Shohei Ohtani of Los Angeles Angels is the most talked-about protagonist in the American Major League Baseball, which started in the second half of 2021.Ohtani is ranked first in both leagues with 33 home runs, and is also recording 4 wins and 1 loss and a 3.49 ERA as a pitcher based on a fiery fastball with a maximum speed of 160 km/h.

Ohtani is showing a greater presence as a hitter than a pitcher this season,so there is a growing opinion that he should stop playing and focus on hitting.

On the contrary, experts who highly value Ohtani's talent as a pitcher are arguing that he should focus on the starting pitcher.It doesn't make sense for Ohtani to give up pitching,with his decent ERA and 11.7 strikeouts per 9 innings.

Shohei Ohtani plays an active role as the American League team's first hitter (left) and starting pitcher in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on the 14th.

Despite the debates of experts,Ohtani's commerciality begins with two-time work.This is because he can play the role of a fast-ball pitcher and a home run hitter, the eternal dream of baseball fans. So Ohtani is often compared to Babe Ruth (1895-1948), who is known as the best batting player of all time.

However, Ruth's time as both a pitcher and a hitter did not last long.He played as a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox from 1915 to 1919. However, he was traded to the New York Yankees, and from 1920 to 1935 he did little as a pitcher.In these 16 years,he has made only five appearances.

The reason Ruth hasn't actually doubled as a pitcher since his Yankees days is basically because he valued his value as a home run hitter much more.In particular,his 54 home runs in a season in 1920 was a record that other hitters could not reach at that time, and it was a decisive factor that led Ruth to become a great home run hitter.Although he was not a fast-ball pitcher like Ohtani,Ruth did an excellent job as a pitcher. Left-handed Ruth's best years were in 1916 and 1917, recording 23 and 24 wins, respectively. Notably in 1916, he finished first in the American League with a 1.75 ERA.

But even when Ruth was in the limelight as a pitcher, his talent as a hitter was a bigger topic.The July issue of <Baseball Magazine>, an American baseball magazine published in 1916, introduced Ruth as a hitter who can hit a home run just like an average pitcher manages to make a hit.

Ruth was the American League Home Run Champion in 1918 and 1919,hitting 11 and 29, respectively.During these two seasons,Ruth had to reduce the number of starts due to physical strain.

His double work was such a difficult challenge.At that time,there was no designated hitter system in the American League.On days when Ruth wasn't pitching,he had to be outfielder to play. This is a crucial difference from Ohtani, who plays as a designated hitter in terms of physical burden.

Bill James,who is called the founder of sabermetrics, said in 1919 that Ruth's one-season home run record should be reevaluated.Part of the reason was that Ruth pitched 133⅓ innings that year, hitting 29 homers. When there was no designated hitter system, the record of 29 home runs he achieved while pitching at the same time meant that it was very valuable.

Suppose there was a designated hitter system back then.So let's say Ruth was on the mound every four days and then went to the plate as a designated hitter the other three days.If that was the case,he would probably win 400 as a pitcher and get 800 home runs as a hitter.He must've been in the Hall of Fame on both sides of the game.