[Other Sport] Do you know who Shohei Ohtani is?

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Does Cole Palmer have worldwide recognition, especially in the USA and Canada though?

I confess to struggling to know many except the most famous cricketers as I have zero interest though.

Ohtani is levels above Cole Palmer though. He's basically the Messi or ronaldo of his sport. He's genuinely a freak of nature in the most positive way.

I'm of the opinion that Ohtani probably isn't world famous but it's difficult to tell for sure because I live in a bubble in which he is mega famous. Hence the question.

 

[Seagull58]

No, a mix of brits and japanese but we're all living in Japan so we obviously know who he is.

It's an interesting question because he's genuinely phenomenal in his sport but it doesn't have major global appeal so i was wondering if he has transcended that limitation.

The answer is, of course, no he hasn't. Baseball is a very, very niche sport globally. I would say that basketball has more global coverage than baseball and so LeBron James is likely much more widely known than Ohtani.

 

[Beanstalk]

Not really: cricket is the second most followed sport in the world while baseball is a niche sport, played seriously in just one country.

Yes really. Do you think an American is remotely aware of Ben Stokes or Virat Kohli?

Cricket is hugely popular in terms of numbers because it is the national sport of the most populous nation on earth.

Do you really think that any of that matters to the average American? When Dale Steyn rocked up to the Cricket World Cup in America this year, the staff asked him if they'd like to explain how to bowl for him. They would have no idea who Stokes is, just like many English people who don't follow baseball have no idea who Shohei Ohtani is.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I've seen him mentioned a time or two, and could (correctly) recall the sport and position he plays. So I voted "yes" given the wording of the question.

But would I have named him if asked about famous sportspeople? Nope, never. For that I would have gone with footballers, Formula 1 / Indycar / motorsports drivers, Moto GP riders, cricketers, and maybe 1 or 2 names from baseball / basketball / NFL in the US (depending on who popped into mind on any given day).

This is why I asked the question. In terms of the less global sports can someone gain enough traction to transcend it?

He is a giant from one of the sporting worlds you mention.

I also wonder if he was American would he be more famous? Does being a non English speaker also hold him back from global acclaim?

 

[Bozza]

This is why I asked the question. In terms of the less global sports can someone gain enough traction to transcend it?

He is a giant from one of the sporting worlds you mention.

I also wonder if he was American would he be more famous? Does being a non English speaker also hold him back from global acclaim?

I don't think American or not makes any difference. The vast majority of Brits would not be able to name a single baseball player, past or present.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

The answer is, of course, no he hasn't. Baseball is a very, very niche sport globally. I would say that basketball has more global coverage than baseball and so LeBron James is likely much more widely known than Ohtani.

Oh for sure, Basketball is a much bigger sport globally. I don't follow either (well, the japanese baseball i do very loosely) but I know several basektball players. Beyond Ohtani i couldnt name a single active MLB baseball player.

 

[Dr. No]

So, do YOU know who he is?

No.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

No.

Ah dammit. When I was notified that you had replied I was hoping against hope that this would be the first ever Dr. No yes.

 

[Seagull58]

This is why I asked the question. In terms of the less global sports can someone gain enough traction to transcend it?

He is a giant from one of the sporting worlds you mention.

I also wonder if he was American would he be more famous? Does being a non English speaker also hold him back from global acclaim?

I doubt it makes any difference. It's simply that the vast majority of the world has has no interest in baseball. I remember when Michael Jordan became really, REALLY famous in the US in the mid 90s and some US journalist opined that he was possibly the most famous person in the world. One, fairly accurate, reply I saw was that if you mentioned the very famous Michael Jordan to most people around the world they would think you got Michael Jackson's name wrong.

 

[Flounce]

I don't think American or not makes any difference. The vast majority of Brits would not be able to name a single baseball player, past or present.

Actually I tell a lie - Babe Ruth

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I don't think American or not makes any difference. The vast majority of Brits would not be able to name a single baseball player, past or present.

My thinking on the language thing is more commercialisation based. He's a relatively good looking guy, clean cut image, humble personality who is extraordinarily good at what he does. I know in cricket all rounder is a common position but it's not in baseball. It's incredibly rare and to be as good as he is at both is almost unheard of.
Someone elsewhere in the thread said it would be like asking if an american knew who virat kohli was.

It's more like if Kohli could bowl as well as Jimmy Anderson. In a sport where no one does both.

I feel like if he was a native English speaker he'd be on more commercials, more product tie-ins, more tv shows/interviews etc and thus have greater general exposure.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

double post

 

[Seagull58]

Yes really. Do you think an American is remotely aware of Ben Stokes or Virat Kohli?

