Chicago Cubs fans have had plenty to celebrate this season, but few moments have been bigger than Pete Crow-Armstrong joining one of baseball’s most exclusive clubs.
On Sept. 24, the 24-year-old Chicago center fielder stole second base to record his 40th stolen base of the season. Combined with his 45 home runs, the milestone made Crow-Armstrong just the seventh player in MLB history to record a 40 homer, 40 stolen base season.
The accomplishment puts Crow-Armstrong alongside some of the greatest players in major league history, including Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Shohei Ohtani.
But PCA, as he is known to Cubs fans, has done more than just put up impressive offensive numbers. He has emerged as one of the most complete players in all of baseball, combining power at the plate with speed on the bases and elite defense in center field.
Entering the game Sept. 24, PCA led the national league in home runs, on base plus slugging (OPS), and on base plus slugging plus (OPS+). He also had 107 runs batted in and 119 runs scored. His 45 home runs are the most ever hit by a lefty in Cubs history, surpassing Billy Williams who launched 42 in 1970.
This historic season has also made PCA the presumptive, and in all likelihood, unanimous MVP. This will be the first time in six years an Illinois athlete has won MVP. The feat was last accomplished by Jose Abreu who took home AL MVP in the COVID-shortened 2020 season for the White Sox.
PCA’s remarkable 2026 campaign adds yet another chapter to the long history of great Baseball in Illinois. And with the Cubs headed back to the postseason, there is still plenty of baseball left for PCA to dominate.
