Ever since Shohei Ohtani burst onto the Major League scene, he’s been classified as the modern-day Babe Ruth. Well, they are both considered once-in-a-century phenomena capable of dominating both on the mound and at the plate. Now, in the modern era defined by specialization, Ohtani has revived the long-lost art of the two-way player: this is a feat few thought possible since Ruth’s time. But while the comparisons to the Great Bambino have become almost common, not everyone agrees that Ruth is Ohtani’s truest historical parallel.

One such prominent voice is Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. Kendrick argues that to truly understand Ohtani’s rare blend of talents, one must look beyond MLB’s conventional history. Instead, one must look more into the legacy of the Black Leagues. There, he points to a forgotten icon whose story, skills, and impact more closely mirror Ohtani’s than even Ruth’s ever could.

“The best thing Shohei brought us is that we can now talk about two-way players who were active in the Negro Leagues. When Shohei came to the majors, everyone compared him to Babe Ruth, but to me, that’s way off the mark. The person who was really close to him was Wilber Brett Logan, a pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs,” Nikkansports quoted Kendrick.

Well, according to Kendrick, Wilber Brett Logan had better figures on the mound. He played as an outfielder and cleanup hitter in his time between 1920 and 1938. In contrast, Ruth mainly played as a first baseman and a pitcher. However, Logan’s role as a cleanup hitter is similar to Ohtani’s role as a designated hitter. Moreover, while Ruth popularized the concept of a two-way player, he was more known for his hitting than for his pitching.

Now, if we need to compare the seasons when Ruth excelled both ways, 1919 is the only season (29 HRs & 2.97 ERA). That year, he transitioned from being a full-time pitcher to a full-time outfielder. Ohtani has been doing the same since his time with the Angels.

Kendrick also shared some relatively unknown information when comparing Logan and Ohtani. According to him, Negro Leagues deserve the credit for popularizing baseball in Japan. Long before Ruth visited Japan and gaining immense attraction, Negro Leagues visited in 1927 and played 24 exhibition games. This might have been the start of the baseball revolution that followed in Japan over the years.

“When I asked a researcher of Japanese baseball history, he told me that that tour lit the flame of Japanese professional baseball,” Kendricks referred to the Negro Leagues visit to Japan. Hence, contrary to popular belief, Kendrick just identified a Negro League legend who mirror Ohtani better than Ruth!

Shohei Ohtani arguably best two-way player ever

Well, this might sound controversial. However, considering the legendary status of Babe Ruth and others, Shohei Ohtani might just be the best player baseball has ever had.

Yes, Ruth and a few others played two-way roles in their time. But no one has done it at the level Ohtani has achieved in the modern game. For instance, Ohtani is the only player after Hall of Famer Frank Robinson in MLB history to win MVP honors in both the American and National Leagues. But what really sets Ohtani apart?

Well, he’s dominating in an era often considered the Golden Age of MLB, when pitchers throw harder, and hitters swing smarter. Analytics drive every decision. In contrast, the guys Ruth faced weren’t throwing 100 mph sliders. This is not to understate the feats of Ruth, but modern-day pitching is far more aggressive compared to what it was in the 1900s.

But yes, Ruth introduced the concept of power with his 30 and 40 home run seasons. But Ohtani has taken it further. For the uninitiated, he’s the first player to achieve a 50-50 season, which was unimaginable in Ruth’s era. Ohtani is doing all this while also being a frontline starting pitcher. That’s like being a Cy Young candidate and a Silver Slugger in the same year!

Hence, undoubtedly, Ruth and Logan were the greatest during their time, and some of their historical records might remain unbreakable. However, Ohtani is facing a greater challenge. By any parameters, whether on-field or off-field, Ohtani is proving to be the face MLB has long waited.