Oakland Athletics History: Jose Canseco Founds the 40-40 Club

Joining the 40-40 club is one of the great feats of power and speed in baseball. On this day in 1988, Oakland Athletics star Jose Canseco became the founding member of the club.

Over the years, there have been certain measures of both power and speed in baseball. Hitting over 300 homers and notching 300 steals in a career was one of those accomplishments, a feat accomplished by only eight players in baseball history at this point. In the regular season, there had been the 30-30 club, reserved for those players to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in the same season.

At least, that was the gold standard until 1988. Oakland Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco had become a star, a Rookie of the Year just two seasons ago and one of the premier power hitters in the game. Canseco also had excellent speed, and had stolen double digit bases in each of his first two full seasons in the majors.

In 1988, Canseco combined power and speed in a way that had not been seen before. He continued to slug home runs, but his steals increased dramatically. He surged past the 30-30 club, and with the season winding down, it began to look as though he would create his own group. He did so on this day in the A’s 14 inning victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Entering the game, Canseco had 40 homers and 38 steals. He started off the game quickly, with an infield single in the first, and promptly stole second base. Then, in the top of the fifth, Canseco led off the inning with a bunt single, and stole second for his 40th steal of the season., becoming the first member of the 40-40 club. He would add a home run in the top of the eighth inning, showcasing his all around ability.

In the end, Canseco finished the season with 42 homers and 40 steals. As the founding member of the 40-40 club, his performance was so extraordinary that there was never a question that he would win the MVP award. He earned every first place vote, far outpacing second place Mike Greenwell.

Since then, Canseco has been joined in the 40-40 club. Barry Bonds joined him in 1996, en route to becoming the only member of the 400-400 and 500-500 clubs. Two years later, Alex Rodriguez joined the club, and Alfonso Soriano was the final player to do so, achieving that feat in 2006. Soriano is also considered the only true member of the club, with the other three members having been tainted by PED usage.

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On this day in 1988, Jose Canseco’s stardom reached it’s zenith. The Oakland Athletics outfielder became the founding member of the 40-40 club, doing so with authority.