Shohei Ohtani Signs Autographed Ball For 100-Year-Old Japanese Woman Who Survived Atomic Bomb

Shohei Ohtani (Image Credits: Imagn)

Shohei Ohtani Signs Autographed Ball For 100-Year-Old Japanese Woman Who Survived Atomic Bomb

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Paranjoy Goswami | Last updated Apr 19, 2026 5:26 AM ET

As one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Shohei Ohtani is a role model for hundreds of thousands across the globe. The four-time MVP sets a shining example with his humor, grace, and humility on and off the field. Ohtani is well known for spontaneous, heartwarming gestures that reflect his remarkable qualities as a human being.

On Saturday, Shohei Ohtani signed an autographed ball for a 100-year-old fan from Salt Lake City who was at Coors Field for the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies. The woman is a living survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945 by the United States at the end of World War II.

Shohei Ohtani had just completed his throwing session when Dodgers broadcaster Stephen Nelson, himself a Japanese American, filled him in on the story of Momyo Kelley. Ohtani then made his way to meet Kelley in front of the visiting team dugout. He signed the ball and posed for a photograph during the brief interaction before making his way to the clubhouse.

Shohei Ohtani meets with a 100-year-old Japanese woman who survived the atomic bomb in Nagasaki. Amazing moment at Coors Field. pic.twitter.com/IACJ6XGDoy
— Manny Randhawa (@MannyOnMLB) April 18, 2026

“He’s the pride of Japan,” Kelley told Japanese news outlet Chunichi News. “I watch Dodgers games every day.”

Kelley stated she was 19 when the bomb dropped on Nagasaki. She later worked at a United States Air Force base, where she met her husband, moving to the United States at the age of 26. Many Rockies and Dodgers players and staff, including Dave Roberts, who was born in Okinawa, Japan, also took pictures with her.

Shohei Ohtani Extends On-Base Streak to 50 Games

The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a four-game winning streak with a 3-4 defeat to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. But Shohei Ohtani extended his on-base streak to 50 games, closing in further on the franchise record.

The phenomenal run nearly ended after Ohtani failed to get a hit in his first three appearances at the plate, despite reaching on an error. Nevertheless, he preserved the streak with a ground ball single to right field in the ninth inning.

Ohtani is now tied for third place for the longest on-base streak in Dodgers history dating back to 1900. Only Shawn Green, with 53, and the franchise record of 58 by Hall of Famer Duke Snider remain ahead. Ted Williams holds the all-time record with 84 consecutive games.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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