The greatest player in baseball history, Shohei Ohtani, delivered an awe-inspiring single-game performance on Friday night. He smashed three home runs in the Dodgers’ decisive win against the Milwaukee Brewers (LA 5, MIL 1) while also striking out ten batters over six scoreless innings. Manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani, stating, “That was probably the greatest postseason performance of all time…” Late in the season, questions arose about Ohtani’s performance, making this stellar game even more remarkable.

Historical Context

In honor of Ohtani’s incredible game, let’s examine ten of the greatest single-game performances in baseball history:

1916 World Series Game 2: Babe Ruth, Red Sox

Ruth showcased his pitching prowess, throwing 14 innings while allowing only one run against the Brooklyn Robins, marking a record for a postseason game.

1956 World Series Game 5: Don Larsen, Yankees

Accomplishing the only perfect game in postseason history, Larsen achieved a remarkable feat against the Dodgers.

1988 World Series Game 2: Orel Hershiser, Dodgers

Hershiser excelled on the mound and at the plate, striking out batters and going 3 for 3 against the Athletics.

2025 NLCS Game 4: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

With three home runs and ten strikeouts in a high-stakes matchup, Ohtani’s performance continues to echo the greatness of historical figures in baseball like Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson.

For more on Ohtani’s historic performance, read the full article here.