Furthering his MVP case, Pete Crow-Armstrong made history in multiple ways despite the Chicago Cubs' loss on Sunday. 

Even though it didn't end up making a difference in the game, as the Miami Marlins took care of the Cubs 10-3, Crow-Armstrong took his 2026 season to a new level with one swing of the bat. 

Pete Crow-Armstrong joined the 40-HR club on Sunday 

His solo shot to deep right field tied in the top of the fifth inning was his 40th of the season. 

Now at 40, Crow-Armstrong has accomplished more than just extending his career-high — his previous best was the 31 he hit last season. He's now two away from tying Billy Williams' 1970 mark for the franchise record for the most home runs in a season by a left-handed hitter. 

Crow-Armstrong reached multiple levels of Cubs, MLB history with one swing

But that's not all. Crow-Armstrong is just five from breaking the legendary Ernie Banks' Cubs record for the most homers by a player 24-years-old or younger. Banks connected on 44 in 1956.

And the most impressive achievement of all, Crow-Armstrong adding 40 homers to his 30 plus stolen bases makes him one of only four players in MLB history to ever get to both milestones in a season, joining the likes of current Atlanta Brave Ronald Acuña Jr. (2019), Alex Rodriguez (1998) and José Canseco (1988). 

Crow-Armstrong has a strong argument to be named the National League MVP

Through 544 at-bats in 144 games, Crow-Armstrong's body of work is already a season most players can only dream of putting together, and one that argues as being the front-runner in the National League MVP race. He now has 96 RBI, one more than from all of 2025, 106 runs scored, 28 doubles, seven triples, 33 stolen bases and a slash line of .280/.374/.572.