Pete Crow-Armstrong ties franchise legend with home run No. 42

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong ties franchise legend with home run No. 42

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Sep 14, 2026 11:57 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs undeniably have a superstar in center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

The 24-year-old is cruising to the first MVP award of his career, but that hasn't stopped him from making some kind of history on a nightly basis. That trend continued in Monday's 7-3 win over the Atlanta Braves, and this time, it was Crow-Armstrong tying a franchise record with a Chicago icon.

Pete Crow-Armstrong's 42nd home run was history-making

Crow-Armstrong hit his 42nd home run of the season on Monday, and that home run tied him with "Sweet Swinging" Billy Williams for the most home runs by a left-handed hitter in franchise history.

Williams and PCA are the only two left-handed hitters in franchise history to hit 40-plus home runs in a season, and Crow-Armstrong is now just one home run away from snapping a record Williams has held since 1970.

42 HR
102 RBI
37 SB

PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG IS DOING IT ALL pic.twitter.com/pdyIur48Zr
— MLB (@MLB) September 15, 2026

PCA is so close to the first 40-40 season in franchise history

Earlier in the season, Crow-Armstrong posted his second consecutive season with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. At the time, a potential season of 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases was an afterthought.

That has now changed, though, as Crow-Armstrong used a torrent stretch in August to get himself in position for a 40-40 season. That is well within reach now, as Crow-Armstrong needs just three more stolen bases to accomplish the feat.

If he gets there, he will become the first player in franchise history with a 40-40 season and just the seventh player all-time with a 40-40 season.

40/40 PCA Stat of the Day:

The Atlanta Braves allow opponents to steal bases against them at a 84.9% success rate

That is 2nd Worst in Baseball

PCA is 4 Steals Shy of 40 this Season
— CHGO Cubs (@CHGO_Cubs) September 14, 2026

PCA is now a yearly threat to win the NL MVP

When superstar two-way player Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he immediately became the favorite to win the NL MVP Award every season. Ohtani's two-way abilities gave him such an advantage that it would take an incredible season for anyone to compete for the award.

Crow-Armstrong, though, has done just that, and with Ohtani struggling to stay healthy on the mound this season, PCA is going to cruise to the award.

He also proved that he is able to hang with Ohtani in terms of offensive production, and Crow-Armstrong's defensive abilities are just as important as Ohtani's pitching numbers.

Barring any injuries for PCA in the coming seasons, he has cemented himself as the No. 1 threat to Ohtani in the NL MVP race.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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