Shohei Ohtani memorabilia galore: Ben Verlander’s Japan Diary

By Ben Verlander
FOX Sports MLB Analyst

Editor’s note: Ben Verlander is spending time in Japan exploring Shohei Ohtani’s roots, experiencing the country’s culture and meeting fans. This is the sixth in a recurring series that began Friday, Aug. 19.

I continue to have the time of my life in Japan. I wake up every morning hoping somehow this new day will last longer than 24 hours.

We began this particular day at the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, which was the perfect stop for me on this trip. A big reason I’m here is to dive in and learn more about the country’s baseball culture.

The first thing that pops out is all the Shohei Ohtani memorabilia inside. Although not officially eligible for the Hall of Fame yet, his gear — as well as plenty of other cool stuff — is spread throughout. This includes the baseballs from his first and last pitch ever thrown professionally in Japan, a signed jersey, cleats and a bat.

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