Ken Williams - 1922

.332/.413/.627 - 39 HR - 37 SB

Ken Williams is our lists’ only member from before 1947 and nobody else is close. In 1922, Williams hit 39 Homeruns with 37 steals, a 1.040 OPS and 155 RBI as the St. Louis Browns’ Left-Fielder. For context, this was absurd.

The very idea of a 40/40 season in 1922 was too much. Ruth and only a few other players wielded the full power of the homerun. Pairing that with 30+ steals, good luck. Even in 1932, ‘42 or ‘52, Speed-and-Slug guys were exceedingly rare, as between Williams’ enormous season with the Browns in 1922 and Willie Mays first season in 1951, there were only two seasons where a player both hit 20 homeruns and stole 20 bases.* TWO seasons of barely clearing 20/20 across the whole MLB and Ken Williams went 39/37 in just the 3rd year of the live-ball era!

Of all 13 players on our list, Ken Williams played in an era where the distinction between a 40 steal player and a power hitter was most pronounced. Before Ruth, the single-season HR record stood at just 24 HRs by a 34-year old Gavvy Cravath. It wasn’t until 1956, nearly 10 years after Ruth had passed away that any other player would have another 30/30 season.

Willie Mays - 1956

.296/.369/.557 - 36 HR - 40 SB

Willie Mays was akin to Miles Davis in MLB, the birth of cool and unlike any other, possibly the greatest ever and really the reason we're here with this list. When Mays returned in 1954 after military service in the Korean War, manager Leo Durocher remarked "The pennant has arrived." Sure enough, the Giants would win that NL pennant in '54 and Mays would forever enter himself into that GOAT conversation. Mays' '54 and '55 seasons were profound, .345/.411/.667 and .319/.400/.659 respectively. That's 92 homers and 26 triples, good for 759 Total Bases in just two seasons. In '55 the Giants fell to just 80-74 however, and in 1956 they'd crater to 67-87.

That '56 season is where we find our 36/40 entry by Mays. Perhaps the team's sour outcome indulged Mays' tenacity on the basepaths. For four straight years from '56-'59, Willie Mays lead the NL in steals. '57 was another down year for the Giants but another astonishing 40/40 campaign for Mays with 35 HR and 38 steals. Willie'd also hit .333, lead the league in SLG again and record an ultra-rare 20/20/20/20 season.

Willie Mays would mentor Bobby Bonds, the lists' next entrant and become godfather to oh, Barry Bonds. The three account for over half the 6/6 months in MLB history, which is about the pace of a 40/40 season.

Bobby Bonds - 1973

.283/.370/.530 - 39 HR - 43 SB

Our first entrant to miss by just 1. Bobby is yes, Barry Bonds' father. Okay, Zoomer. Bobby Bonds is perhaps the first guy to BE a 40/40 guy. Bobby was not the stereotypical .300 hitter like he seemed expected to be. Unfairly I'll add. By 1973 though, we was valued as the best player in America at All-Star Games and had either been 1st or 2nd in Runs scored his first four years in the league. After a mid-season callup in the doomed offensive environment of 1968, Bonds would average 29 Homeruns, 41 steals and 120 runs in those first four seasons. In 1973 he came as close as you can get to 40/40, something only a few guys on this list can say. Bobby Bonds had another near 40/40 campaign in 1977 and his son Barry would become possibly the best hitter ever. Bobby's five 30/30 seasons were more than the rest of the planet upon his retirement. Bonds played for 6 teams in his last 5 seasons, including four times changing teams the year after going 25+/25+

The strikeouts were there in a mighty modern way for the 1970s, but Bonds was an absolute differnce maker, whether that meant he had 4, 5, 6 or 10 tools. From Willie to Bobby, herein introduces the Bonds-Mays Trust, responsible for some 1,754 Homeruns and 1,313 steals. Bobby and Barry Bonds are the only members of the 300 Homerun/400 Steals Club.

Darryl Strawberry - 1987

.284/.398/.583 - 39 HR - 36 SB

1987 was a notoriously punchy year for offense with many players spiking high HR totals. Frankly 3 guys on this list place because of 1987, but Darryl Strawberry was always heralded to such heights. Supreme power from his enormous frame and a comprehensive set of skills made him one of the best players in MLB upon entering the league at age 21 and from there it was eight straight All-Star Games. '87 would be Strawberry's best year in practically every category, although the year prior's World Series ring was hard to top. Still, 1987 had tons of huge seasons leaving Strawberry in just 6th in NL MVP voting as well as WAR.

