Thrifty Thursday (Friday Edition)

MLB's most exclusive club, the 40/40 club!

On August 23^rd this year, Shohei Ohtani stole his 40^th base and hit a walk-off grand slam for his 40^th home run, making him the 6^th member of the 40/40 club.  While performing double duties as a pitcher and DH, he never got more than 26 stolen bases, but the additional at bats as an exclusive DH this season seem to be helping his numbers all around with stolen bases and home runs.  As of September 5^th, he is sitting on 44 HR and 46 stolen bases.  I have no doubt he will get to 50 stolen bases, so if he can get hot and get those last 6 HRs in the final 22 games, he will form the club.  This is doable, and likely, and I cannot wait to see it.  For now, though, let’s take a look at the other 5 members of baseball most exclusive club, the 40/40 club.

Jose Canseco (1988): On September 23, 1988, Jose Canseco became the first ever 40/40 club member.  On that day, he stole two bases to give him 40 to go with his 40 HRs (he also hit #41 and 42 that day).  He finished the season with those exact number to go along with a .307 batting average.  He eclipsed the 40 HR total twice more in his career but never got above 30 stolen bases again. 

Canseco’s first Topps cards is the 1986 Topps Traded #20T which can be found raw (in good condition) on eBay for under $5.  His 1987 Topps #620 (all-star gold cup) card can be found raw (in good condition) on eBay for under $3.  There will always be debate on the true rookie card, but the good news is you can get both for under $8.

1986 Topps Trade 20T Jose Canseco

Barry Bonds (1996):  Barry Bonds may be one of baseballs most complete players ever, and arguably he should have more than one appearance in the 40/40 club.  In 1990, 1992, and 1995 he made the 30/30.  Finally in 1996, Bonds became the second ever to join the 40/40 club and he came close to repeating the feat in 1997 but finished 3 stolen bases shy. 

Bonds, like Canseco, has cards in the 1986 Topps Traded set and the 1987 set.  The Bonds 1986 Topps Traded #11T can be found on eBay for under $10 and the 1987 Topps #320 can be found for under $5, both in good condition.  Like Canseco, I recommend getting both for your collection.

1987 Topps #320 Barry Bonds

Alex Rodriguez (1998):  A-Rod had a phenomenal 3^rd season hitting 42 HRs and stealing 46 bases to join the club.  While he eclipsed the 40 HR plateau many times in his career, 1998 was the only season he had over 40 stolen bases and aside from that season, he never even eclipsed the 30 stolen base mark. 

Like Canseco and Bonds, A-Rod has an interesting card history.  His rookie card is considered the 1994 Upper Deck SP #15, which can be found raw on eBay in the $15-$20 range.  Topps, however, did not produce a card for A-Rod until 1998.  The 1998 Topps #504 can be found on eBay for less than $2.  Again, I would recommend adding both to your collection.

1994 Upper Deck SP #15 Alex Rodriguez

Alfonso Soriano (2006): During Soriano’s only season in Washington, he joined the club by swiping 41 bags and hitting 46 HRs.  He came up just short in 2002 when he stole 41 bases but only hit 39 HRs while with the Yankees. 

Soriano has a rookie card in the 1999 Topps Traded set, #T65 that sells for under $3 on eBay.  He also has a Topps prospect card in the 1999 set, #203 that sells for under $2.

1999 Topps Trade #T65 Alfonso Soriano

Ronald Acuna Jr (2023): In 2019, Acuna Jr hit 41 HRs but came up just short with 37 stolen bases.  Injuries and a shortened 2020 season were no match for Acuna however in 2023 when he made a splash appearance with 41 HRs and 73 stolen bases.  He seems destined to join again if he can stay healthy and I hope he does. 

Acuna Jr’s 2019 Topps Update Series #US250 sells on eBay raw in the $10-$15 range.

2019 Topps Update Series #US250 Ronald Acuna Jr

While Shohei is already a member of this exclusive club, I am not listing him yet as I anticipate a special Thrifty Thursday just for him when he forms the 50/50 club later this season.  For now, if you are willing to spend around $65 you can make a pretty cool 40/40 card collection that would include 2 cards each of Canseco, Bonds, Rodriguez, and Soriano as well as the Acuna Jr update rookie card.