What It Is
Celebration of Shohei Ohtani’s unanimous AL MVP award in 2021, becoming the first player to win MVP as both a pitcher and hitter since Babe Ruth. He repeated the feat in 2023.
Why It Matters
Ohtani’s 2021 season was historic: 46 home runs, 100 RBIs, and a 3.18 ERA as a starting pitcher with 156 strikeouts. No player had excelled at both hitting and pitching at this level in the modern era, making him baseball’s most unique talent.
Impact
Ohtani revitalized global interest in baseball, particularly in Japan. His two-way success challenged traditional roster construction and earned him a record-breaking $700 million contract with the Dodgers in 2023. He became MLB’s most marketable player and a cultural phenomenon.
Source: https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-wins-2021-al-mvp-award