The MLB Players Who Rewrote The Record Books For Stolen Bases
In 2023, Major League Baseball instituted sweeping rule changes. As a result, the sport is in the midst of a fever pitch for stolen bases that has only been rivaled once in the history of the organization.
And in case this sounds like an unintended consequence, Sports Illustrated noted that two of the league's updated standards have not only widened the bases but limited the number of pickoff attempts pitchers can make. It remains to be seen how the record books will change as base stealing surges, but these players led their own trends in this now officially-encouraged practice.
Billy Hamilton
By the time "Sliding Billy" Hamilton was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961, he had been deceased for over 20 years, and his name lived in relative obscurity.
But according to the Society For American Baseball Research, his name was well-earned, and his stats spoke for themselves. Although he scored the most runs for a player during the 19th Century, Hamilton really made his name off of his penchant for stealing bases. All told, Hamilton stole 914 bases, which was a record that stood until the 1970s.
Lou Brock
According to Sports Illustrated, the 2023's record-approaching spike in stolen bases echoes a similar trend starting in 1974 that was also influenced by some changes to the game. But while AstroTurf and bigger stadiums had their own effect on the prevailing emphasis on "small ball" plays at the time, the popularity of base stealing at the time can largely be attributed to Lou Brock.
That season alone, Brock set a record with 118 stolen bases, and the Society For American Baseball Research credited him for breaking Hamilton's stolen bases record with a career total of 938.
Tim Raines
Tim Raines could rival Lou Brock in terms of batting average, hits, runs, and even stolen bases, as his 808 steals could be reasonably compared to the record-setters.
However, Bleacher Report explained Raine's road to Hall of Famer status was a long and winding one due to spending the bulk of his career on the Montreal Expos, a "middling" Canadian team that has since become the Washington Nationals. Fortunately, the Toronto Blue Jays reported that Raines was inducted into Canada's Hall of Fame in 2013, and ESPN reported he would receive this honor in America four years later.
Arlie Latham
According to the Society For American Baseball Research, Arlie Latham was an unlikely star whose rambunctious, comedic behavior on the field earned him a reputation as the Clown Prince of baseball. Although he drove his team's owner crazy, Latham's antics delighted fans in the late 19th century who affectionately called him "The Dude" and "The Freshest Man on Earth."
Nonetheless, he was in the majors for a reason, as he stole 129 bases in 1887 alone and amassed an impressive career total of at least 742 stolen bases.
Ty Cobb
Among baseball fans, Ty Cobb is infamous for being one of the most vile human beings in the history of the sport, as neither his teammates, the media, nor even the fans were spared his wrath. But his abilities during his career that spanned from 1905 to 1928 did a lot to demonstrate why the management of the Detroit Tigers was willing to put up with him for so long.
Baseball-Reference.com reported that Cobb stole 897 bases throughout his career, which earns him the distinction of having the fourth-most stolen bases in the history of the MLB. Even more amazingly, Bleacher Report explained that he's credited for stealing home plate a record 54 times during his run. It's incredibly rare for a player to do that even once.
Rickey Henderson
According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Ricky Henderson set a series of all-time records during his career, especially during his time with the Oakland Athletics. His impressive all-time record for runs scored (2,129) was part of what earned him his reputation as the greatest leadoff hitter of all time.
And just as hard to beat is his still-standing stolen base record, as he broke Ty Cobb's record for stolen bases in one season during his first year in the MLB and would go on to steal an incomparable 1,406 bases throughout his career. As his teammate Mitchell Page once said, "When you see Rickey Henderson, I don't care when, the score's already 1-0. If he's with you, that's great. If he's not, you won't like it."
Vince Coleman
According to the Society For American Baseball Research, Vince Coleman was an intimidating presence for pitchers throughout his career, as it was considered unusual when he didn't have at least 100 stolen bases in a given season.
And while his stealing numbers and overall career would eventually see a downturn, Coleman had gathered enough momentum that he was able to close out his time in the MLB with an impressive 752 bases stolen.
Eddie Collins
According to the National Baseball Hall Of Fame, Eddie Collins' induction in 1939 came after a landmark career that saw him excel both in eras that emphasized small ball plays and periods that favored showy home runs. His incredible versatility made him one of the only players in history to score 3,000 hits, maintain a .400 on-base percentage, and steal at least 500 bases.
In fact, Collins would steal a total of 741 bases, and his honorable playing made him one of the few Chicago White Sox members to emerge from the 1919 Black Sox scandal unscathed.
Ozzie Smith
In addition to crediting Ozzie Smith for an all-time record of assists from a shortstop, The National Baseball Hall Of Fame logged 580 stolen bases by the 2002 inductee.
As fellow Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry once said of Smith, "I saw him as a rookie in San Diego. I was always hoping they would hit the ball his way because I knew then that my trouble was over."
