Shohei Ohtani Makes History with Extraordinary Doubleheader Performance
One of the things that makes baseball such a beautiful sport is the ability to measure greatness through various stats and historic events. On Thursday, Shohei Ohtani once again left us awestruck with a remarkable performance that placed him in an exclusive class.
Ohtani became only the second player in American League/National League history (since at least 1900) to give up one or fewer hits in a shutout and hit two home runs on the same day. The only other player to achieve this feat was Rick Wise, who coincidentally was at a charity golf event in Pennsylvania while Ohtani accomplished this remarkable feat.
In Game 1 of the doubleheader between the Los Angeles Angels and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, Ohtani threw the first complete game of his career, allowing only one hit in a dominant 6-0 victory. Just an hour later, he stepped up to the plate and launched the first of two home runs to help lead the Angels to an 11-4 win, completing the doubleheader sweep.
Rick Wise, who is the only other player in history to throw a no-hitter and hit two homers in the same game, was in awe when he found out about Ohtani’s incredible performance. Wise stated that Ohtani is the reason they invented the word ‘freak,’ acknowledging his extraordinary talents on both sides of the game.
Wise achieved this historic milestone 52 years ago in an unforgettable game against the Cincinnati Reds. Despite battling the effects of the flu, Wise took the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies and delivered an exceptional performance. He pitched a no-hitter while hitting two home runs against a formidable Reds lineup that included legends such as Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Lee May, and George Foster.
Reflecting on his own record-breaking game, Wise shared that once he reached the seventh inning, he truly believed he had a chance at a no-hitter. He ended up striking out Jimmy Stewart and getting Ty Cline to ground out in the ninth, setting up a showdown with none other than Pete Rose. Rose hit a line drive towards third, but it landed safely in the glove of third baseman John Vukovich, securing Wise’s place in the record books.
Wise had always believed that there was one man on the planet who could achieve a similar feat, and that person turned out to be Shohei Ohtani. He acknowledged Ohtani’s tremendous performance in a doubleheader, pitching a complete game and hitting two home runs just minutes apart. Wise praised Ohtani’s unbelievable strength and remarked on the complexity of greatness that baseball often brings to the forefront.
While Ohtani’s performance may not be the exact equivalent of Wise’s historic day in 1971, it is equally exceptional in a different dimension. Wise is still the sole individual to achieve this remarkable feat, but he knows that Ohtani has come close to equaling it. With Ohtani’s incredible talents on full display, it is clear that he is capable of rewriting record books and captivating baseball fans around the world.