Shohei Ohtani enters Bronx in class of his own: ‘How is he doing this?’

BOSTON — On Oct. 1, 1933, at the original Yankee Stadium, the Yankees defeated the Red Sox, 6-5, behind a complete-game effort from Babe Ruth, who supported his own efforts with a home run.

Nearly 88 years later, the sequel to that event will occur Wednesday night when Shohei Ohtani takes the mound for the Angels at the new Yankee Stadium, by which point he might already have knocked a ball or four out of the park in his other role as the team’s primary designated hitter. Is Ohtani really the new Babe, though? Or might we find a better comparable to this generational talent, the most exciting and unique professional athlete on this planet, by looking back shorter and wider?