Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Bottom of the eighth. Two out. The Dodgers have just added some insurance on Andy Pages‘ two-run homer. The game was now well in hand, with the team leading the Padres by a score of 7-2. However, the Pages homer had an added bonus. It gave the remarkable Shohei Ohtani one last plate appearance in front of the home faithful. And Shohei gave the fans one last parting gift in his final at-bat: with a hustle double to left, Ohtani became only the 19th player in MLB history to reach the 400 total base plateau.
According to an article by Steve Henson in Friday’s LA Times, analytics pioneer Bill James started to emphasize back in the 1970s just how important total bases are in his “Runs Created” formula, which tracks a player’s overall impact. Total bases are pretty straightforward—one for a single, two for a double, three for a triple, and four for a homer. Hitting 400 in a season means a player has shown constant offensive production, and that’s exactly what Ohtani’s done.
Before Ohtani, the last time anyone hit 400 total bases was back in 2001, during the height of the steroids era, when four players managed it in one season. Looking back, this milestone has a rich history, especially during the 1920s and 1930s when the game’s power hitters started taking over. Babe Ruth holds the record with 457 total bases in 1921, and his teammate Lou Gehrig is the only player to do it five times. Other Hall of Famers like Jimmie Foxx and Rogers Hornsby also hit 400 total bases, but it became rarer over time.
Fast forward to more recent years, and players like Stan Musial, Hank Aaron, and Jim Rice are some of the few who joined the 400 club. In 2001, during the steroids era, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and a few others managed to crack 400, but the feat hadn’t been achieved again until Ohtani pulled it off this season.
Ohtani’s been unstoppable in 2024, his first season with the Dodgers. He’s already set records by becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. He’s currently sitting at 53 homers, 56 stolen bases, a .305 batting average, and he leads the league with 126 RBIs, 131 runs scored, and a .643 slugging percentage. It’s a jaw-dropping stat line, and it’s no surprise he’s been the driving force behind the Dodgers’ success, especially during their recent push to fend off the Padres.
In just the last seven games, Ohtani collected 40 total bases, going 20-for-29 with five homers, five doubles, 16 RBIs, and 13 runs. He’s in the running for the Triple Crown, sitting third in batting average behind Luis Arráez of the Padres and Marcell Ozuna of the Braves. Going into the weekend, Ohtani’s .305 average trails Ozuna by three percentage points and Arraez’s league-leading mark by five. It’s a bit of a long shot, but possible. After all, the Dodgers are heading into hitter heaven in Coors Field. You could imagine Shohei raising his average a couple of points before the weekend is out. Meanwhile, Arraez will be facing the Diamonbacks, who are still fighting for their playoff lives and are sure to use their best arms until they clinch a wild card spot.
While his total bases stat might not get as much attention, it’s still an impressive accomplishment. Ohtani is now part of a group more exclusive than those who’ve thrown a perfect game. There have been only 19 players to hit 400 total bases, compared to 24 who’ve tossed a perfect game. That just goes to show how special Ohtani’s 2024 season has been. If you’re curious, the other players having monster seasons are unlikely to make it to 400 this year. The closest rival to Ohtani is Aaron Judge, who now has 392. But with the Yankees clinching the division on Friday, one could see Judge getting some time off as he preps for the playoffs. Bobby Witt Jr. is close, but at 372 total bases, it would take quite a weekend indeed to hit 400.
As the regular season winds down, Ohtani and the Dodgers are gearing up for a playoff run. No matter what happens next, Ohtani’s been a huge part of the team’s success, and his record-breaking season is something fans won’t soon forget. Whether he wins the Triple Crown or keeps racking up seasons with 400 total bases, he’s already left his mark on baseball history.
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