by Mark Langill
In his mind, Shawn Green’s reign as the Dodgers’ single-season home run king was in peril long before Shohei Ohtani eclipsed his mark with his 49th, 50th, and 51st home runs on Thursday against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park.
While becoming the first player in Major League history to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season, Ohtani surpassed Green’s franchise record of 49 home runs in 2001.
The previous single-season record was 43 home runs by Brooklyn’s Duke Snider in 1956. Green broke Snider’s record with his 44th home run on Sept. 7, 2001, the first of two home runs he hit against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
“If someone is going to break your record, it might as well be the greatest player in the game’s history,” Green says. “You knew it was just a matter of time.”
When Ohtani became the first Dodger to reach the 40/40 club — 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases — with a walk-off grand slam on Aug. 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays, the next challenge was becoming the only 50/50 player in Major League history.
Lost in the 50/50 anticipation was a 50th home run that would also represent the most home runs by a Dodger in history.
The soft-spoken Green is also known as one of two Dodgers in history to hit four home runs in one game, matching the feat of Brooklyn’s Gil Hodges on Aug. 31, 1950, against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field.
On May 23, 2002, at Milwaukee’s Miller Park, Green went 6-for-6 with four home runs, six runs scored, seven RBI, and a Major League-record 19 total bases.
Ohtani’s line on Thursday looked similar — 6-for-6, three home runs, 10 RBI, four runs scored and 17 total bases. And two stolen bases, his 50th and 51st of the season.
Green says Ohtani’s speed makes him more of a threat at the plate.
“A pitcher doesn’t want to walk him because he can steal second and third,” Green says. “So if the pitcher is more aggressive in the strike zone, especially with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman batting behind him, there’s a better chance at hitting a home run.”
Green displayed his brand of power and speed with the 1998 Toronto Blue Jays, hitting 35 home runs and stealing 35 bases. With the 2001 Dodgers, he stole 20 bases with his 49 home runs.
Green says the biggest difference between him and Ohtani is consistency. Green described his power as “streaky.” In 2001, Green had six multi-home run games, two at home and four on the road. He hit three home runs against the Montreal Expos at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 15, 2001.
In 2024, Ohtani has hit multiple home runs in a game three times. Two were Sunday afternoon home games against Atlanta on May 5 and June 16 against Kansas City. Then there was his three home run game on Thursday.
Green describes Ohtani’s swing as an “old-school uppercut.” Green says Ohtani’s strength allows him to keep his hands high when batting.
“It’s amazing when you think of what he’s done as a pitcher and a hitter,” Green says. “But the crazy thing is this guy can steal 50 bases. He’s a big guy, and most base stealers are built like running backs like Rickey Henderson and Tim Raines. I had a few years where I stole some bases. It’s hard to get that first step.”
Prior to Ohtani breaking the record, Green said he wouldn’t attend Dodger home games solely to witness Ohtani hitting his 50th at home. Now, Green can pay tribute to the new king.
“It’s not like Cal Ripken breaking Lou Gehrig’s record of consecutive games when you can circle the date on the calendar,” Green says. “I’ve never met him before. so, if I have the opportunity to congratulate him in person, it will be an honor to shake his hand. He’s simply amazing.”
Shawn Green passes the power crown to Shohei Ohtani was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.