'Rival and Companion'Otaniwa Judge Challenges for Second 55-55 Duo in History...The king of home runs is virtually confirmed
Sep 22, 2024
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Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in the American League (AL) and Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League (NL) virtually confirmed the home run title.
As of the 22nd (Korea time), Judge hit 54 home runs, 11 ahead of second-ranked Baltimore Orioles Anthony Santander (43), while Ohtani, who hit 52 home runs, has a gap of 14 with second-ranked Atlanta Braves Marcel Ojuna (38).
With seven games left for each team, Judge and Ohtani will not be turned around by them.
This year is the sixth time in major league history that home run kings in both leagues have been decided in more than 50 games. Considering that the history of the live ball era, where home runs have become important scoring routes, is 105 years old, it should be considered very unusual and meaningful that AL and NL have produced 50 home run hitters together.
It should be noted that it was only 26 years ago that the AL and NL home run king '50-50 Club' was opened. In 1998, St. Louis Cardinals Mark Maguire (70) became the NL home run king and Seattle Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. (56) became the AL home run king, creating the first 50 home run king duo in both leagues.
San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds (73) - Texas Rangers Alex Rodriguez (52) in 2001, Philadelphia Phillies Ryan Howard (58) - Boston Red Sox David Otis (54), Yankees Alex Rodriguez (54) - Milwaukee Brewers Prince Fielder (50), Miami Marlins Giancarlo Stanton (59) and Yankees Judge (52) became members of the '50-50 Club" in 2017.
Among them, Maguire, Bonds, A-Road, Otis, and Howard are players who have been embroiled in steroid suspicions. In fact, it is undeniable and unfortunate that the explosive increase in home runs in the steroid era around 2000, regardless of whether they took drugs or admitted them, has led to intensive production of 50-50 home run kings in both leagues.
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Judge hit his 54th home run of the season in an away game against the Oakland Athletics on the same day, widening the gap with Ohtani to two in the unified home run king competition between the two leagues. Ohtani hit three home runs against the Miami Marlins on the 20th to achieve his first-ever 50 home runs and 50 steals, and continued his momentum by hitting his 52nd home run against the Colorado Rockies on the 21st.
The estimated number of homeruns so far is 54.3 for Ohtani and 56.4 for Judge. It is an arithmetic calculation that both players can hit at least 55. What does this mean.
In other words, the 55-55 home run king of both leagues is also possible this year. If Ohtani and Judge both become home run kings with 55 or more, they will be the second duo to join the 55-55 club after Maguire-Griffy Jr. in 1998. The fierce home run competition between the two players at the end of the season may create a historic milestone.
jhno@sportschosun.com
