In a night for the ages, Shohei Ohtani etched his name deeper into baseball history by founding the exclusive 50-50 club, a feat no player had ever accomplished in the sport’s long and storied past. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar made headlines by becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, doing so in an unforgettable game against the Miami Marlins.
For most players, such an achievement would define their careers. For Ohtani, however, it was yet another awe-inspiring accomplishment in a growing list of historical milestones. And he didn’t stop at 50-50. By the end of the game, he had also created the 51-51 club, hitting his 49th, 50th, and 51st home runs while stealing his 50th and 51st bases—all in one game.
Ohtani’s remarkable night saw him go 6-for-6 at the plate, with three homers, two doubles, two stolen bases, four runs scored, and 10 RBIs, leading the Dodgers to a commanding 20-4 victory. The win also clinched Ohtani’s first trip to the MLB postseason, a milestone he had long sought after.
“To finally reach the playoffs means everything,” Ohtani said through an interpreter in a postgame interview with MLB Network. “Both the homers and the steals are great, but being able to achieve the dream of playing in the postseason is what stands out the most.”
The historic homer that secured his place in the 50-50 club came in the seventh inning, prompting a curtain call from the road crowd, a rare and remarkable gesture in opposing ballparks.
The achievement makes Ohtani a frontrunner for his third career MVP award, potentially placing him in the exclusive company of Frank Robinson as one of the few players to win the MVP in both leagues. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts led a locker room toast after the game, raising a glass of champagne to Ohtani, saying, “Shohei, cheers to you on something truly spectacular, congratulations.”
Ohtani’s incredible performance comes in a season where he’s only been able to contribute offensively, as he recovers from major UCL surgery last year, preventing him from pitching. Remarkably, his offensive prowess has continued to dazzle, even while sidelined from the mound.
When asked about his mindset at the plate, Ohtani humbly responded, “I always focus on quality at-bats. I don’t try to aim for home runs.” His response drew laughter, as fans and analysts marveled at his seemingly effortless dominance.
“It was a great day for baseball, a tough day for us, but really, a great day for the game,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said in his postgame remarks, summing up the extraordinary night.
