New York Mets exclusive 30-30 club started with a bang in 1987

MLB’s 30-30 club isn’t about an organization of people who were profiled in ESPN documentaries. Nope. It’s about guys who had a year featuring 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. The New York Mets have had three different men reach this milestone. It all started with a bang in 1987.

In 1987, the Mets offense had everything going right for them. They scored their highest run total in franchise history. A lot of it had two do with the entrance of two players onto MLB’s list of players with 30-30 seasons.

Mets 30-30 club began with great seasons from Darryl Strawberry and Howard Johnson

The 1987 season was a big year for power hitters stealing bases. Four different players accomplished the feat.

In Ohio, Joe Carter of the Cleveland Indians and Eric Davis of the Cincinnati Reds both had 30-30 seasons. In New York, the honor was shared by teammates Darryl Strawberry and Howard Johnson.

Strawberry led the Mets with 39 home runs and 36 stolen bases. Johnson, not far behind, had 36 home runs and 32 stolen bases.

Two teammates had never done this together in the same year. The explosion of power and speed from the pair showed everyone that the 1986 championship was no fluke. This team had firepower at the plate to do a lot of damage.

Strawberry would never again have a 30-30 season, but Johnson would do so again in 1989 and for a final time in 1991. He remains the only Mets player to have more than one 30-30 season in his career.

The history of Mets players and 30-30 seasons doesn’t end with HoJo in 1991. In 2007, a certain captain added it to his resume.

With 30 home runs and 34 stolen bases, David Wright became the third member of the Mets to have a 30-30 campaign. It was the first of two seasons in his career of reaching 30 home runs. He would never again achieve a 30 stolen base season.

It takes a uniquely talented player to smack 30 home runs and swipe 30 bags in a single season. It’s not incredibly rare in Major League Baseball. Since 2010, there have been ten seasons of it.

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As tough as it is to achieve, there could be a new candidate in town to do so. Francisco Lindor already had three seasons of 30+ home runs and has gone above 20 stolen bases twice. A few more green lights on the base paths and maybe we get another name added to this list.