MIAMI — The Veuve Clicquot had been poured and the commemorative T-shirts had been handed out, and only then, when they had time to process it all, could his awestruck teammates fully comprehend Shohei Ohtani’s latest demonstration of greatness.

Not only did they marvel at his latest milestone of becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season, they also spoke with admiration about how Ohtani reached the 50-50 club with a single-game performance that is made for the ages.

“This has to be the greatest baseball game of all time,” said Gavin Lux. “It has to be.”

Ohtani single-handedly demolished the Miami Marlins on Thursday, going 6 for 6, hitting three home runs, scoring 10 runs and stealing two bases in a game that secured his place in the postseason.

“I didn’t even notice he hit 6 of 6,” Mookie Betts said. “What we’re seeing is what we expected. It’s crazy that he’s meeting those expectations. But that’s also what leaves you speechless.”

And had Ohtani not been thrown out while attempting a triple in his third at-bat, he would have added his second career cycle as well.

No player in baseball history had hit three home runs and stolen multiple bases in a game until Ohtani did it Thursday. No player had collected more total bases in a multiple-base game (17), surpassing the previous record of 11 held by players such as Kirk Gibson and Braggo Roth. No player since at least 1901 had collected at least five hits, hit multiple home runs and stolen multiple bases in a game.

According to OptaSTATS, no player since 1920 has ever had a 10 RBI day, a six-hit day, a five-extra-base hit day, a three-home run day and a multiple steal day in their career. Ohtani accomplished all of these feats in a single Thursday afternoon when he crushed the Marlins 20-4.

Since RBI became official in 1920, only one MLB player has had a career-long RBI (same game or not)

a game with 10+ RBI
a game with 6+ hits
a game with 5+ XBH
a game with 3+ HR
a game with 2+ SB

That one player is Shohei Ohtani. He did it all today. pic.twitter.com/njXOmwHKnm

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) 20 September 2024

So how does Ohtani’s feat compare to the other best individual offensive performances of all time? With so many worthy contenders, the parameters may matter.

The best 6-for-6 days ever?

Few can speak with more authority on this subject than Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. On May 23, 2002, during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Roberts watched from the Dodger sideline as teammate Shawn Green hit four home runs, part of a 6-for-6 day.

“I’m sorry, Shawn,” Roberts said after Ohtani’s outburst, again from the Dodgers dugout. “But overall, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.”

Green’s total bases of 19 remains an all-time record in a single game. Anthony Rendon (April 30, 2017), Edgardo Alfonso (August 30, 1999), Jimmie Foxx (July 10, 1932) and Ty Cobb (May 5, 1925) all managed 6 in 6 games – but with fewer total bases than Green and Ohtani.

Shawn Green hits his fourth home run on May 23, 2002. (Tannen Maury/AFP via Getty Images)

What about the RBIs?

Ohtani’s 10 RBIs against the Marlins were impressive, but several other players beat him in that regard. Not by much, though.

On September 7, 1993, Mark Whiten hit four home runs and scored 12 runs, one of four games in which a player had more than 10 RBIs, matching Jim Bottomley’s September 16, 1924, game in which he hit six on six home runs and scored 12 RBIs. The only other players to score more runs (11) in a game than Ohtani did on Thursday are Phil Weintraub (April 30, 1944) and Tony Lazerri (May 24, 1936).

Of course, Ohtani outdid that group in one respect. He never had multiple stolen bases in any of those games.

Mark Whiten in 1993. (George Gojkovich / Getty Images)

The best game ever by a designated hitter?

That title belongs to Ohtani by a long shot. Since the American League introduced the DH in 1973, only two players at the position have had six hits. The first was Kevin Reimer on August 24, 1993 against Oakland. The second was Ohtani. Although his job description requires total focus on offense, no DH has ever scored double-digit runs batted in or totaled more than 15 total bases in a game.

“If you ignore the season, today was probably by far the best offensive game I’ve ever seen,” said Max Muncy.

What about all-round games?

If individual dominance is the measure of all things, some pitcher performances could reach the level of the best game of all time. Think of Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game, Sandy Koufax’s 14-strikeout perfect game, or Max Scherzer’s 17-strikeout no-hitter.

Jim Tobin once pitched a complete game on the mound, hitting three home runs (though he allowed five runs that day). Rick Wise pitched a no-hitter on June 23, 1971—hitting two home runs of his own.

Of course, Ohtani knows a thing or two about dominant two-way performances. In a June 27, 2023 start against the White Sox, he struck out 10 players and allowed one run in 6 ⅓ innings while hitting two home runs and going 3-of-4 at the plate.

But even that performance will pale in comparison to Ohtani’s dominance on Thursday.

“I’ve never seen anyone do that, even in the minor leagues,” Lux said. “So it’s crazy that he’s doing it at the highest level.”

(Top photo of Shohei Ohtani doing the double snatch: Chris Arjoon / Getty Images)