PCA Maintains 30/30 Vision Even When Blacked Out

The inimitable Reese Bobby taught us that “If you ain’t first, you’re last,” though he later admitted that he was high on PCP when he said it. As those who were high on PCA last night understand, you can be both first and last. The eventual National League MVP launched both the first and last pitches he and his team saw on Monday night for home runs, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat since Vic Power of the Kansas City A’s against the Orioles on May 7, 1957.

For those who were wondering, it’s true: Vic Power is the great-uncle of Hollywood star Vin Diesel.

By launching his 30th home run to secure a walk-off win against the White Sox, Pete Crow-Armstrong also became the first player in Cubs history to have consecutive 30/30 seasons. He’s also just the 10th player in league history to do that, and he’s well within 40/40 range. No word yet on whether the Cubs plan to stop one of their games against the Braves next month to celebrate that accomplishment should he reach it against them. Maybe they can pause Tuesday’s game to celebrate PCA becoming the first player ever — like, all-time — to reach base five times with four hits, three extra-base hits, a stolen base, a leadoff homer, and a walk-off homer.

“I usually black out during those type of things,” Crow-Armstrong joked about his celebration. “I got a good bat flip in, I know that.”

I don’t know if you’re getting tired of hearing every few days about how PCA is lapping the field when it comes to wins above replacement, but I’m not. As such, I’d like to note that his 8.2 fWAR leads all MLB position players by well over two full wins (Bobby Witt Jr. is second with 5.9). Shohei Ohtani has 7.0 fWAR between DH’ing and pitching combined, and his eventual return to the mound will add fuel to the intellectually dishonest fires being stoked by talking heads, but it’s not like Crow-Armstrong will suddenly stop playing defense.

Not that he even needs to with the way he’s hitting. We’re well past the point where his performance can be considered a fluke, and it’s impossilbe to poke holes in his numbers with bogus claims of getting them only in garbage time.

PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG

WALK-OFF HOME RUN FOR 30/30 ? pic.twitter.com/TSUSXmb8vi

— MLB (@MLB) August 18, 2026

Even those clinging to his supposed character flaws as if they were the last life preserver in a roiling sea of objectivity may eventually be forced to admit they’re wrong. Because, you know, that’s a common practice these days. What if — and I know this is a wild concept, so bear with me and offer a little grace here — the person and the persona are not one and the same.

Though no one will argue against the fact that we’re talking about one of the most cocksure players in the known universe, Crow-Armstrong’s humility comes out when he walks off the field. He’s a consummate teammate who is hungry to learn and quick to give credit where it’s due.

“That was fun,” PCA said in the clubhouse after the win. “That was my first career walk-off homer, so that’s fun to know. But if [Nico] doesn’t tie it up for us, I don’t get that chance. I feel like I’ve probably said this before after we get some crazier wins, it’s just super fun after something like that to appreciate all the little stuff that went right. Like Happer busting tail down the line, beating out a double play ball…

“So it’s just stuff like that where I can look back on it and think, ‘Well, that’s why I was up in the bottom of the 10th inning.’ I love these games, ’cause that’s not always gonna happen, but when it does, it’s nice to appreciate the stuff that went right.”

It felt like all that stuff was going wrong for the Cubs after back-to-back homers by PCA and Seiya Suzuki gave them a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. They found themselves trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th despite out-hitting the White Sox 13-4 and striking out only six times to their opponents’ 12 Ks. The dam finally broke in the end, with the tying run forcing extras and setting the stage for a dramatic swing.

By sending a slider from lefty Hagen Smith into the right-field bleachers, Crow-Armstrong produced another signature moment in a season that has already been full of them. Was this one enough to overcome the bias toward Ohtani, or will PCA still need to reach another milestone or two over the next six weeks? Catching the Brewers would help his case, as some voters feel like the most valuable player can only come from a first-place team.

Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs will certainly have a shot to do just that, as they will play the Brewers seven times in 10 days between August 31 and September 9. Those two series could very well determine both the division and a major postseason award, so it’s good that a few injury replacements are on their way back too. Meanwhile, you can expect me to keep treating PCA like a plain doughnut by glazing him every chance I get.