Max Carey
According to the National Baseball Hall Of Fame, Max Carey's 1961 induction was largely awarded off the strength of his base stealing, which also earned him the nickname "Scoops." Between the 1890s and the 1920s, Carey stole 738 bases, which set a National League record.
And while Bleacher Report established that nobody stole home more times than Ty Cobb, Carey came in a respectable second place for this incredibly rare honor by stealing home plate 33 times. Sportswriter Joe Williams said, "He was just as fast between the ears as he was with his feet. That's what made him harder to stop than a run in a silk stocking."
Joe Morgan
Although Joe Morgan seemed to draw the ire of fans, fellow teammates, and opponents throughout his career, he was able to keep his head down and play through the friction. As the Society For American Baseball Research chronicled, he was such an impressive infielder and hitter that he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990, the first year he was eligible for the honor.
And he was a hard man to catch when he was on base as well since Baseball-Reference.com credited him for 689 stolen bases throughout his career.
Kenny Lofton
Back when the Cleveland Guardians were known as the Indians, Kenny Loften built an impressive resume over the course of his ten seasons with them. According to Call To The Pen, he maintained a respectable batting average, made six All-Star teams, and was a four-time Gold Glove award-winner for his defensive playing.
Yet perhaps the biggest feather in his cap is the fact that he stole 622 bases throughout his career, which means he led the American League in steals for five years during the '90s. Better yet, he led the MLB in general for stolen bases in 1993, 1994, and 1996.
George Davis
In life, George Davis was about as far from a household name as a baseball player can get. According to the National Baseball Hall Of Fame, it was only through historians' passionate and persistent defense of his merits that Davis was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998, almost a century after his career.
But considering his outstanding fielding record, his respectable .295 batting average, his status as one of the best shortstops in the history of the game, and his career total of 619 stolen bases, it's not hard to see why those historians argued his case so strongly.
Willie Wilson
Although the National Baseball Hall Of Fame noted that Willie Wilson had initially intended to play football, the Alabama-born outfielder would end up making quite the name for himself on the Kansas City Royals alongside similar multi-sport wunderkind Bo Jackson.
All told, he scored 1,169 runs and maintained a .285 batting average throughout his career. And once he got on base, Wilson's speed allowed him to rack up an impressive 668 stolen bases. In his words, "Speed makes the other team adjust to you. There's no doubt about it: Speed irritates."
Tom Brown
Given the relative lack of information about Tom Brown, it would seem that the British-born outfielder was a relative journeyman within the baseball world of the late 19th Century.
But while the 1,524 runs and .265 career batting average Baseball-Reference.com attributes to Brown indicates he was a good all-around player, he particularly stands out for the 658 bases he stole during his time in the majors.
Bert Campaneris
The Society For American Baseball Research described Bert Campaneris as a quiet person, but his unassuming nature served him well as he had a habit of laying much of the groundwork for the Oakland Athletics' three world championships during the 1970s.
Part of this came from his solid hitting record, but his real danger was his speed after those hits were achieved, as Baseball-Reference.com credited him for 649 stolen bases throughout his career.
Honus Wagner
According to the National Baseball Hall Of Fame, Honus Wagner was such a versatile player that he played every possible position on the field except for a catcher throughout his career. And by the time of his retirement after the 1917 season, he had amassed 3,420 hits and 1,739 runs with a career batting average of .328.
And Wagner's feet were as skilled as his hands because he was also able to steal 723 bases during that time. In the words of legendary manager John McGraw, Wagner was "the nearest thing to a perfect player no matter where his manager chose to play him."
Otis Nixon
As a sad item from Bleacher Report made clear, Otis Nixon's MLB career saw his serious professional potential undermined by some persistent personal demons. And the early '90s all but served as a microcosm for Nixon's duality.
After all, his legendary game-saving catch against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1992 National League Championship Series came just a year after he was suspended for 60 games due to substance issues. But he was just as dangerous on base as he was in the outfield, as Nixon has 620 stolen bases to his name.
Bid McPhee
Although the Society For American Baseball Research described John Alexander "Bid" McPhee as having a rough start to his career, he would go on to become perhaps the greatest second-baseman of the 19th Century.
And as unthinkable as it likely seems to modern baseball players, he did so bare-handed despite the availability of baseball gloves at the time. He also managed to rack up 568 stolen bases despite Major League Baseball not even keeping official records of the practice until 1886. He was just that well-known for it.
Juan Pierre
According to Bleacher Report, Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald described Juan Pierre as "one of [the] most dedicated players I've ever covered" when news of the outfielder's retirement broke in 2015. And Pierre's talent matched his initiative, as he's considered instrumental in the Florida Marlins' 2003 World Series victory.
