The Greatest Homerun Hitter Ever

[seattlehawkins]

Misleading title! Should read; "Greatest Gook Home run Hitter"

[navyk77]

Definitely not the greatest when, during his playing time, he faced weak pitching in ballparks that were less than 300 feet down the lines and 375 feet to center.

[103Uke]

Don't get me wrong on this one, but are the baseball fields in Japan more smaller then that of the Major Leagues?

[HBkristo]

Oh was a good hitter, no doubt. But he's not on the same level of the American greats. Ruth, Gibson, Williams, Mays, Mantel, Griffey Jr, Musial, Ott, just to name a few. And I don't want to turn this into a race thing but consider this, 4 of the top 5 all time HR leaders are black, this is where some guy says well what about the steroids. Ok fair enough, take those guys out and your left with Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Griffey Jr, and Thome.

[schijnsel]

Sadahiro Oh is from Taiwan.

[TheBestboys4]

@vibra64 have you ever heard of Josh Gibson? He played in the Negro leagues and hit around 900 homers or something like that!

[kyokogodai]

@TheBestboys4 Yes, Josh Gibson was a terrific power hitter. However, you must remember one thing. Many/a majority of those HR were hit in barnstorming games. He was hiiting against busher's, which any major league caliber player (such as Gibson), would have done. Gibson would have challenged Ruth, and everyone else, had he been allowed to play MLB. That is the shame of MLB, that will truly never go away, unfornunately.

[harajukugirlloveandG]

@kyokogodai I dont find any proof on gibsons homeruns,it is only MLB trying to not be racist so they make up his HR's..

[kyokogodai]

@harajukugirlloveandG As I stated, the majority of his HR were hit in games that "didn't count!" They were barnstorming games, played against inferior competition. That is why he hit "200 HR" in a season, once. His Negro League totals are really good, but not anywhere near that number. I believe two things. If Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams had not missed time (Gehrig due to illness and Ted do to war), both would have hit well over 700, maybe 800, HR.

[litojonny]

japanese pitching sucks compared to american pitching

daisuke matsuzaka OWNED in japan, heis considered a 3-4 starter in america

the only japanese person who ever owned in america is ichiro suzuki (and i gues u can make a case with hideki matsui"

[51TheUNIT]

@litojonny have you heard of yu darvish? there are a couple gems hiding in Japanese baseball

[vibra64]

Greatest Home Run Hitter of all time???

Ever hear of Babe Ruth. Or perhaps Hank aaron, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, etc.

THis guy does not even come close to their greatness.

[TOMMYTOMA5]

@vibra64 YOU ARE Right on the Mark!

[rambo7276]

@vibra64 says who?

[pshaps120]

@vibra64 he has the world record, therefore he is the best. suck it

[TOMMYTOMA5]

all i have to say is two words....BABE RUTH. these guys don't come close. RUTH is the greatest HR hitter in the UNIVERSE. when you hit 60 hrs and teams hit 58, i think that says it all.



[vibra64]

@TOMMYTOMA5 YOu are 100% correct. Ruth was not only a GREAT hitter, he also was a GREAT pitcher.

[breener24]

pujols would hit a homerun every other at bad in japan

[slownoman]

All respect to Japanese ball, but there is no way in the world he's the best HR hitter. Not close. Josh Gibson. Babe Ruth. Ted Williams. Willie Mays. Barry Bonds. If Oh hit in the majors, he'd have been very lucky to have half of what he hit in Japan. No contest. Not close. No way.

[tomitstube]

i saw him play my dad was stationed in japan when american teams came over to play, at the time it was those great cardinal and oriole teams of the late '60's and early 70's. i remember the strategy of american pitchers was to throw at his knee. the american teams dominated back then, sadahara was pretty much shut down. japanese players were exceptionally skilled, their problem was simply physical size, it was easy to over power them back then.

[VFP6088]

Not disrespect his baseball career, but preventing foreign players from breaking his single season record looks racist to me (at least the players didn't receive death threats). The record looks good on paper and people can be in denial, but deep down EVERYONE knows the truth.

