Shohei Ohtani is closing in on an extraordinary 50-50 season in Major League Baseball, with 50 home runs being a standout achievement among the league’s top sluggers.
Babe Ruth first set the 50-home run milestone in 1920 when he belted 54 homers, making him the first player to hit 50 in a single season. For the next 75 years, only 11 players reached the mark until 1994. The steroid era, starting in 1995, saw a surge, with 14 players surpassing 50 home runs in just 13 years.
Since the end of the steroid era in 2005, six players, including Aaron Judge of the Yankees, have achieved the feat, bringing the total to eight players over the past 17 years. In total, 31 players have hit 50 home runs in a season, with 49 members in the 50-home run club. Ohtani is on track to join this elite group.
In contrast, stolen bases in Major League Baseball have declined recently. From 2018 to 2022, no player recorded over 50 stolen bases. However, introducing new rules and larger bases last year led to three players reaching the 50-stolen base milestone. Elly De La Cruz of the Reds aims to achieve this feat alongside Ohtani this year.
Combining power and speed to achieve over 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season is a rare and nearly unattainable accomplishment. Historically, it has proven to be a significant challenge.
Among players who have hit over 50 home runs in a season, the highest number of stolen bases recorded is 24. Willie Mays achieved this in 1955 with 51 home runs and 24 stolen bases, and Alex Rodriguez had 54 home runs and 24 stolen bases in 2007. Even Mays, one of the greatest all-around outfielders, never managed a 50-50 season.
Conversely, even the fastest players find it challenging to combine power with speed. The highest home run total among those with over 50 stolen bases is 37, achieved by Eric Davis of the Reds in 1987. Barry Bonds hit 33 home runs with 52 stolen bases in 1990, and Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves had 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases last year.
For context, Brady Anderson of the Orioles recorded 21 home runs and 53 stolen bases in 1992 and 50 home runs with 21 stolen bases in 1996. While he achieved both milestones, doing so in the same season remains a daunting challenge.
This underscores the difficulty of balancing power and speed and achieving elite statuses like 30-30, 40-40, and especially the coveted 50-50 record.
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