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(Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
What a year it’s been!
From unthinkable new statistical records and breakout stars to struggling franchises making headlines for losses and relocation, it’s a been a wild ride for the game of baseball.
In the long run, we think the 10 storylines below will serve as shorthand for the 2024 MLB and minor league seasons.
1. Shohei Ohtani creates the 50-50 club
Shohei Ohtani’s 2024 began with an investigation into gambling losses. It turned out that his long-time interpreter Ippei Mizuhara had used Ohtani’s name and stolen from him to cover gambling losses. Mizuhara eventually pled guilty to bank and tax fraud, admitting that he had stolen nearly $17 million from Ohtani.
Ohtani was cleared of any wrongdoing, and once the season began, that story began to slide into the background as the Dodgers superstar produced yet another year of MLB firsts.
Jose Canseco established the 40-40 club in 1988. Four others—Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano and Ronald Acuña Jr.—joined him over the years, with Acuña creating the 40-70 club in 2023.
When MLB introduced rules changes to spur the running game in 2023, league-wide stolen bases increased by more than 1,000. With the rise of the running game, new power-speed clubs have been created.
Acuña hit 41 homers and stole 73 bases in 2023. This year, Ohtani created the 50-50 club with 54 homers and 59 steals.
2. Aaron Judge turns in an all-time season—again
Aaron Judge is so reliably productive that his greatness tends to be taken for granted. The Yankees outfielder cleared the 200 wRC+ threshold for the second time in three seasons in 2024.
Just seven players have reached that territory more than once in a season of at least 500 plate appearances: Babe Ruth (nine times), Ted Williams (six), Barry Bonds (four), Ty Cobb (two), Rogers Hornsby (two), Mickey Mantle (two) and now Judge.
This season, Judge hit .322 and led all MLB hitters in seven key categories: 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, 122 runs, .458 on-base percentage, .701 slugging, 218 wRC+ and 11.2 fWAR.
Judge incredibly led all MLB hitters in the same seven categories in 2022, a level of mastery that is almost impossible to fathom in today’s game.
3. The White Sox set the modern single-season loss record
In a season featuring zero 100-game winners, the White Sox somehow made history at the other extreme.
The…