[kyokogodai]

@VFP6088 Why is it racist? Why bring race into it, at all? Aaron's record is for MLB. Oh has the World Record. IMHO, Aaron would have hit 70-100 HR a year, in Japan, during that time (as would have Mantle, Mays, Snider and so many others). That is, of course, if he had been pitched to. Would Oh have hit as many HR in MLB? Possible, I think. However, it is impossible to know for certain, because the hands of time cannot be changed. Race has noting to do with it, period!

[VFP6088]

@kyokogodai If race is not the issue, why was he feared Randy Bass so much that he intentionally walked him FOUR times? And the same goes to Karl Rhodes and Alex Cabrera (not Oh himself but his team)? These guys played in Japan because they couldn't make it in the Majors and they get this type of treatment? A bunch of players like Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Jim Thome don't get this luxury at all. So what was the fear? Or they are waiting for a Japanese player to break it?

[kyokogodai]

@VFP6088 I am only refering refering to the record, itself. Yes, if the Japanese would truly pitch to Amercian (or Cuban, Dominican, etc.), Oh's records would likely be shattered. The Japanese are actually a quite racist nation. That goes back to the days of Bushido, and its creed. I try not to take anything away from an accomplishment, regardsless of who/where. *shrugs* we will never know.

[VFP6088]

@kyokogodai Like I mentioned, not taking anything away from Oh, I have a great respect for Oh and his career. He is certainly a HOF guys anywhere. But the record controversy just makes no sense to me.

[kyokogodai]

@VFP6088 On that (the record controversy) I totally agree with. There is no reason for it. I think it is nothing more than someone hyping something, so they get attention. Oh was great. Aaron was great. There it is.

[liatpilot28]

@kyokogodai also if you look at his stats u would see that his was only averaging 4 hundred and something plate appearances a season

[Joeygee23]

He is a PUNK!!! The Japanes League a sad joke for his single season "record."

In 2002, Venezuelan Alex Cabrera hit 55 home runs with five games left in the season and his team played Oh's Hawks. Oh told his pitchers to throw strikes to Cabrera, but most of them ignored his order and threw balls well away from the plate. After the game, Oh stated, "If you're going to break the record, you should do it by more than one. Do it by a lot

[Joeygee23]

Josh Gibson



[kyokogodai]

@Joeygee23 It is a shame, Josh didn't get the opportunity to play MLB baseball. Would he have hit 800+ HR there??? Maybe. It would have been possible. However, one must remember that Josh (as well as many of the Negro League's best players) would barnstorm a great deal, and play against many semi-pro teams. As an example, "against all levels of competition Gibson hit 69 home runs in 1934; the same year in league games he hit 11 home runs in 52 games." Big difference. Still, great player.

[auburn722]

short fence

[pooh6299]

After Japan won both WBC champion, I got to say OH san is greatest. 

[RePTaaRBoy]

Oh wouldn't nearly hit this many in the MLB. Now I wanted an actual video of the greatest homerun hitter.

[RePTaaRBoy]

I hope you really mean Hank Aaron, right?

[JTDutch]

... It's impossible to say how Oh would have hit over here in the U.S. I don't believe he would have hit 868 home runs over here, but he would have hit at least 600-650. Yes, the parks were smaller in Japan, but Oh hit a lot of balls that completely left the stadium, including one hit off an American pitcher (Jon Matlack) that completely went out of Korakuen. Oh was a great hitter for average with a fantastic batting eye, as well. He should be in the U.S. Hall of Fame without question.

[lomeloft]

the japs play on tiny fields

[southparkfan2717]

@lomeloft No they don't.

[lomeloft]

@southparkfan2717 you're wrong. most Major League parks have odd dimensions. Still, the average lengths are as follows: 331.2 feet to the left field foul pole, 329.6 to right, and 404.8 to center...and here are some jap fields: Kawasaki Stadium 292 387 292..Kinugasa Stadium 295 361 295..Korakuen 288 396 288 Shimonoseki Stadium 290 379 290

[deedubbman]

I dont think Oh would've surpassed Aaron but it would've definitely been interesting to see him in the MLB.

