Pete Crow-Armstrong is among the flashiest players in all of Major League Baseball. From his wildly confident personality to wearing every single emotion on his sleeve to never passing on an opportunity to celebrate on the field, humble wouldn't necessarily be the first word fans would use to describe the Chicago Cubs superstar.
There appear to be two different versions of Crow-Armstrong, however. There is the PCA in between the white lines, the one who yelled obscenities at a Chicago White Sox fan in May, who also stops to flex while rounding third base after launching a home run. Then there is the PCA outside the white lines, who is still as confident as they come, but a team-first guy with a noticeably reserved demeanor.
Both versions of Crow-Armstrong were on full display during the Cubs' extra-innings win over the White Sox on Monday.
PCA immediately set off fireworks at Wrigley Field on Monday night by leading off the bottom of the first frame with a first-pitch homer off the scoreboard in right field. It turned out to be a preview of what was to come in the bottom of the 10th inning when he stepped to the dish with a chance to win the contest.
While leading off the inning again and sitting on a 2-1 count, PCA got a hanging slider he was looking for and set things off in Wrigleyville yet again. He launched his bat into the air towards the Cubs' dugout, soaked in the moment while rounding the bases, and tossed his helmet onto the field while trotting towards home plate.
It was a totally normal, expected reaction from the face of the franchise after winning a game in that fashion against the crosstown rivals.
After the emotions settled and some of the adrenaline wore off, the scene inside the Cubs' locker room wasn't necessarily what some baseball fans would come to expect out of PCA.
When asked about the walk-off moment and all that came with it, Crow-Armstrong mentioned that it was fun to be a part of, but quickly praised his team's effort while recognizing that without them, he wouldn't have had the opportunity at the dish to begin with.
"That was my first career walk-off homer, so that's fun to note, but if Nico (Hoerner) doesn't tie it up for us, I don't get that chance," Crow-Armstrong explained inside the locker room after the 7-5 victory.
"I feel like I've probably said this before after we've had some crazier wins, it's just super fun to appreciate all the little stuff that went right. Happer [Ian Happ] busting tail down the line, beating out a double play ball...It's just stuff like that where I can look back on it and think, 'That's why I was up in the bottom of the 10th inning.' I love these games, because that's not always going to happen, but when it does, it's nice to appreciate the stuff that went right."
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To recognize his walk-off home run to give the Cubs their 73rd win of the season counted just the same as the 72 before it – and that his teammates played their roles prior to his opportunity at the plate – shows that humble side of PCA that doesn't create the headlines.
With his two home runs against the White Sox, Crow-Armstrong became the first Cub ever to post back-to-back seasons with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
