williams’ streak comes in front of the home fans as well, during Dave Roberts’ bobblehead night May 25.
Do you think Ohtani can continue his streak and break nearly 80-year-old MLB records?
