Pete Crow-Armstrong is about to make history. This kid, who barely registered on the NL MVP radar back in early July, is now set to become the Cubs’ first MVP in a decade. But that’s not even the wildest part of his incredible run: Crow-Armstrong is knocking down the door of baseball’s super-rare 40-40 club before the regular season even wraps!
So, What Even Is the 40-40 Club?
So, what exactly are we talking about here? The 40-40 club is for players who blast 40 home runs AND swipe 40 bases in the same season. Sounds doable? Wrong! Think about it: how many sluggers have the wheels for 40 steals, or speedsters the pop for 40 homers? It takes an absolutely insane blend of extreme power and blazing speed, so it’s no shocker this list features some of the biggest names in recent memory.
The craziest part? Only six players have ever done it, and not a single one has pulled off more than one 40-40 season. But the game is changing. MLB has relaxed rules to incentivize base stealing. Two of the six 40-40 seasons have happened in just the last four years, and Crow-Armstrong would add a third to that recent surge. That’s a serious shift!
The Legends Who Paved The Way (and a Few Controversies)
Let’s talk about the exclusive company Crow-Armstrong is aiming to join. It all started with Jose Canseco back in 1988 (42 HR, 40 SB). Then came Barry Bonds (42 HR, 40 SB in 1996) and Alex Rodriguez (42 HR, 46 SB in 1998). Yeah, Bonds and A-Rod are tied up in the 90s steroid controversies, which is why, fascinatingly, this super-exclusive club features no Hall of Famers yet.
Alfonso Soriano broke into the 21st century with his own 46 HR, 41 SB season in 2006. But the real game-changers recently? Ronald Acuna Jr. pulled off a 41 HR, 73 SB season in 2023, forming his own 40-70 club on his way to an MVP. Then, last year, Shohei Ohtani went bonkers with MLB’s first ever 50-50 season, hitting 54 bombs and swiping 59 bags. That dude is a Hall of Fame lock, so he’s gonna break that trend for sure. Crow-Armstrong might not hit 50-50 like Ohtani, but by the time this regular season is done, he, Acuna, and Ohtani could be the active MVP trio in this legendary club. How cool is that?
With 45 home runs already under his belt as of September 20, Crow-Armstrong has smashed the power part of the equation. Now, it’s all about finishing strong on the base paths and locking in those steals. The regular season is winding down, and everyone will be watching to see if this young superstar can officially etch his name in the record books. You don’t want to miss the final games as this historical chase unfolds!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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