One of the great aspects of the World Baseball Classic is seeing how different cultures approach the game of baseball. Across all the pool locations, the atmospheres have been unique for every fanbase, but Japan might be the best of them all.
Just look at what happened after Shohei Ohtani’s home run on Sunday.
Facing Australia in the first inning with two runners on, Ohtani turned on an 0-1 breaking ball and sent it deep into the right-field stands at the Tokyo Dome. It was Ohtani’s first World Baseball Classic home run, and the ball almost certainly held considerable value. That’s what made the scene in the stands so special.
SHOHEI OHTANI 3-RUN HOMER!!!! 💥
📺: FS1 and the FOX Sports App pic.twitter.com/KBZ2QtMSVd
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 12, 2023
The FS1 broadcast would show that fans in the stands were passing around the home run ball to take photos of it. And then the ball was returned to the fan who caught it when they were finished.
After Shohei Ohtani's home run in the top of the first inning, fans passed around the baseball to take pictures of the ball before returning it to the fan who caught the ball 👏 pic.twitter.com/yqwtKdWKol
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 12, 2023
Could you imagine something like that happening at an MLB game? Absolutely not — particularly after a significant home run like that. Here, we have adults taking baseballs from children and a guy who travels around ballparks to catch baseballs.
Japan went on to win, 7-1, and finished Pool B with a perfect 4-0 record.
Baseball fans loved seeing that moment of respect from the Tokyo crowd as well.
This was how Twitter reacted
japanese baseball fans are the coolest in the game. and we’re over here stuck with zack hample https://t.co/zTkPUlMis0
— todd bonzalez (@doinkpatrol) March 12, 2023
imagine if this was attempted in the states, there would be a literal war in the stands https://t.co/WQzVe7rLfr
— ethan 🫐 (@J0SHALLENN) March 12, 2023
In the U.S. security would’ve had to take the person who caught it out of the stadium to keep them safe lol. https://t.co/g858XXqnU4
— Ethan (@ejacksonradio) March 12, 2023
How thoroughly cool is that?
Japan is my second home. Like anywhere it is not perfect, but such small decencies and kindness as these remind me that we can all strive to be something more than we are. https://t.co/1i1XC8dvYr
— Wilson Ruark (@TokyototheATL) March 12, 2023
That's baseball respect https://t.co/OxF42KSvfo
— RegionRev_GaryIN 🇸🇰 (@GaryMillrat) March 12, 2023
Incredible honestly. Meanwhile here you have adults snatching balls given by players to kids 💀 https://t.co/XYu4STa8j2
— so scarlet it was maroon (@nahcmo) March 12, 2023
The fact that this is so surprising to American viewers is really sad actually https://t.co/YmnvfMt2yu
— sammyredsox (@SilkyG_) March 12, 2023
This would never happen in North America……..
The amount of respect for the ball, the kindness to share it with everyone and then the kindness to return it to the owner of the ball. My goodness. https://t.co/VaQpTz7kNY— Jonathan Seki (@jonseki) March 12, 2023
Another tournament, another chance for the Japanese to show they're some of the best, most wholesome people in the world, can't wait to go there later this year https://t.co/BmDusm2LGH
— Derek (@DMoney7707) March 12, 2023
U.S. fans could really learn from that example.