And that was no fluke, as Pierre was able to amass 1,075 runs and maintain a .295 career batting average while racking up 614 stolen bases.
Billy Hoy
According to the History Channel, William "Dummy" Hoy was the second deaf player in the history of Major League Baseball but achieved the success that his predecessor could only dream of.
By the time he retired in 1902, Hoy had amassed 2,048 hits, 725 runs batted in, and stole 596 bases. And while his condition sadly brought him a great deal of adversity throughout his career, he also made many friends among his teammates and was known to teach them sign language.
Maury Wills
As CBS Sports reported, Los Angeles Dodgers legend Maury Wills brought base stealing back into fashion throughout his 14-year career, which ended just before the practice's big fever pitch in the 1970s. He stole 586 bases in all, and during the 1960 season, the shortstop became the first National League player to steal 50 bases in a single season since Max Carey.
However, despite appearing on the Hall of Fame ballot 16 times since his retirement, the late great player has yet to receive enough support for induction.
George Van Haltren
George Van Haltren has an unusual legacy of being one of Major League Baseball's most underrated players. And according to the National Pastime Museum, the issue that dogged his career was that the impressive aspects of his career were overshadowed by other, more popular stars at the time.
So while he ended his career with a .316 batting average, 1,642 runs, and 538 stolen bases, he still has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Sadly, even his impressive base-stealing was outshone by "Sliding" Billy Hamilton at the time.
Hugh Duffy
The National Baseball Hall of Fame identified Hugh Duffy as achieving more hits, runs, and runs batted in than any other player during the 1890s, which made him and fellow "Heavenly Twin" Tommy McCarthy an unstoppable force that led the Boston Beaneaters to the pennant and to World Series victories in 1892 and 1893.
While the 1894 season saw Duffy break a record with his .440 batting average, his career average of .326 was just as worthy of his Hall of Fame induction in 1945. So were his 574 stolen bases.
Brett Butler
Although the Not In Hall Of Fame website noted that Brett Butler only made one All-Star team appearance in 1991, the long-time Atlanta Braves centerfielder had an impressive 13-year streak that saw him steal at least 25 bases per season.
He also led the National League in runs in 1988 and in hits in 1990, amassing 2,357 hits and maintaining a .290 batting average throughout his career. As for his base-stealing streak, Butler would end up claiming 558 bases the hard way throughout his career.
Davey Lopes
By highlighting Davey Lopes' four consecutive All-Star team appearances, Gold Glove award, a team record for hitting as a second baseman, and MLB record for most consecutive stolen bases, the Society For American Baseball Research made a compelling case for his status as the best second baseman in L.A. Dodgers history.
And while other legendary base stealers like Maury Wills, Lou Brock, and Rickey Henderson may have more total bases stolen than Lopes' 557, none of them have a better ratio for doing it without getting caught than he does.
César Cedeño
According to the Society For American Baseball Research, César Cedeño had already had back-to-back seasons where he hit 20 home runs and stole 50 bases apiece while maintaining a .320 batting average by the age of 22. As a batter and a centerfielder, Cedeño was considered good enough to invite comparisons to Willie Mays and popular enough that the Astrodome was nicknamed "César's Palace" during his run.
And while Baseball-Reference.com noted that his career batting average would level out to .28, he didn't slow down once he got on base because his career total for stolen bases was 550.
Bill Dahlen
According to the Society For American Baseball Research, Bill Dahlen was known as "Bad Bill" due to his on-field temperament that led umpires to eject him from 65 games throughout his career as a player and even as a manager. Unfortunately for him, this infamous reputation had a way of overshadowing his remarkable athletic achievements.
In hindsight, Dahlen is considered one of the best fielders of the late 19th Century and early 20th Century and proved himself as a reliable hitter. But the skill that best fit his hot-headed personality was his aggressive baserunning, as he stole 548 bases throughout his career.
John Ward
As a player, the National Baseball Hall of Fame credits John Ward for his exceptional pitching and infielding, as he was the second player in MLB to pitch a perfect game. He was also a respectable batter who scored 1,410 runs and achieved a career batting average of .275. His total of 540 stolen bases proved he was no slouch on base, either.
But more important than Ward's playing was his advocacy for players' rights, as he formed the first-ever players union in 1885 and successfully fought a widespread contract clause that shackled players to one team for their careers.
Herman Long
According to the Society For American Baseball Research, Herman Long's most dubious honor concerned the fact that he was marked as committing the most errors of any player in MLB history, with a total of 1,100.
However, fans couldn't care less about his mistakes because Long shone just as often as he faltered and remains in the top ten in triples, runs, hits, RBIs, and games played for what are now the Atlanta Braves. On top of that, he still leads the franchise in stolen bases with what Baseball-reference.com logged as a total of 537 despite having passed away over a century ago.