[bmcsexon]

He comes from Taiwan

[Thebenigno8]

You and your rotational mechanics. No one uses those terms in professional baseball. Oh yeah, unless they are trying to sell videos. Are you? Rotational vs linear:) It is all a joke. Ask any MLB hitter and they will just smirk.

Ask a Latin player and 100% will definetly ask you what is that? Are they dumb? Not at all. Ask the great ones go ahead. I think that you hear those terms from non baseball players but guys that studied the game or again are trying to write a book or make a video.

[jetsfan373]

@Thebenigno8 You are a fucking retard. Oh my god, hahaha that is so funny! Ask Bryce Harper about his linear mechanics, ask Mark Teixeira about his rotational mechanics.

[TheRealSlimMarxee]

JAPAN SUCKS

[RELubber]

Hahahahaha! That's funny! No, seriously, what are you saying? 

[Getlive55]

@fulllrearreview lol really though.. The true greatest baseball player of all time

[coolguyponus]

honestly kind of looks to me like he could only pull a ball, but he still had 868 so who cares!

[hayhaysdad1]

i would argue after seeing for the first time , major leauge pitching would have had a detrimental efffect on him .... swing looks fantastic though .. ichiro any body ....

[fullrearview]

Hmmm.... Didn't Josh Gibson have over 900? Just sayin'.

[infieldcoach1]

Mr Oh's front shoulder flies open. In America they would have fixed that problem and he would' ve hit 8-10 home runs a year.

[tomitstube]

@infieldcoach1 ~ that's just one at bat, it was an adjustment you saw - to fix the timing. believe me, his swing was silk. he was that good, to make an adjustment mid swing and crank it out.

[muhgrats32]

@infieldcoach1 the only reason his front shoulder flies open is because it was an inside pitch. you have to open your shoulder on an inside pitch if you want to be able to hit the ball solidly and not get jammed. besides, ted williams stepped in the bucket and pulled most everything; you could say that modern coaches wouldve fixed his swing and he wouldnt have been as great, either

[infieldcoach1]

Mr Oh's front shoulder flies open. In America they would have fixed that problem and he would' ve hit 8-10 home runs a year.

[zimbad2004]

Japan and Cuba consider MLB as a MILB to them....If this guy would of gone to USA and play in the MLB he would of pass any record with out steroids.

[Nickman720]

he would probably have 5-15 homers max in his career if he came to america

[halo3hello]

if he played in the mlb would he have 868 homers. extremely questionable.

[PenguinKowalski]

Bring him to the SF Giants! We can have a Home Run leader that didn't cheat!

[dudrhkd7]

@PenguinKowalski He would probably suck in America in Japan the average pro pitcher pitches almost 10 miles slower than in the MLB and his batting stance looks and is inconsistent

[KitKatJunkie]

@dudrhkd7

He would have owned the whole MLB if he came to America. Indeed Japanese pitchers throw slower. Which makes it even harder to hit a homerun on. And the Japanese pitchers prefer to throw on control and breaking balls instead of velocity. Everybody can hit a 90mph fastball when they have seen enough. I can hit 85mph fastballs and i kinda suck at hitting. But when they mix it up with good breaking balls i cant hit for shit. So your argument is invalid.

[seattlehawkins]

@KitKatJunkie Do you know where I can find a video about The Greatest Homerun Hitter Ever? Cause this ain't it! LMAO

[50ISIO]

why didnt he play in america?

[rtwilho]

Josh Gibson

[TheArcadefreak]

The level of competition he faced was barely at the minor league level. hell, the only way a 55 yr old could hit the ball out is STEROIDS................& johnwaynegunslinger, you have no idea what you are talking about, so sush!~

[PromoterLockerz]

johnwaynegunslinger thats why albert pujols hit 9 straight seasons 30HR+ 300AVG only playee to do so ha

[Xxsideshow22xX]

haha i like your little picture movie

[Dominicano16R]

japan pitching sucks ass

[itrguy000]

@Dominicano16R why is it that if japans pitching sucks so bad that you guys cant win WBC? let alone get past semis

[tmacdady]

Great swing - great hitter. Would have hit 500 plus homers in 20 years in the majors guaranteed.

