Japan – In honour of Shohei Ohtani’s groundbreaking 2024 season—making him the first player to join the exclusive “50-50 Club”—Major League Baseball (MLB) has teamed up with Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo to commemorate this achievement through an impressive Tokyo-wide out-of-home (OOH) campaign featuring 113 visuals that highlight each of his 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.
This ambitious initiative saw the billboards installed just 24 hours after the season’s final game. Each placement showcases a unique image representing one of Ohtani’s memorable home runs or stolen bases from his record-breaking season, complete with the corresponding date and number.
As part of this campaign, the 113 moments are not only displayed in the physical world but also featured on MLB’s social media platforms. Each home run and stolen base is showcased in a digital gallery, allowing fans to engage with @MLBJapan for a chance to win exclusive MLB merchandise.
Noah Garden, MLB deputy commissioner for business and media, said, “As we all know, Shohei Ohtani is no stranger to making history, but seeing him create the 50/50 Club truly is something else. To celebrate Ohtani doing something that has never been done before, we wanted to show up in a big way that has never been done before too. That’s why we created 113 billboard monuments for this momentous achievement.”
MLB promises fans exciting postseason action as National League Wild Card teams vie for a chance to face Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series. With his record 50-50 season behind him, Ohtani is focused on making and winning the World Series to claim MLB’s ultimate crown.
Additionally, next March, MLB’s biggest stars will convene in Tokyo for the MLB Tokyo Series, where fans can look forward to an unforgettable experience. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers will face off against Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs, promising to deliver “Something Else” for Japanese baseball enthusiasts.