Ohtani Fever: The Unstoppable Force Behind the 50/50 Craze

Imagine a sports store in Fountain Valley, California, where the phones ring nonstop with customers clamoring for a specific item: Shohei Ohtani's 50/50 gear. For Mike Gaspar and Leah Bacccanti, owners of Fountain Valley Sports Addict, it's been a surreal experience. Their store has been a hub for sports enthusiasts for over two decades, but nothing could have prepared them for the frenzy sparked by Ohtani's historic achievement. As the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, Ohtani has become a global phenomenon. His fans, including Thomas Balich from Huntington Beach, are eager to get their hands on anything bearing the Japanese star's name. "I've just been looking for all the new Ohtani stuff," Balich says. "I love collecting all the stuff that has been coming out. The collector pins, I have a set of those." Gaspar and Bacccanti have had to create an entire display filled with Ohtani's gear, catering to both Angels and Dodgers fans. They've been receiving shipments of 50/50 gear, which they expect to sell out quickly. "People are hopeful, they're so excited that the gear is already here, but they do have to produce it first," Gaspar explains. The store owners joke about the possibility of Ohtani achieving the 60/60 milestone, which would make the 50/50 gear less special. But for now, they're reveling in the excitement surrounding Ohtani's achievement. "From a business standpoint, it's been amazing for us," Bacccanti says. "We're a small family business, so it's been pretty cool to know that this is going to bring in a little more foot traffic."

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