After debuting in '83, Strawberry would average 32 HRs and 29 steals with a .902 OPS from '84-'88. For the most part, that's a way more muted offensive environment than '87. Eight players had an OPS+ higher than 1984's league leader, including the Straw. Of our three 1987 players, Daryl Strawberry is the only to be featured in the classic Simpsons episode, Homer at the Bat, where he was a gentle heel, hitting 9 homeruns in the Championship game before C. Montgomery Burns "played the percentages" and pinch hit our hero Homer in clutch time. Strawberry would win 3 World Series and finish with exactly 1,000 RBI.

Eric Davis - 1987

.293/.399/.593 - 37 HR - 50 SB

Even amidst a list like this, Eric Davis has a certain gleam. His speed was overwhelming and to start his career, Davis seemed capable of re-defining the limits of the game. After two productive years of 57 and 56 games, Davis played 132 in 1986 and stole 80 bases with just 11 caught stealings. Davis was an excellent Center-fielder, though durability would be the nag on his career no doubt, but in 1987, Eric Davis was doing things we’ve never seen and haven't since. 37 Homeruns and 51 steals is no joke, but when you look at his “peak” 162 game stretch from June ‘86 to July ‘87, Davis hit 47 HRs, to a .308 AVG and get this, 98 stolen bases.

Davis’ peak was likely the most “40-40” of anybody here. 50-100? He only hit .250 in August and faltered in September, only playing 12 games and hitting .163 after a rib injury on an exceptional catch against Ryne Sandberg of the Cubs. Davis would earn a Gold Glove in CF that year but never reached the same heights, though injuries or just reality couldn't hold back the career .841 OPS hitter. From ‘88 to ‘90, Davis averaged 28 HR and 93 RBI along with 26 SB at a sublime 85.5% clip. Not too bad. Oh and then he drove in 5 runs in the Reds' World Series sweep of the A’s in 1990. Davis had the kind of career only a few dozen guys in history have had and yet, even among that crowd, Eric Davis stands way the hell out.

Howard Johnson - 1987

.287/.369/.559 - 36 HR - 41 SB

Howard Johnson is an anomaly for those of us past his time. In ‘87, ‘89 and ‘91, Ho-Jo went 30/30. Arbitrary or otherwise, only Alfonso Soriano, Bobby Bonds, Barry Bonds and Ho-Jo have three such seasons. The OG baseball sim, Strat-O-Matic is unforgiving towards his defense and OBP but still, he has cards that stack up with the greats. That’s what averaging 31/32 for the 5-year run outlined above will do. Howard could hit even outside that peak as evidenced by his career 118 OPS+, and he won 2 World Series just before it in ‘84 and ‘86. Further research begs for a deep-dive into the Fantasy Baseball hype around him in those pioneering years for the medium. Surely, Howard Johnson and his .249 career average must have been an icon in Fantasy back in the late-80s?!?

Barry Bonds - 1997

.291/.446/.585 - 40 HR - 37 SB

This is the site's first real blurb about Barry Bonds. He was about the best player ever, you know that. The legitimacy of his case cements it as so, becuase such is obviously impossible to know. Bonds had so many shades, including this near 40/40 gem. Anti-climactically, Bonds hit 42 Homers with 40 steals the year prior and this was just his 5th 30/30 season for good measure. From 1990-1998, Bonds would average 36 Homeruns and 36 steals a year. A cool .305/.438/.600 line to boot with 8 Gold Gloves in those 9 years. Just like the year before when he had to steal 15 bases in September to get 40/40, Bonds was torrid in September slugging .750 with 9 Homeruns and 9 Steals, despite the historical trends of the ground having September as the weakest month. There have been 23 such 9/9 months in MLB history. Barry Bonds is the only player with two or more.

Bonds could do anything, as evidenced by his .349/.559/.809 run (!) from '01-'04. Or does his 90s performance better indicate that?

Outside of the likelihood being solely off a players' inevitable statistical profile, Bonds is the pick as most capable of 40/40. He's the most capable of transcending that self-awareness on the stat page plus he's a Titan amidst ballplayers on this list---or any list. In a cosmic game of baseball with enormous stakes, he's the most capable of competing at that intergalactic level. The Bonds/Mays Trust, responsible for nearly half of all 6/6 months which is about that 40/40 pace. 36/36 to be more precise which as you know Bonds churned out for a decade.

