That’s a difficult question to answer, as they are both great players from different eras and leagues. Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher, designated hitter and outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of MLB. He is the first player in MLB history to hit 10+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases as a hitter and strike out 100+ batters and make 10+ pitching appearances as a pitcher in the same season. He also won the 2021 AL MVP award and the 2023 World Baseball Classic MVP award.
Babe Ruth was an American professional baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Boston Braves from 1914 to 1935. He was one of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time and one of the most popular athletes in American culture. He began his career as a star left-handed pitcher for the Red Sox, but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the Yankees. He holds the record for most career home runs (714) by a left-handed batter. He also won seven World Series championships and one AL MVP award.
Some possible ways to compare them are:
- By their statistics: Ohtani has a career batting average of .267, 142 home runs, 380 RBIs, 64 stolen bases, a .349 on-base percentage and a .532 slugging percentage as a hitter. As a pitcher, he has a career record of 33-15, an ERA of 2.95, 531 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.95 and a FIP of 3.12. Ruth has a career batting average of .342, 714 home runs, 2,214 RBIs, 123 stolen bases, a .474 on-base percentage and a .690 slugging percentage as a hitter. As a pitcher, he has a career record of 94-46, an ERA of 2.28, 488 strikeouts, a WHIP of 1.16 and a FIP of 2.39.
- By their awards: Ohtani has won one AL MVP award, two All-Star selections, one Silver Slugger award, two Edgar Martinez awards, one Commissioner’s Historic Achievement award and one World Baseball Classic MVP award. Ruth has won one AL MVP award, two All-Star selections, seven World Series championships and one ERA title.
- By their impact: Ohtani is considered a trailblazer for two-way players in MLB and has drawn global attention for his unprecedented feats. He has been praised for his versatility, athleticism and charisma by fans and peers alike. He has also helped popularize baseball in Japan and other Asian countries. Ruth is considered the greatest slugger of all time and one of the main catalysts for the live-ball era in baseball. He revolutionized the game with his power hitting and drew record crowds to the ballpark. He was also a cultural icon who transcended sports with his larger-than-life personality and lifestyle.
Ultimately, there is no definitive answer to who is better, as they are both amazing players who have made significant contributions to baseball history. It may depend on one’s personal preference, criteria or perspective.
