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Cubs' Crow-Armstrong Joins 40-40 Club, Becomes Seventh MLB Player
Confirmed
In Short: Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong became the seventh player in MLB history to achieve 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season.
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong achieved a historic milestone on Thursday, becoming the seventh player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a single season.
Crow-Armstrong, 24, reached the 40-40 club during a game against the Miami Marlins, stealing his 40th base in the bottom of the first inning.
Crow-Armstrong's impressive season includes 45 home runs, 107 RBIs, 119 runs scored, and a.577 slugging percentage, leading the National League in several key categories.
Crow-Armstrong's 9.8 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is tied with Hall of Famer Ron Santo for the fourth-highest in a single season by a Cubs player.
The Cubs acquired Crow-Armstrong from the New York Mets in 2021 as part of a trade that sent Javier Báez and Trevor Williams to New York.
Crow-Armstrong's defensive prowess and offensive production have made him a strong candidate for the National League MVP award.
Crow-Armstrong joins an elite group of players including Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Shohei Ohtani, who have also achieved the 40-40 feat.
Crow-Armstrong's 40 home runs make him the youngest left-handed batter in Cubs history to hit 40 home runs in a single season since Billy Williams in 1970.
What this adds
Crow-Armstrong's defensive skills and overall WAR contribute to his status as a top player in the league.
The Cubs' acquisition of Crow-Armstrong from the Mets has proven to be a successful trade for Chicago.
Crow-Armstrong's performance this season has surpassed expectations, especially considering his bat was once in question.
What's confirmed
- Crow-Armstrong, 24, has 45 home runs to go along with his 40 stolen bases, joining Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Alfonso Soriano (2006), Ronald Acuna Jr. (2023) and Shohei Ohtani (2024) as the only players to accomplish that feat in a single season.
- CHICAGO -- Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong became the seventh player in MLB history to join the 40/40 club after stealing his 40th base of the season in the bottom of the first inning against the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
What's still developing
- As things stand, Crow-Armstrong is hitting.280/.374/.577 (157 OPS+) with 31 doubles, eight triples, 45 home runs, 107 RBI, 119 runs and 40 steals.
- Further, he's in rarified air in club history if we look at WAR, which takes hitting, baserunning and defense into account as a kind of "catch-all" stat (note: It is required by law here that I point out this isn't the only important stat and anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool).
- "The fans are aware of it in a fun way. We're aware of it as well," teammate Nico Hoerner said of Crow-Armstrong's quest for 40/40.
- Crow-Armstrong walked to lead off the game against Marlins starter Tyler Phillips and then immediately stole second base on the first pitch to right fielder Seiya Suzuki.
- Earlier this season, Crow-Armstrong crossed the 30/30 plateau for the second consecutive year, but the heavy favorite to win the National League MVP has taken his game to another level.
- Crow-Armstrong is certainly the leader in the clubhouse for the NL's version of that award as well.
- Crow-Armstrong was a top defensive prospect, but his bat was always in question.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong is putting the finishing touches on a season for the ages - one that may very well go down as the best in the 150-year history of the Chicago Cubs.
- To do that, he'll need two stolen bases over the next week to join one of baseball's most exclusive clubs.
- He's already set a career-high with 38 bags, to go along with 45 home runs, 30 doubles and 107 runs batted in, but the 40/40 club would be the cherry on top.
- Before the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell was asked about Crow-Armstrong potentially joining the club and shared high praise.
- Crow-Armstrong is in the midst of a stellar season, and he’ll be named the NL MVP at the end of it.