Many Americans, black and white alike, have since found Asia to be a place to extend their playing careers, or to try their hand at coaching, and former Negro Leaguers helped pave the path across the Pacific. Don Newcombe and Larry Doby, both of whom kicked off their professional careers with the Negro Leagues Newark Eagles, topped off their professional careers in 1962 playing one season for the Chunichi Dragons.

Newcombe and Doby were perhaps the first major league star to wind up in Japan and two of just a few to play in the Negro Leagues, the major leagues, and in Japan’s professional leagues. George Altman, a great Negro Leaguer himself, went to Japan in 1968 after a stellar 9-year career in the big leagues and enjoyed it so much he stayed for 8 more years.

Many Americans have been grateful to play the game in Japan. Darnell Coles, Jesse Barfield, Warren Cromartie, Alvin Davis, Mike Easler, Cecil Fielder, Rupert Jones, Kevin Mitchell, Lloyd Moseby, Reggie Smith and Roy White are a few of the most recognizable names of African American major leaguers who played in Japan. Playing in a foreign culture might give a bit of insight into what Negro Leaguers felt.

“It gives you a true perspective on differences, whether they’re cultural or language differences or whatever,” said Coles. “It helps me understand the game from a true ‘world’ perspective. It’s part of who I am as a person and a coach is having that experience and that perspective. So from that standpoint, it helps you feel a little of how Negro Leaguers might have felt, being treated like outsiders and foreigners in a sense.

Every so often something unique and extraordinary explodes onto the scene of major league baseball, creating an unusual wave of interest at the ballpark and in the media.

Several decades ago, a gangly, flailing pitcher nicknamed “The Bird” came from out of nowhere to become an overnight celebrity by talking to the ball between pitches and exhibiting quirky tactics. Mark Fydrich packed stadiums and became a media darling in his rookie season in 1976.

Fernandomania swept the nation in 1981, when Fernando Valenzuela dominated the National League and sparked new interest in major league baseball amongst millions of Mexican-Americans and in Valenzuela’s home country of Mexico.

Neither of those phenomena was expected. But the arrival from Japan of Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 was one anticipated with baited breath by the Asian world. Hundreds of Japanese media reported on Suzuki’s every move throughout that season, and viewership skyrocketed in Japan despite the 16-hour time difference.

Something truly unique is taking place in baseball this year, and it is happening right now at Kauffman Stadium.

Taking the hill for the Los Angeles Angels today against the Royals will be Shohei Ohtani. The 23-year-old native of Japan is doing something that hasn’t really been attempted in 100 years. Pitching every Sunday for the Angels, Ohtani takes a regular spot in the Angels batting order as designated hitter on his off days.

Not since Babe Ruth in 1919 has a player batted regularly in between starts on the mound. Ruth has always been considered the greatest of two-way performers. At just 22 years of age in 1917, Ruth had established himself as perhaps the best pitcher in the game. But he showed such skill at the plate that his team at the time, the Boston Red Sox, began to use him more and more in the field. So in 1918 and 1919, he split time between the two roles.

When the New York Yankees acquired the Bambino in 1920, they turned him into a full-time outfielder. The rest, of course, is history.

Ohtani isn’t the first guy since Ruth who was good at both pitching and hitting. So one would wonder why this hasn’t been attempted since. Did Ruth and the Yankees create some unwritten rule against it?

Ruth wasn’t exactly the picture of fitness, so it’s possible that when he threw a lot of pitches it affected his ability at the plate. And in the days prior to the designated hitter (instituted in the American League in 1973), playing both ways meant literally playing both ways. But why hasn’t anyone tried until now? Considering the limitations imposed by the 25-man roster, and the opportunity the DH provides for pitchers to bat without playing in the field, it’s surprising no one has done more than dabble as a two-way performer.

Ned Yost noted prior to the series that while managing the Milwaukee Brewers 2003 and 2004, he used a player named Brooks Kieschnick as a Swiss army knife, pitching in relief, pinch hitting and playing DH and left field. Over the two-year period, Kieschnick threw 96 innings, and batted 144 times. It was a great display of versatility, and an indication of what was possible, but nothing like what Ohtani is attempting.

“Shotime” fever is catching on with American fans as the Angels try something revolutionary. Japan, of course, can’t get enough of it. The Royals provided about 50 to 75 credentials to Japanese media on Thursday. Broadcaster Joel Goldberg said during the opener of the four-game series the Royals expected that number to quadruple over the weekend.

Whether “Shotime” approaches the mania of Fernando or Ichiro remains to be seen. But when your feats already can be compared only to Babe Ruth’s, they are bound to attract significant attention.

In his best season as pitcher/hitter, Ruth belted 29 home runs and drove in 113 RBI while also going 9-5 with a 2.97 ERA in 15 starts. The year before that, in his most evenly balanced season, Ruth hit 11 home runs and recorded 13 wins as a pitcher.

No pitcher since 1918 has won 10 games and also hit 10 home runs in a campaign. A Cleveland Indians pitcher named Wes Ferrell had perhaps the best season of pitching and hitting since Ruth. He won 22 games in 1931 and belted 9 homers.

Ohtani goes for win number three today against the Royals, in what will be his only trip to Kansas City this season. Given an opportunity none have received in 100 years, he appears well on his way to making history.