[omydude11]

He can thank Ted williams

[TheKamikaze104]

Dont feel bad that Japan has really good players, Oh Sadaharu is the best, NIPPON FTW!!!

[TheDJ596]

if barry bonds or hank aaron or babe ruth played in these japanese leagues, they would have hit 1000 home runs a piece

[JohnWayneGunslinger]

@TheDJ596 Barry Bonds? He isn't 1/10th of what Hank Aaron and Ruth were. You must remember this, all the fields during Ruth/Aaron's time were at LEAST 30 feet longer to the wall. Darryl Strawberry is the only somewhat recent player who could have possibly kept up with them. It's a shame he threw his career away for drugs

[LancerJak]

Japanese players have that hitch in the delivery that screws up all the timing. Also they have all these weird and quirky off-speed stuff that just gets us.

[sindusk]

there is no such thing as just rotational pro hitters....it is a combination of linear and rotational

[gringuito34]

Albert Pujols still the best hitter in my opinion.

[JohnWayneGunslinger]

@gringuito34 No offense, but Josh Hamilton has been doing a good job at putting everyone else to shame.... don't you think?

Pujols may be the smartest hitter (his mechanics) but his occasional inconsistency is why i suggested otherwise.

[cfl990]

@JohnWayneGunslinger Are you claiming hamilton to be more consistent than pujols??? what look at the stats an off year for him is like hitting 315 with 35 bombs he is the most consistent player in recent memory that is a rediculous claim you are making

[JohnWayneGunslinger]

@cfl990 .315, 35 bombs his off year? Thats his average... which happens to be the same as Josh Hamilton's. But the fact that i think Hamilton is purely better is the fact that he has the fastest bat swing ever recorded in baseball (118mph), he had a 98 mph fastball in high school and ran a 4.41 40 yard dash. Pujols.... can hit. Hamilton on the otherhand is capable of playing all positions as well as any all star can play their own. Not to mention that Pujols himself said Hamilton is better.

[cfl990]

@JohnWayneGunslinger You made a comment saying he was more consistent which i was disagreeing with because no that isnt pujols averages his average is .332 40 hr which will be higher because he will hit more his year and 120 rbis which wil also be higher by years end so i am just saying he at this point is more consisten hamilton in 2009 struggled all year even while healthy he only had lik 50 some rbis 10 bombs i was clearly speaking to the consistency statement you made

[cfl990]

@JohnWayneGunslinger CONT. oh ya in his worst years in each category pujols hit .314 32 hr and 103 rbi which were all in differnt years while one was own others were higher just saying that is incredible consistent

[JohnWayneGunslinger]

@cfl990 I dont mean he's seasonally inconsistant. He is slumpy though. He just had his first hit in 19 at bats yesterday. He does it all the time. He'll get dangerously hot for a few weeks, then he'll fall off the earth for a month. To me, in order to be the best hitter you must be consistant. Johnny Bench once had a 71 game span in which he was hitless in 5 of those games. Im sorry, but Pujols will never accomplish that feat. Votto and Hamilton? Possibly......

[jambinni]

HE HAS GOOD BALANCE, BUT THE PITCHERS IN THE USA SEE THAT LEG LIFT THAT EARLY WOULD PARK A FAST BALL BETWEEN HIS EYES.. HE LOAD TO SOON, CURVE BALL , CHANGE UP DANCING WITH THE STARS,lol

[GlorifiedTruth]

Pretty much anyone watching this video could hit 500 career home runs in Japan.  Had Barry Bonds played in Japan, he would've easily hit over 6,000 home runs, making Oh's "record" seem pretty paltry by comparison.

[zookyzooky31]

@GlorifiedTruth your over exageration just a tad bit

[giantmidget08]

Greatest homerun hitter........BABE RUTH. End of story. Hank Aaron had 40 more hr in 4,000 more at bats. Ruth would have easily hit 1,000 hr had he played in Japan. Oh would have maybe 500 in the U.S. major leauges.

[scrfce454]

Isn't it ironic how both homerun record holders played for the giants? Lol

[Tshoemake]

maybe hits 300 homers tops, with a career in the MLB.

