Here's how Pete Crow-Armstrong made history in 2026 for the Cubs

Pete Crow-Armstrong is a favorite to win NL MVP honors, and here's how he made history for the Chicago Cubs in 2026 By James Neveau Published November 12, 2026 Updated on November 12, 2026 at Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is a strong favorite to win National League MVP honors, and his season was a historic one.

The Details

Crow-Armstrong helped lead the Cubs to a second consecutive playoff appearance in 2026, and along the way he put together one of the best all-around seasons in franchise history.

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At the top of the list of achievements was Crow-Armstrong becoming the first-ever Cubs player to hit 40 or more home runs and steal 40 or more bases in a single season, which he achieved when he stole a base against the Miami Marlins in the Cubs’ final regular season home game at Wrigley Field.

Crow-Armstrong is just the seventh player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club, with Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. also achieving the feat in recent seasons.

The 45 home runs Crow-Armstrong hit this season helped him to tie for the Major League lead, making him the first Cubs player to lead the league in home runs since Sammy Sosa clubbed 50 long balls in the 2000 season.

He also led Major League Baseball in total bases with 357, becoming the first Cubs player to lead the league in that category since Derrek Lee did so during his spectacular 2005 campaign. He is also the first Cubs player to lead the National League in OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging) since Lee did so in that season.

Finally he also led Major League Baseball in runs scored, becoming the first Cubs player to top that list in 25 years.

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Put together, the season and his incredible defense helped Crow-Armstrong to lap the field in terms of Wins Above Replacement, with his 9.8 WAR the fourth-best of any Cubs player in a single season, according to Baseball Reference.

Now, as he waits to hear word on whether he won National League MVP honors, Crow-Armstrong can take satisfaction in already winning a handful of awards, including a Gold Glove award as the National League’s best defensive center fielder and the Platinum Glove as the best defender in the National League.

At the plate Crow-Armstrong was also honored with the Hank Aaron Award, given to the best all-around offensive player in each league. He is the third Cubs player to win that award since it was unveiled in 1999, joining Bryant and Sosa in that group.

Speaking of Bryant, if Crow-Armstrong does wind up winning National League MVP honors, he would become the first Cubs player to win that award since Bryant did so in the 2016 season.

The winner of the 2026 National League MVP award will be unveiled Thursday night by Major League Baseball.