Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani extended his historic on-base streak Monday night, but even if it were to end Tuesday, he’s already made history.
He holds the record for longest on-base streak by a Japanese player, and he’s climbing up the Dodgers franchise board as well.
In the process, though, he’s passed a legend of the game, the mythic player to whom he’s most often compared: Babe Ruth.
Ohtani tied Ruth’s streak of 51 straight games reaching base safely in 1923 on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies and bested it on Monday.
On Monday, he hit a single and was walked twice, one of which was intentional.
After that achievement, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted the serendipity of one two-way star passing another, as reported by Owen Perkins of MLB.com.
“It’s ironic that two two-way players, and arguably two of the best of all time [crossed paths on the leaderboard],” Roberts said. “It’s a tremendous streak. It’s hard to get on base, certainly when everyone’s trying to target you. This streak is one of the great ones, and hopefully he can keep it going.”
Perhaps most notable, though, is that Ruth accomplished his streak after he’d largely stopped pitching. Ohtani continues to serve as a starting pitcher and a designated hitter, though some in baseball disagree with the rules regarding that.
Ohtani’s next target is on the Dodgers franchise leaderboard.
Ohtani could tie Shawn Green’s streak of 53 games getting on base Tuesday night, then pass it on Wednesday.
After that, Duke Snider’s 58 straight games would be the only Dodgers streak ahead of him.
The MLB record is a much more daunting prospect, though passing Snider at 58 — and the Texas Rangers’ Will Clark, who’s tied with him — would put Ohtani on the cusp of joining some very impressive names.
At 60 games is Jim Thome, then Mark McGwire at 61 and Orlando Cabrera at 63.
Ted Williams has a streak of 73 consecutive games getting on base, topped by Joe DiMaggio at 74.
The only player to best DiMaggio was actually Williams again at 84, a feat he accomplished seven and a half years after his 73-game streak.