[pussyfat12]

Sadaharu Oh's mechanics somewhat resemble Ted William's, in terms of timing and explosive rotation... definitely a good thing.

[frogmaster3950]

He would have had less that 300 HRs in the majors.

[Tippffff]

darryl strawberry!!!!!!!!!

[Pandabearmadness]

his swing reminds me of pujos. either way he has a very nice swing its weird seeing him stand on 1 leg like that. i wonder who would won a homerun contest oh or hank. if i had to put my money on it i say hank. lol all time leader in mlb is barrybonds giant. and all time leader japan is Sadahru Oh another giant. barry bonds has a pretty amazing swing. his swing was so fast and compact.

[stevevandien]

Has anybody compiled Oh-san's stats against major league pitchers? He faced quite a few over the years in exhibition games. I think he would have had a solid career in MLB. Would he have hit as many homers? Probably not; Japanese ballparks in Oh-san's day were smaller than those in the US. But he would still have done pretty dang well.

 By the way, Oh-san's autobiography is fascinating, chronicling an Eastern approach to this very Western sport:) --

[ectigers83]

If you look at the World Baseball Classic and make comparisons against the U.S., remember this. Most, if not all, teammates in other countries play with each other throughout the year. There is more continuity & a better hunger to win. Their players are not zillionares. The Olympic basketball "Dream Team" in the '92 games were the best motivated pro assembly ever put together. The meant business, even as superstars. Talent without focus equals ZERO! That's why the U.S. & DR have not won.

[ectigers83]

@ UncleMikeNJ ~ One major difference b/t Oh & Josh Gibson, Gibson actually played against the ML's and did well. You know, if it were not for his state of mind, Gibson may well have been the first to cross the color barrier in MLB. As history states, Gibson's homers were unregistered for many years and it was arguably said that Gibson hit OVER 900 homers. Given the history of the Nation, he was not allowed to compete in the MLB in the U.S. in his hay day or the history books may be different.

[fenderrlee]

If you never lived in Japan or Okinawa and played baseball, you'll never understand the Japanese passion. We played baseball in dirt, sugar cane fields, with rubber and plastic balls, under lights until 12 am. All schools have lights until then- Like Latin America, it's a way of life. Yakyu oo shimasu!!

[SportyBoy454]

Ted Williams is the best hitter of all-time period.

[mtucke314]

He was a good hitter, i dont think he would have had as much success against today's pitching though.

[DZCW]

oh probably would have hit maybe 300 or 400 homeruns in the mlb, not only because mlb pitching is superior, but because japan's parks are way smaller.

[blacktopaz8]

may be a controversial topic about who the best homerun hitter really is but I really enjoyed the video. The guy knows what he's saying. Nice job at the end too. I learned something from it.

[UncleMikeNJ]

The Japanese leagues are roughly equivalent to North America's Triple-A, just as the Negro Leagues were. Sadahru Oh's 868 home runs are no more legit than similar figures often cited for Josh Gibson. Surely, they would both have been stars had they been allowed to play in the U.S. majors, but let's not get carried away here.

[juliusmitsui]

and the MLB record only belongs to the US, it's not world record. The last I time i chcked, the U.S. wasn't center of the universe apparently 95% of population in this country think the U.S. is, probably never left their own villages let alone travel outside of the U.S. bunches of ignorant human beings

[crackattack85]

Its crazy who easy Aaron's swing is. He doesn't look like he's muscling up at all and its still clearing the fence handily.

[tak0242424]

i respect this guy

he practiced so much

[funnyvidsSUBSCRIBE]

fake

[joeylastra30]

hell yes

[joeylastra30]

he was pretty good but i think he would have been limited to the 700's or 600's

[joeylastra30]

if he played in the mlb he could have had the mlb record but not by that much

[crackattack85]

Are you kidding me? Matsui was a comparable hitter in the same league and I think the most he's hit in an MLB season is 31. Oh translates as a similar, slightly lesser hitter by most metrics. With his longevity, he likely would've reached the 500 club if you assume that the quality of the Nippon league in the 60's and 70's is equal to that of the 90's. Randy Bass was a similar just post contemporary he was never an everday MLB prior to playing in the Nippon Leagues.

