UPDATE: Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong made history on September 29, 2023, by becoming the first player in franchise history to achieve a 30-30 season, hitting his 30th home run and stealing his 30th base in a dominant 12-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. This marks him as the sixth player in Major League Baseball to reach this milestone this season, a record surpassing the previous high of four.
Crow-Armstrong, just 23 years old, joined an elite group of players including Corbin Carroll, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and José Ramírez. He is the second Cub ever to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season, following the legendary Sammy Sosa, who accomplished the feat in 1993 and 1995.
During the game, Crow-Armstrong hit a high curveball from Miles Mikolas 396 feet into the right-center bleachers, giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead. Despite this monumental achievement, he reflected on his recent struggles at the plate, noting, “It’s been a tale of two halves, for sure.” His batting average has dropped from .273 on August 1 to .245 now, showing a noticeable slump in the second half of the season.
The Cubs’ victory also reduced their magic number to clinch the top National League wild card spot to just one game over the San Diego Padres. The teams are set to meet in the opening round of the playoffs starting next Tuesday, making each game critical for maintaining momentum.
Crow-Armstrong expressed his focus on winning rather than individual accolades, stating, “Whatever the stats are, I just want to go play playoff baseball at this point.” His achievement garnered significant attention, especially after a fan returned the ball from his historic home run, marking it as a special moment for both the player and his supporters. “The guy who got it, it was his first Cubs game in, he said like 30 years,” he shared.
The excitement surrounding Crow-Armstrong’s performance not only highlights his personal growth but also energizes the Cubs’ playoff aspirations as they gear up for what promises to be an exhilarating postseason. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the Cubs aim for a deeper run in the playoffs, with Crow-Armstrong at the forefront of their efforts.