The sudden death of actress Hayden Panettiere last weekend carried a personal weight for Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong that few fans might have expected.
Crow-Armstrong, currently putting together one of the strongest seasons in baseball, once had the “Heroes” star as his babysitter while growing up in Southern California.
“Hayden Panettiere babysat me. I had the biggest crush on her,” Crow-Armstrong said in a 2022 interview with Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Chicago.
The news of Panettiere’s death on Sunday hit the young outfielder in a way that went beyond the usual celebrity headlines. Their connection stemmed from family ties in the entertainment world long before Crow-Armstrong became a standout at Wrigley Field.
Crow-Armstrong’s mother, actress Ashley Crow, appeared alongside Panettiere in the NBC series “Heroes.” His father, Matthew John Armstrong, built a career with roles in shows such as “American Dreams,” “Turks” and “American Horror Story.”
Despite that Hollywood background, Crow-Armstrong’s parents worked hard to give him a more ordinary upbringing focused on sports rather than the spotlight.
“We didn’t live in Hollywood. We didn’t live under any spotlight,” he told Wittenmyer. “Nothing about my childhood had anything to do with the entertainment business, it felt like, because I think my parents wanted me as far away as possible.”
That decision appears to have paid off on the baseball field. Crow-Armstrong entered the week batting .281 with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs. His 7.7 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference, ranked as the highest in the major leagues.
On Monday night against the crosstown rival White Sox, he delivered a performance for the history books. Crow-Armstrong homered on the first pitch of the game and later ended it with a walk-off two-run shot in the 10th inning at Wrigley Field.
It marked the first time a player had hit home runs on both the first and last pitches of the same contest since Vic Power managed the feat in 1957.
The next day, Crow-Armstrong wasted little time adding to his totals, launching his 31st home run of the season in his first at-bat of the second game of the series.
His strong play has placed him squarely in the National League Most Valuable Player conversation. Many observers see a tight race developing between Crow-Armstrong and Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who has claimed the award the past two seasons.
Crow-Armstrong’s elite defense in center field could prove decisive if the voting remains close. Supporters point to his range and consistency as factors that separate him in a crowded field of candidates.
The Cubs’ solid standing as a team further strengthens his case. Through Monday, the Chicago Cubs held a firm grip on the top National League wild-card spot and trailed the Milwaukee Brewers by just 4.5 games in the NL Central.
For a player who grew up with famous parents yet stayed grounded in athletics, the current success feels like a natural extension of the path his family encouraged. Crow-Armstrong has repeatedly credited that early focus on sports over show business for preparing him for the demands of major league life.
As the season heads into its final stretch, the Chicago Cubs outfielder continues to produce at a high level while the baseball world takes notice of both his on-field dominance and the unexpected personal link to a well-known actress from his childhood.
