In the heart of Wrigley Field, where Sammy Sosa’s explosive homers and Ryne Sandberg’s fiery lovemaking once stood, the batters are now standing up for a new name: Pete Crow-Armstrong.
With 25 home runs, 27 stolen bases and more than 70 runs in just 92 games, PCA is more than just a rising star – he’s laying the groundwork to be compared to some of the most legendary names in Chicago Cubs history.
PCA vs. Sandberg: Defensive and Fielding Hall of Famers
Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Famer, created a fever pitch with a pair of no-hitter and a simple comeback home run in “The Sandberg Game” in 1984. But after just two seasons, PCA has surpassed Sandberg in total offensive + defensive WAR.
Defensive Runs Saved (DRS): PCA is currently top 3 in MLB for CF, close to where Sandberg was at his peak as a 2B.
Baseball IQ: PCA is a “little guy in the wind” in the outfield. Like Sandberg, he’s not loud – but he’s always in the right place at the right time.
“Pete reminds me of a young Ryno,” says a former assistant coach. “Not because of his original play, but because of the quiet impact they make – and it’s incredibly durable.”
PCA vs. Sosa: Atomic Energy & a Generation-Defining Hit
If Ryne Sandberg is the Cubs’ cold heart, Sammy Sosa is the fire that burns. PCA, with his youthful smile and flowing hair, has the same energy as Sosa in 1998 – but with one key difference: more versatility.
Comparing the first 92 rounds:
Sosa (1992, Cubs full-season debut): 8 HR, 15 SB, .260 AVG
PCA (2025): 25 HR, 27 SB, .281 AVG
OPS+: PCA is currently at 138, surpassing Sosa in his prime.
With his natural defensive skills and ability to lead the charge, PCA is the type of player the Cubs have never had – even when Sosa was at his peak. If Sosa brings the drama, PCA is like the rich conductor – controlling the game with every jump in the middle of the field.
The future: Will PCA’s legacy continue to write the Cubs’ history?
Ryne Sandberg was immortalized in Cooperstown. Sammy Sosa is still controversial because of the steroid era, but no one can deny that he was the face of the Cubs for nearly two decades. Now, as PCA becomes the Cubs’ first All-Star starter in CF since Jim Edmonds, fans are wondering:
“Are we witnessing the next legend… right from the start?”
Conclusion: PCA is not a clone – but a new icon
At 23, Pete Crow-Armstrong is not necessarily Sandberg or Sosa. He is his own person – a modern player with an unusually well-rounded skill set, a role model who will not only inherit but also redefine the next generation of Cubs.
And when the last light goes out on the 2025 season, it may not be about speed, homers, or stolen bases… but about a new Cubs spirit stirring—and the pulse of Wrigley.