Al Yellon created Bleed Cubbie Blue and has been its managing editor since 2005. His latest book about the Cubs is "Chicago Cubs Firsts." Find him on Bluesky at @bleedcubbieblue.bsky.social
TOKYO — One thing you notice about Tokyo in going around the city is that Shohei Ohtani’s image is everywhere. Not just around baseball places, but everywhere. He is a national hero, beloved not just for what he did in Japan as a youth and briefly in NPB, but for the impact he’s had in Major League Baseball. Ohtani is one of five Japanese players who will appear in the Tokyo Series over the next couple of days, and he’s surely the biggest star.