CHICAGO – The chants began before the Cubs could even hit play on the hype video ahead of the bottom of the 10th inning on Monday night. The fans inside Wrigley Field already knew who was due to bat and they sent his famous initials echoing through the old ballpark in anticipation of what could come next.
Pete Crow-Armstrong did not let them down.
“It’s been incredible to watch,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
After getting the crosstown party revved up with a leadoff homer in the first inning, Crow-Armstrong continued to pad his MVP portfolio with a two-run, walk-off blast that sent the place into a frenzy. The Cubs’ electric center fielder delivered a 7-5 win over the White Sox in 10 innings, authoring another classic moment in this rivalry’s long history.
As the baseball Crow-Armstrong launched carried over the right-field wall, he turned toward his teammates in the third-base dugout and violently flung his bat away. Crow-Armstrong then enjoyed that trek around the bases -- one that secured a second straight season with 30 homers and 30 steals -- before spiking his helmet around third and running into the pile of Cubs at home plate.
What did Crow-Armstrong think about the celebration?
“I usually black out during those type of things,” he quipped. “I got a good bat flip in -- I know that.”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Crow-Armstrong joined Chris Young (Aug. 7, 2010), Ian Kinsler (July 19, 2009), Reed Johnson (June 15, 2003), Darin Erstad (June 25, 2000) and Vic Power (May 7, 1957) as the only players with a leadoff and walk-off homer in the same game. It was the fifth leadoff shot of Crow-Armstrong’s season, but the first walk-off blast of his career.
With 30 home runs and 31 steals on his ledger, Crow-Armstrong became the first Cubs player in team history to go 30-30 in consecutive seasons. He is the 10th player to do it in MLB history, joining José Ramírez (2024-25), Bobby Witt Jr. (‘23-24), Ryan Braun (‘11-12), Alfonso Soriano (‘05-06, ‘02-03), Vladimir Guerrero (‘01-02), Barry Bonds (1995-97), Ron Gant (‘90-91), Bobby Bonds (‘77-78), and Willie Mays (‘56-57).
Crow-Armstrong and Sammy Sosa (1993 and ‘95) are the only players in Cubs history to have a 30-30 campaign.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a player like that,” Cubs starter Shota Imanaga said, via interpreter, Edwin Stanberry, “where you watch him play, and make the fantastic plays that he does, and you’re not really surprised. But it’s the expectations that you may have, or a fan may have for him, and he always passes it. It’s been incredible.”
Crow-Armstrong’s walk-off blast was an exclamation point at the end of a tense, action-packed game between the crosstown rivals.
Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki belted back-to-back homers in the first. Imanaga struck out 10 in a gem in which he really flinched once, allowing a three-run homer in the fourth. Andrew Benintendi had a go-ahead homer that stunned the home crowd in the eighth. Nico Hoerner tied things up with a single in the ninth. Cubs reliever Jacob Webb put up a zero with a bases-loaded escape in the top of the 10th.
It was domino after domino that led to Crow-Armstrong’s name being announced long after the fans packed into the Friendly Confines had those “P-C-A! P-C-A!” chants raising the decibel level.
“It’s just super fun after something like that to appreciate all the little stuff that went right,” Crow-Armstrong said. “That’s why I’m up in the bottom of the 10th inning. I love these games, because that’s not always going to happen.”
Crow-Armstrong finished his night with four hits -- he missed only the triple for a second cycle this season -- and added a walk and a stolen base for good measure. It was a glimpse into the blend of speed, power and a developing knack for patience that, combined with his elite defense in center, has him in the thick of the National League MVP debate.
“This might be his best game in the big leagues right here,” Counsell said. “It was an amazing game.”
With his performance on Monday night, Crow-Armstrong is slashing .281/.379/.550 through 126 games. Beyond the homers and steals, he has 25 doubles, 78 RBIs and a career-best 66 walks. The center fielder entered the night leading MLB in both fielding run value (24) and outs above average (22), per Statcast.
And with this showing against the White Sox, Crow-Armstrong’s MLB-leading WAR (per Fangraphs) climbed to 8.2 from 7.8. Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who also homered twice with four hits on Monday, currently has 7.0 fWAR.
“I’m glad he’s on my team,” Webb said. “I’m going to say Pete’s my MVP. Definitely, I feel like he's earned it. I think he’s that good of a player.”
Cubs fans had switched to “M-V-P!” chants as they flowed down the ballpark’s ramps and into the Wrigleyville streets after the win.
Crow-Armstrong was asked if it is fun for him to think about the MVP race.
“For you guys,” he said. “When you play a game like we did tonight, that’s all the fun that I need in my life, ever.”