The essence of sports is encapsulated in the constant debates around MVP awards and whether or not designated hitters deserve them. Whether an MVP needs a glove is debatable, but that’s part of the appeal.
Keen debates stem from impassioned beliefs rather than definitive answers, such as the arguments about the Yankees of ’27, ’61, or ’98, Jim Brown against Walter Payton, or Jordan vs. LeBron (now including Kareem).
Must Shohei Ohtani win MVP honors?
Although Francisco Lindor’s recent back problems hurt his campaign and made it difficult to argue against Ohtani winning MVP, the true tale is more significant than that discussion.
In a sport that has flourished since 1869, Ohtani has accomplished something that is practically unattainable. In real-time, he has redefined what is possible in baseball by raising the bar to previously unheard-of levels.
In MLB history, only 47 players—those who hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases in a season—have joined the prestigious 30-30 Club. The first to stand alone for 34 years until Willie Mays joined him in 1956 was Ken Williams in 1922.
With only six members, the 40-40 Club is even more uncommon. Before Barry Bonds joined him in 1996, José Canseco was the only player of his sort, having become the first in 1988. Since then, only four people have accomplished this amazing achievement.
Now that he has nine games left in his season, Shohei Ohtani has created history by being the first player to reach 52 home runs and 52 stolen bases. It appears doubtful that any current player can accomplish this feat.
Ronald Acuña Jr., the most recent member of the 40-40 Club, may have been a contender, but it’s doubtful that he will ever regain his daring pace on the field after undergoing two knee surgeries.