[crimetoad]

limited? 700 is pretty good no?

[bigpapi34rs]

THIS IS BLASPHEMY. You're all cocksuckers. Oh is a joke. Hank Aaron is a boss. Bitches.

[santoak47]

this is a fucking retarded comment tiny papi

[raydude456]

On November 11, 1934, the 17-year-old Sawamura faced a team of visiting all-star players from Major League Baseball, including Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, and Charlie Gehringer. Entering the game in the fourth inning, the high school pitcher struck out nine batters and held the Americans to a single run over five innings pitched he managed to strike out Gehringer, Ruth, Gehrig, and Foxx in succession

[raydude456]

Japan Pitching Shut us down the last 2 WBC without steroids might i add

[uhohitsbrendan]

@raydude456 And without souls.

[oldaardvark]

@raydude456

Well, who didn't? I think maybe Rumania did also.

[allinputo]

In the MLB, he will bat about .260 tops and have many strike outs. Johan Santana, Tim Linceum will strike him the fuck out.

[crimetoad]

well anyone that has to face Lincecum and Johan everyday would bat below .260. Ruth wouldnt even bat that. Cant compare leagues or generations. Japan whipped our ass the last 2 WBCs. Enough said

[sasori390]

They play only 130 games per season in the Japanese league. that's 600 less games than MLB over 20 years.

[eduardokomaba]

he´s the best

fuck the rest

at MLB he ´ll hit fucking 900

without steroids.. hahaha

[cubs0110]

If he played MLB he might have 300.

[crimetoad]

Sushi gives you strength...power of the rice...Oh was the man

[eduardokomaba]

600 less games than the anabolyc MLB players... and MORE HR than these FAKE players... so... dont tell me fucking shit man...

[crimetoad]

What did I say that would make you think I don't agree with you? I even said OH was the fan. Or can you not fucking read?

[WallyWalter32]

josh gibson

[ilovety97]

this guy is a veryy good batter!!!!

[eichler34]

I love seeing an average sized guy doing this. Maybe he doesn't get 800 HR's in MLB, but to generate those numbers you need an amazing swing, and great reflexes. I think it's obvious he'd at least be a fixture at the MLB allstar games. Ichiro's numbers didn't suffer coming to the US, and I'm sure most experts thought they would.

[Tamerplane]

Didn't suffer?? He's had 3 seasons out of 8 that compares to his NPB stats all others were good, but not exceptionnal results.

[eichler34]

Didn't say his stats were equal, or that they didn't drop just a little, just said the numbers didn't suffer. 206 hits is his worst season in the MLB's, and .306 is the worst average he's hit for. 56 SB's as a rookie, has hit over .350 3 times. 8 straight seasons with at least 200 hits. I stand by the comment his numbers didn't suffer.

[crimetoad]

Yeah, youre right.... . 350 is suffering...27game hitting streak is just ok. get it together

[TheArcaneAvenger]

How can you guys disrespect such a great player?

[koshichisanakinzokur]

i m japanese.

all japanese understand that mlb and japanese baseball are diferent ,and mlb is speorior.

and yet ,mr.oh himself says 「my record is japanese record, not mlb」

what else do you need? we respect mlb very much.

[treog21]

this is crap japanes baseball isnt that good as our and the guy sucks alot and other people r better than him like hamilton,rodriguez,griffey jr

[mkabadboi]

haha stFu asshole!

[negtype13]

he didn't become shit......he could never have done that in the MLB!!!!

[mkabadboi]

you stfU too!

[negtype13]

you KNOW it too!! HAHAHAHA!!!!

[ConkeyCrack]

This guy probably gets 300-400 HR's in the majors. Pitchers out in the japanese leaugue arent that good. So the HR's he has are a bit tainted due to the lack of competition hes facing! But at the end of the day, 800+ HR's are very impressive!!!

[mkabadboi]

shut up with your stats crap!

[nalcon1]

This guy isn't that big, but watch the tremendous rotation he gets. Excellent!!

[rutgersfan7]

@nalcon1 Look at Hank Aaron.