Cricket is hugely popular in terms of numbers because it is the national sport of the most populous nation on earth.

Do you really think that any of that matters to the average American? When Dale Steyn rocked up to the Cricket World Cup in America this year, the staff asked him if they'd like to explain how to bowl for him. They would have no idea who Stokes is, just like many English people who don't follow baseball have no idea who Shohei Ohtani is.

But the question was about being world famous, not famous in America. Stokes and Kohli are, I'm sure, very well-known by a good proportion of the population in around 15 to 20 countries where cricket is played at a high level. Ohtani is famous in the US, Japan and, maybe, Dominican Republic.

 

[London Irish]

Not really: cricket is the second most followed sport in the world while baseball is a niche sport, played seriously in just one country.

No a few others too, much like cricket. It's not a great sport but I sometimes watch it late night on BT Sports/TNT. I root for the Blue Jays to counter American big headedness

 

[Beanstalk]

But the question was about being world famous, not famous in America. Stokes and Kohli are, I'm sure, very well-known by a good proportion of the population in around 15 to 20 countries where cricket is played at a high level. Ohtani is famous in the US, Japan and, maybe, Dominican Republic.

I can't believe this needs explaining...

@Gwylan disagreed with the statement "I guess this would essentially be the same as asking Americans who Ben Stokes/Virat Kohli is..."

@Garry Nelson's Left Foot was asking "do YOU know who he is?" (not "can we deem this man as world famous?"). Asking a bunch of Brighton fans, who mostly will be based in the UK, if they know who an incredibly famous sportsperson in America is is essentially the same as asking Americans if they know who the England cricket captain is. It's a similar disconnect between audiences. That is what the question was in the OP.

I've got no doubt that a higher number of people in the world know who Virat Kohli is seeing as he is the most famous sportsperson in a nation that makes up 17% of the world's population, but that was never the question, and it really isn't that hard to read things properly. Shohei Ohtani is about as famous as a baseball player gets and anyone with a passing interest will know of him.

 

[Bozza]

But the question was about being world famous, not famous in America. Stokes and Kohli are, I'm sure, very well-known by a good proportion of the population in around 15 to 20 countries where cricket is played at a high level. Ohtani is famous in the US, Japan and, maybe, Dominican Republic.

How are we measuring fame?

Kohli will be known in relatively few countries, but one of them has more people in it that any other. More people in India will know who Kholi is, than people in the entire world will know who will know Ohtani.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Not really: cricket is the second most followed sport in the world while baseball is a niche sport, played seriously in just one country.

India is doing some heavy lifting there!

I don't want this thread to be about which sport is better/more popular but I will just point out that baseball is the most popular sport in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan as well as in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican republic. It's played professionally in a surprising number of countries too.

But the relative popularity of the sports isn't really what I was asking about.
I'm genuinely interested to know if sports fans from outside the traditional baseball markets know who Ohtani is. Has he transcended the limitations of the relatively small reach of baseball or is he just a mega star only for baseball fans?

 

[Pavilionaire]

The key point about Shohei Ohtani that he is both a prolific power hitter AND an exceptional starting pitcher.

In football terms, that's like being as good a goalkeeper as Manuel Neuer whilst being as good a striker as Harry Kane.

I have followed baseball for almost 40 years and he is the only player to have regularly hit and pitched at an elite level consistently, probably the best pitcher/hitter combo since Babe Ruth and arguably the greatest baseball player there has ever been in terms of his athleticism and ability.

 

[Bakero]

I work with a lot of Japanese people so am very familiar with Ohtani. Funnily enough, I asked a group of friends this question last year and, as far as I remember, they all said no.

 

[Change at Barnham]

The key point about Shohei Ohtani that he is both a prolific power hitter AND an exceptional starting pitcher.

In football terms, that's like being as good a goalkeeper as Manuel Neuer whilst being as good a striker as Harry Kane.

I have followed baseball for almost 40 years and he is the only player to have regularly hit and pitched at an elite level consistently, probably the best pitcher/hitter combo since Bath Ruth and arguably the greatest baseball player there has ever been in terms of his athleticism and ability.

Blimey! You learn something everyday.
I've probably been to about 25 MLB games over the past 25 years when escorting tours in North America, but I haven't been to a game for about 10 years (apart from Red Sox v Yankees at London Stadium).
I can name plenty of ex-players, but no current players.
I'm off to Japan again in 8 days time, I guess Ohtani was the player whose face I saw on lots of billboards earlier in the year.
But until 5 minutes ago I'd never heard of him.

@Garry Nelson's Left Foot are you going to the Japan v Australia WC qualifier on 15 Oct?