Alfonso Soriano - 2002

.300/.332/.547 - 39 HR - 41 SB

The Yankees won three straight World Series from 1998-2000 and played in a fourth straight in 2001. Outside the Core 4, though, the Bronx Bombers were starting to look like a different team finally. No player burst onto the scene quite like the unmistakable Alfonso Soriano. His speed was excellent and tools aplenty. 2001 was heartbreak for the Yankees, despite a dramatic game-7 Homerun by Soriano. His postposteason play backed up his solid 43-steal ‘01 campaign. 2002 is the season commemorated here, and Sori filled up all the box scores.

A league-leading 51 doubles, 128 Runs, 209 hits as well as PAs and ABs. 39 Homeruns and 40 steals. Soriano played quite bad defense at second-base but his 40/40 bonafides and league-leading everything got him a 3rd place finish in AL MVP.

Vladimir Guerrero - 2002

.336/.417/.593 - 39 HR - 40 SB

After win totals of 65, 68, 57 and 68 wins the previous four years, the Montreal Expos entered the 2002 season as a team not long for this world. They had however, perhaps the most exciting player in baseball, Right-Fielder Vladimir Guerrero. During those 4 stinky years, Vlad had never lead the league in anything positive but was a force of nature. He averaged 363 Total Bases on 194 hits and 40 Homeruns, good for a .322 BA and .988 OPS. Guerrero was famous for his aggressive hitting and cannon in Rightfield. He racked up 50 outfield assists along with a stunning 56 errors over those four years.

In 2002, the Expos were above .500 at 83-79 and Vlad at the peak of his powers. He topped that absurd 4-years average with a league leading 364 total bases and 206 hits. Unfortunately he was just off that HR average by one with 39. In 2001, Vlad showed his first sign of 40/40 potential with 34/37 HR and Steals and in ‘02, he came closer than perhaps anyone on this list: 39 HRs and 40 steals. Leading the league in Caught Stealing with 20 helped see Vlad reach 40 steals, but a late season home run drought, kept Vlad at 39 despite entering September with 35 homeruns and only 30 steals.

The next year in 2003, Vlad missed 50 games to injury but still hit .330 with similar productivity minus the steals, which he’d never really regain. He’d sign with the Angels in the offseason, win the AL MVP and win the AL West five of the six years he was in Anaheim. The Expos would only play one more year in Montreal. Vladimir Guerrero retired with 2590 hits and a .318 career average while maintaining a pace of 340 Total Base per 162 games for his career. There have only been 347 seasons in MLB history where somebody had 340+ TB yet Vlad averaged that in the modern era. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2016.

Carlos Beltran - 2004

.267/.367/.548 - 38 HR - 42 SB

The ancient, cutting edge artifact. The new kid on the block turned poisoned old-man. I wouldn't besmerch the great Carlos Beltran but I've lost this write-up 100 times. If you know about Beltran in '04, you know and if you don't you won't.

Carlos Beltran was the crown-jewel of a rather embarassing Royals franchise in the late 90s-early 2000s. A five-tool superlative depository from his first steps on the ballfield, Beltran had hit and accumulated impressive mile-markers every season he'd stayed healthy. In 2004, the Royals had about had it and were due to move on Beltran. After a strong 83-win showing in '03, the Royals would crater to 58 win in '04, trading Beltran on June 24th. Until that point, the Royals had a .411 win % (28-40) and after the trade an abyssmal .319 clip. (30-64) Of grander note, Beltran lit fire for the ascendant Astros, who played .600 ball and were 18 games above .500 (54-36) after the midseason pickup of Beltran.

By the time the playoffs rolled around, the Astros and their killer Bs were rolling. The team still fell short of its first World Series birth however, falling in 7 games to St. Louis. In Beltran's 12 postseason games that year, he'd hit 8 Homeruns, tied for the most ever in a single postseason, go a perfect 6-0 on steals, SLUG 1.022 and hit over .400 in both series. When this writer got his first baseball chronic magazine, it was Carlos Beltran on the cover as the best player in fantasy baseball. Someway, somehow the milktoast let-down of Beltran's '05 season has become overshadowed by a more deserved failure. Beltran's part in the 2017 Astros cheating scandal is real and has immediately and perhaps permanently cost him a managing job. Perhaps HOF inclusion. Still, Beltran's 435 HRs, 312 and a caeer RECORD 86.4% Stolen Base percentage speak to how show-stopping Beltran is even on a list like this.

