09/09/2026
107 years apart. Same date. Same announcement. You genuinely cannot make this up.
On September 7th, 1919, Babe Ruth publicly acknowledged he was done pitching and would focus solely on hitting. The greatest two-way player baseball had ever seen, hanging up his pitcher's glove to become the most dominant hitter the sport had ever known.
On September 7th, 2026, Shohei Ohtani announced he would not pitch again this season due to left knee inflammation, focusing entirely on his role as a designated hitter for the rest of the year.
๐
September 7, 1919, Babe Ruth steps away from pitching
๐
September 7, 2026, Shohei Ohtani steps away from pitching (at least for the year)
The only two players in baseball history who could even have this conversation, the only two men who were legitimate aces AND legitimate MVP-caliber hitters at the same time, made the same announcement on the exact same date, 107 years apart.
Ruth went on to hit 714 career home runs. Ohtani already has 307, at 32 years old, with a career ERA of 2.75 on the mound.
Baseball has a sense of humor. And sometimes it writes storylines that feel less like coincidence and more like something far more poetic.
September 7th belongs to the two greatest two-way players who ever lived.
(h/t Graycin___)
