Jose Ramirez leads the AL in both home runs and steals

The last time a player lead both categories for a whole season was in 1932.

Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez hit another home run on Friday night, adding to his stellar season. At the moment, the 25-year-old switch hitter is tied for the American League lead in both home runs and stolen bases.

The live ball era began in 1920, giving us nearly 99 seasons of baseball history since to work with. Yet only one person in that time has led his league in both home runs and steals — Chuck Klein, an outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies who hit 38 home runs and swiped 20 bags in 1932.

Ramirez was a breakout star in Cleveland’s 102-win campaign in 2017, hitting .318/.374/.583 with 29 home runs and 56 doubles, all while playing stellar defense at both third base and second base, switching between positions as needed. He finished third in AL MVP voting.

This year Ramirez has been entrenched at third and has turned things up a notch. He matched last year’s career high in home runs on July 14 — before the All-Star break! — and after Friday’s performance is hitting .303/.414/.640.

His 37 home runs match J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox. Ramirez told reporters this week, “I really hope that J.D. hits 200 home runs this year,” and then Ramirez was asked how many would try to hit. “300,” Ramirez said.

The 27 stolen bases for Ramirez has him even with Dee Gordon of the Seattle Mariners. It’s five more steals than Ramirez had in 2016, his previous career best.

Ramirez might not finish the year atop both categories, but that he is even in the running with six weeks left in the season is amazing by itself.

Though Klein was the last player to in both home runs and steals — his 38 dingers were tied with Mel Ott in 1932 — others have at least threatened. Willie Mays led the National League in home runs four times and in stolen bases five times, but never in the same year.

Bobby Bonds finished in the top five in both categories twice (1973, 1977), and his son Barry Bonds did the same (1990, 1996). Mickey Mantle was in the top five in home runs and steals in three straight years (1957-59), and Eric Davis was in the top five in both 1986 and 1987.

The last major league player to finish in the top five in both home runs and steals was Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011, leading the NL with 39 home runs and finishing tied for second in steals with 40.

There hasn’t been a 30-30 season in baseball since Mike Trout and Ryan Braun in 2012.

Just three more steals is all Ramirez needs to hit that plateau, which would be another accomplishment in his fantastic season.