Matt Kemp - 2011

.324/.399/.586 - 39 HR - 40 SB

In 2011, Matt Kemp put it all together He was dating Rihanna and playing Centerfield for the good-again Los Angeles Dodgers. For his first four seasons, Kemp was productive and gaining traction, but in 2011 he had a season for the ages: Gold-Glove caliber defense, a .324 AVG and those 39 HRs/40 SBs. Not only was he as close as anyone to 40/40 all while playing elite defense, but he almost won the Triple Crown while doing it.

Kemp’s combination of average hitting, defense and speed/slug, always made him a coveted “fantasy baseball” player. After a cup of coffee in 2006, Kemp hit .342 in 98 games in 2007. The next three years he’d post a .800 OPS with 72 HR and 87 SB (24 and 29 per year) His 2011 was rivaled by few seasons in MLB history.

He finished 2nd in NL MVP voting to Ryan Braun of the timelessly good (playoff team) 2011 Brewers. Braun would be suspended for steroid use that winter and start a firestorm when he accused a test collector of manipulating his pee. Braun would later apologize while Kemp and others called for a reassignment of that MVP.

Perhaps because of the legacy of that dominant 2011, Kemp’s career left many asking for more. Even within 2011 he seemed taken for granted; it just the kind of season Kemp should have been having---and one he’d have many more of. Short of Willie Mays and other GOATs, few achieved those heights, let alone maintained them. Kemp signed a $100 million contract in 2013, over the course of which he’d be the Dodgers centerpierce, an expendable albatross, a Brave, a Padre and then a Dodger again---hitting big World Series homeruns for a team he was never supposed to be on. A dynamo or disappointment depending on one’s view of the glass.

Mike Trout - 2012

.326/.399/.564 - 30 HR - 49 SB

Well here we are at the edge of past tense. Individuals on this list are largely of the past and for MLB, there is only before and after Mike Trout, perhaps the best player to ever play the game. I’d like to say that it wasn’t always that way for Trout, but outside of folks saying “he’s gotta do it for X years,” before they’d acknowledge his greatness, Trout has always been great.

In 2012, Mike Trout was entering his rookie season and still four months shy of turning 21. He didn't play until April 28th but then put on one of the greatest seasons in modern history. Of course, he's followed that up with seven straight cosmically good seasons. In 2012 though, Trout ran wild and at a profoundly efficient rate. 49 steals to only 5 caught stealings. In the 7 years since 2012, Trout has stolen 147 bases--exactly 3x what he did in just 139 games in 2012. His overall play this first year, from home-run robberies in Center to posting a triple slashline capable of leading the league, was considered better by many than Miguel Cabrera, who won the first Batting Triple Crown in 45 years that year. That seriously happened.

Trout's 30 HRs are the most literally far from 40/40, but in this far more aggressive rookie campaign we saw that Trout had the potential to normally put up 40/40 seasons were he so inclined. Perhaps more than any player on this list, Trout has shown the potential to do the 40/40.

Ronald Acuna Jr. - 2019

.280/.365/.518 - 41 HR - 37 SB

And here we are. Like a phoenix from the ashes, Ronald Acuna Jr. returns to the 2022 Braves a champion and still in possession of the cosmically-pure effervescence to vie for a 40/40 season. Acuna's 2019 however was a close miss for the ages. If history repeats itself, he'll never have a better chance due to durability, prudence, or just that reality thing again. Then again, two members here eventually went on to the plane of 40/40. Acuna stole 6 bases in both August and September of '19 after 12 in July. Reality doesn't always care for or have the vision towards a 40/40 season. Even coming off a Rookie of the Year in his 111-game 2018 campaign, Acuna only only attempted 2 stolen bases in April. It's only here where the stat-stuffing of a 40/40 campaign feels like anything perceivable. In hindsight, this is a 40/40 campaign if it were realized as such from the opening bell. Then again, April for young stars is never guaranteed.

Both Acuna and Trout share not only being the lone contemporary players on this would-be ill-fated list, but also their pioneering adherance to the term "youth must be served". Baseball hasn't felt the same since with young stars contributing more and more to their big-league club's output. In the wake of the history before them and the history they've wrought, how large will this Club or the 40/40 one become in the next decade? Do the likes of Michael Trout or Ronald Acuna Jr. have anything left to say in the face of the club's inevitable if not rapid expansion?