Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts’ 30-30 feat proves he’s a special player

In the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader vs the Orioles, Boston Red Sox’s outfielder Mookie Betts did something only one other player in franchise history has ever done.

Mookie Betts, potential AL MVP and arguably one of the two best players the Red Sox have had this year, joined the Boston Red Sox 30-30 club. He follows former centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who accomplished the feat back in 2011.

For those of you who don’t know, the 30-30 club shows off two incredibly different characteristics of a player. In order to achieve the 30-30 honor, you must hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a regular season.

Now, 30 homers and 30 stolen bases, doesn’t sound incredibly hard when you think about it right? I mean, you have 162 games to complete that feat, but only TWO players in franchise history have done it? Why is that?

More from Chowder and Champions

• 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
• 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
• MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
• 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
• Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win

Simple answer: stolen bases and home runs are on opposite sides of the baseball spectrum. To steal 30 bases, fans think of a fast player, typically someone in the outfield built for speed, not necessarily power. 30 home runs is a lot of home runs, even for more of a power hitter. If a player hits 30 home runs, he knows how to put the bat on the ball, and with a little power behind it too.

Now, to combine these stats is a feat of itself. In MLB history, the 30-30 feat has been accomplished 39 other times. Some have even done it multiple times, so the number of individuals who have done this is remarkable.

But honestly, it shows the true character and player that Mookie Betts is. He’s a player who’s always laid under the radar, he doesn’t go for all the money in the world, focuses on his teammates, and ultimately has the team goal in mind – to win a championship.

Manager Alex Cora has been instrumental in helping Betts throughout the year. Most recently, at the beginning of the month Betts hit a slump. Cora decided to sit him down.

"He sat me down and told me to relax,” Betts said. “He (Cora) said you’ve had a great season. He repeatedly tells me, ‘There is no doubt you’re the best player in the league.'”"

After this, Betts went 4-for-5 in the division-clinching game against the New York Yankees.

Mookie Betts is a very severely underrated player. He is the true image of everything a manager looks for in a player, and I can’t say how deserving Betts is of this feat.

Congrats Mookie Betts.