Pete Crow-Armstrong became the second player in Chicago Cubs history to post 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases on Friday. By the standards of 2025, though, he was late to the party.
After entering the day with 29 homers and 35 steals, the All-Star outfielder joined Sammy Sosa in Chicago’s exclusive club with a two-run homer in the fourth inning of a 12-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. He celebrated with a bat flip (video above).
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Sosa became the Cubs’ first and previously only 30-30 player with a 33-homer and 36-steal campaign in 1994.
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The fans in the Wrigley Field bleachers greeted Crow-Armstrong with a standing ovation as he took the field the next inning, something he found touching, he said after the game:
“That’s probably the second-most rewarding thing. The same way my boys show up every day, so do these people. The relationship I’ve gotten to build with the Bleacher Creatures is very significant and special to me, so I really appreciate the reception. Looking to do more of that as we go on here in October.”
The achievement provides a nice capstone to Crow-Armstrong’s breakout season. The former top prospect demonstrated both power and speed this year, as well as some of the best outfield defense in the big leagues. He ranks third in MLB in Statcast’s Defensive Run Value and ninth in Defensive Runs Saved.
Few players have raised their profile as much as Pete Crow-Armstrong this year. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
2025 has been the Year of 30-30
A year after Shohei Ohtani invented the 50-50 club, the 30-30 club has gotten a lot more crowded.
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In addition to Crow-Armstrong, five other players have reached 30-30: Juan Soto, Jazz Chisholm Jr., José Ramírez, Corbin Carroll and Francisco Lindor. Ohtani has followed last year’s 54-homer season with another 54-homer season, but he took a step back from stealing bases as he ramped back up as a pitcher.
The group might become even bigger this weekend, as Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodríguez is only two steals from reaching 30-30 for the second time in his career.
Funnily enough, that might be only the third-most significant milestone for a Mariner to reach in their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Catcher Cal Raleigh is obviously at the forefront, as he sits at 60 homers and needs only two to match Aaron Judge for the AL single-season record (which is also considered the clean record).
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Secondly, third baseman Eugenio Suárez is one homer away from 50, which would make 2025 the first year ever with five 50-homer seasons. Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge have already crossed that threshold.
Eventful day for the Cubs beyond PCA
Looking ahead, perhaps the most important thing for the Cubs on Friday was the activation of star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who spent most of September on the injured list due to a calf strain. He went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs against the Cardinals.
Seiya Suzuki also hit his 30th homer of the season, with a grand slam in the seventh inning, but he remains at only five stolen bases.
