Effectively Wild Episode 2090: How to Be a Shobae

Ben Lindbergh talks to Portia, proprietor of super-popular Shohei Ohtani fan account @shoheisaveus, about her Ohtani superfan origin story, life as a self-described “Shobae,” Ohtani’s popularity compared to other athletes and celebrities, following Ohtani from 15 time zones away, stanning a private person, the many mysteries of Ohtani, where the Shobaes would prefer for Ohtani to sign, and more. Then (1:09:03) Ben brings on baseball researcher and writer Sam Gazdziak of RIP Baseball to discuss monitoring baseball players’ passings, writing an obituary for every big leaguer, and finding and restoring baseball figures’ neglected gravesites. Audio intro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Rose tweets Link to Portia’s Twitter account Link to info on Ohtani Insta followers Link to Ben’s article on Portia Link to Ohtani’s first MLB hit Link to Smith on Ohtani Link to “Fletchtani” tweet Link to Ohtani-Sandoval video Link to Equinox photo Link to Ohtani’s beach trip Link to Ohtani’s Hawaii trip Link to Ohtani/Ippei Hawaii photo Link to 2018 NHK doc Link to 2021 NHK doc Link to 2021 NHK doc (alt link) Link to Ohtani’s dog Link to Ohtani’s high school friends Link to shirtless Shohei tweet Link to recommended Twitter follow Link to recommended Twitter follow 2 Link to recommended YouTube follow Link to recommended YouTube follow 2 Link to recommended TikTok follow Link to Ohtani’s “Despacito” video Link to RIP Baseball Link to Stenhouse obit Link to Aaron obit Link to Woods obit Link to SABR Baseball Graves Map Link to Baseball Player Passings group Link to 19th Century Grave Marker Project Link to Negro Leagues Grave Marker Project Link to Green-Wood Cemetery article Link to Cobb memorial Link to Banks memorial Link to “rigor mortis” quote Link to John Glenn SABR bio Link to Ed Williamson grave marker project Link to B-Ref place of death index Link to support Portia Link to support Sam Link to Secret Santa sign-up sheet  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: [email protected] var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source