Versatile crop of players could join 30-30 club

By Mark Newman / MLB.com | 08/30/11 10:00 AM ET

Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp joined Major League Baseball's 30-30 Club over the weekend, and a handful of players on contenders have a chance to do the same.

As we wait to see whether Ryan Braun of the Brewers, Curtis Granderson of the Yankees, Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox and Ian Kinsler of the Rangers can join Kemp, just talking about the subject makes one realize how much a once-rare achievement became taken for granted.

There was no 30-30 member in 2010, the first time that happened since 1986 (excluding the shortened 1994 season). Add that as yet another legacy of 2010's "Year of the Pitcher."

Multiple 30-30 seasons

Player	Times
Barry Bonds	5
Bobby Bonds	5
Alfonso Soriano	4
Howard Johnson	3
Bobby Abreu	2
Vladimir Guerrero	2
Raul Mondesi	2
Jeff Bagwell	2
Sammy Sosa	2
Ron Gant	2
Willie Mays	2

The most 30-30 members in a season was four, accomplished in the 1996-97 and 1987 seasons. There were three in 2007 -- Brandon Phillips, Jimmy Rollins and David Wright. Could 2011 go down as one of those years? Will playing for contenders mean less opportunity because of possible resting of regulars if clubs involved clinch postseason berths early?

And don't forget that this regular season ends on Sept. 28, so you don't have those final three days on that calendar month to include, thanks to the season's early start.

Here is a look at the remaining 30-30 possibles, with stats entering the week:

Braun: 25 home runs, 30 stolen bases
He stole four bases last week to take care of that category -- Braun's first time reaching that plateau -- but has gone six games without a homer. Braun had four homers in June, five in July and has four so far in August, so he's on pace to get there. The big question is how much Braun will play in September, with Milwaukee running away with the National League Central.

30-30 seasons

Name	Team	Year	HR	SB
Matt Kemp	Dodgers	2011	31	33
Ian Kinsler	Rangers	2009	31	30
Hanley Ramirez	Marlins	2008	33	35
Grady Sizemore	Indians	2008	33	38
Brandon Phillips	Reds	2007	30	32
Jimmy Rollins	Phillies	2007	30	41
David Wright	Mets	2007	30	34
Alfonso Soriano	Nationals	2006	46	41
Alfonso Soriano	Rangers	2005	36	30
Carlos Beltran	Royals/Astros	2004	38	42
Bobby Abreu	Phillies	2004	30	40
Alfonso Soriano	Yankees	2003	38	35
Alfonso Soriano	Yankees	2002	39	41
Vladimir Guerrero	Expos	2002	39	40
Vladimir Guerrero	Expos	2001	34	37
Jose Cruz Jr.	Blue Jays	2001	34	32
Bobby Abreu	Phillies	2001	31	36
Preston Wilson	Marlins	2000	31	36
Raul Mondesi	Dodgers	1999	33	36
Jeff Bagwell	Astros	1999	42	30
Alex Rodriguez	Mariners	1998	42	46
Shawn Green	Blue Jays	1998	35	35
Larry Walker	Rockies	1997	49	33
Raúl Mondesi	Dodgers	1997	30	32
Barry Bonds	Giants	1997	40	37
Jeff Bagwell	Astros	1997	43	31
Barry Larkin	Reds	1996	33	36
Ellis Burks	Rockies	1996	40	32
Barry Bonds	Giants	1996	42	40
Dante Bichette	Rockies	1996	31	31
Sammy Sosa	Cubs	1995	36	34
Barry Bonds	Giants	1995	33	31
Sammy Sosa	Cubs	1993	33	36
Barry Bonds	Pirates	1992	34	39
Howard Johnson	Mets	1991	38	30
Ron Gant	Braves	1991	32	34
Ron Gant	Braves	1990	32	33
Barry Bonds	Pirates	1990	33	52
Howard Johnson	Mets	1989	36	41
Jose Canseco	Athletics	1988	42	40
Darryl Strawberry	Mets	1987	39	36
Howard Johnson	Mets	1987	36	32
Eric Davis	Reds	1987	37	50
Joe Carter	Indians	1987	32	31
Dale Murphy	Braves	1983	36	30
Bobby Bonds	White Sox/Rangers	1978	31	43
Bobby Bonds	Angels	1977	37	41
Bobby Bonds	Yankees	1975	32	30
Bobby Bonds	Giants	1973	39	43
Tommy Harper	Brewers	1970	31	38
Bobby Bonds	Giants	1969	32	45
Hank Aaron	Braves	1963	44	31
Willie Mays	Giants	1957	35	38
Willie Mays	Giants	1956	36	40
Ken Williams	Browns	1922	39	37

Granderson: 38 home runs, 24 stolen bases
Like Braun, Granderson never had stolen 30 bases entering this season. That's the only question now that he is contending for a home run title. The center fielder stole six bags in May and six in June, then five in July and another five so far in August. Granderson may be likelier than Braun, because a Red Sox-Yankees race to the finish would mean little chance of Granderson resting.

Ellsbury: 23 home runs, 36 stolen bases
Does he have enough time left to hit seven homers? Lest you count him out, remember that Ellsbury hit eight homers in July and another six so far in this month. A last-week push for a division title could keep him firmly in the lineup.

Kinsler: 21 home runs, 22 stolen bases
Probably the least likely of these four candidates to join Kemp, because he not only has to show power and speed, but also has to exceed any previous month in 2011. Kinsler's top splits are five homers (April, July and August) and six steals in May. If the Rangers can pull away from the Angels, his chances could deteriorate.

"This is something I worked hard for in the offseason," Kemp said after joining the club on Friday, joining Raul Mondesi (1997 and '99) as the only Dodgers to do it. "Raul Mondesi was a great Dodger, and that is a big part of this. It's pretty special. To do it here at home, that makes it more special."

The 30-30 Club was "founded" by Ken Williams, who slugged 39 homers and stole 37 bases for the St. Louis Browns over 153 games in 1922. It would not happen again until 1956, when Willie Mays of the Giants became the first National Leaguer to reach the plateau (also in '57).

The 30-30 Club by decade:

2000-09: 17 times. That included the 2004 combined effort of Carlos Beltran, who had 38 homers (15 with Kansas City and 23 with Houston) and 42 steals (14 and 28, respectively).

1990-99: 20. Again, with no chance in 1994 due to labor issues. Not surprising that the record was set in this decade, when offensive production soared to extremes.

1980-89: 7. Joe Carter was 29-29 in 1986, the last year there were no 30-30 members until 2010.

1970-79: 5. Four of those were by Bobby Bonds (1973, '75, '77-78), who would pave the way for son Barry, who would do it five times. Bobby Bonds also did it in 1969.

1960-69: 2. In addition to Bobby Bonds, Hank Aaron got there in 1963 with 44 homers and 31 steals. It was the only time The Hammer stole at least 30 bases. With Maury Wills and then Lou Brock leading the way, stolen bases were just coming into real vogue.

What about Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who stole more bases and hit more leadoff homers than anyone? His single-season high for homers was 28, with the Yankees in 1986 and the A's in '90.

Mark Newman is enterprise editor of MLB.com. Read and join other baseball fans on his MLB.com community blog. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.