Most MLB stolen bases in a season

With stolen bases lastly coming again to baseball, we thought it was a very good time to take a look at probably the most MLB stolen bases in a season.

Again within the day, even earlier than there have been guidelines to scale back pickoff throws, stolen bases had been a standard prevalence. On high of that, gamers with probably the most stolen bases had been valued appropriately. Hopefully, these days are coming again, probably placing the stolen bases report in jeopardy.

Most MLB stolen bases in a season

Naturally, a listing of probably the most MLB stolen bases in a season consists of among the fastest MLB players ever. Nevertheless it additionally consists of among the greatest baseball players ever.

In any case, stealing bases isn’t all the time as straightforward because it appears to be like. That’s why we felt it was applicable to listing the gamers with probably the most stolen bases in a single season. Due to this fact, right here is an official rating (as of 2023) of probably the most MLB stolen bases in a season.

T10. Billy Hamilton, 102 (1890)

Fashionable baseball followers in all probability know a unique Billy Hamilton. For what it’s price, the Billy Hamilton who broke into the large leagues in 2013 was additionally fairly the speedster. He simply by no means bought on base continuously sufficient to guide the majors in stolen bases.

Nonetheless, the Billy Hamilton who performed from 1888 to 1901 led the Nationwide League in stolen bases 5 occasions, together with the 1890 season when he reached 102 stolen bases. For what it’s price, Hamilton additionally gained two batting titles throughout his profession, so he was on base and had lots of alternatives to steal bases. In the end, he completed his profession with a .344 common and 912 stolen bases.

T10. Jim Fogarty, 102 (1887)

Not a lot is understood about Jim Fogarty, however do know that he had 102 stolen bases in 1887, though that wasn’t sufficient to guide the league as a result of one other participant on our listing had extra.

Nonetheless, Fogarty would lead the Nationwide League in stolen bases two years later in 1889 whereas enjoying for the Philadelphia Quakers. Sadly, Fogarty died in Might 1891 of tuberculosis, chopping each his life and profession brief.

9. Maury Wills, 104 (1962)

For six straight seasons from 1960 to 1965, Maury Wills led the Nationwide League in stolen bases. He did in order the shortstop for the Dodgers, turning into the staff’s long-term reply after PeeWee Reese retired.

His 104 stolen bases in 1962 was a modern-era report that stood for over a decade. Setting that report additionally helped Wills to win MVP honors in 1962. He additionally gained a Gold Glove that 12 months and is arguably one of the crucial ignored gamers in Dodgers historical past.

8. Vince Coleman, 107 (1986)

Spoiler alert, this gained’t be the final time we see Vince Coleman on this listing. In actual fact, exterior of the 2 gamers on the high of this listing, Coleman is arguably the most effective base stealer in MLB historical past.

He’s certainly among the many quickest gamers to ever play the sport. The 1986 season was simply his second within the majors, as Coleman started his profession with three straight seasons with over 100 stolen bases, an accomplishment that looks like it occurred in an alternate universe in comparison with at present’s sport.

7. Rickey Henderson, 108 (1983)

We’ll study extra about Rickey Henderson’s record-setting 1982 season later. However his follow-up season in 1983 was additionally one for the ages. Henderson led the American League in each stolen bases and walks that season.

That grew to become the fourth season that Henderson led the AL in stolen bases, one thing he would finally do 12 occasions in his profession. It was additionally the third time that Henderson posted a minimum of 100 walks, 100 stolen bases, and 100 runs scored. Remember the fact that no different participant throughout the fashionable period has completed that feat greater than as soon as, making 1983 a particular season for Henderson.

6. Vince Coleman, 109 (1987)

That is Coleman’s second look on this listing, though it gained’t be his final.

As talked about, he started his profession with 100-plus stolen bases in three straight seasons. However Coleman additionally led the Nationwide League in stolen bases in every of his first six seasons. Solely three different gamers have led the league in steals for six straight seasons, placing Coleman in unique firm. 

5. Vince Coleman, 110 (1985) 

That is the third and closing season from Coleman that seems on this listing. The factor that’s particular about his 110 stolen bases in 1985 is that Coleman was a rookie. He didn’t make his MLB debut till the eighth sport of the season after which proceeded to steal 110 bases.

These 110 steals had been sufficient to make Coleman Rookie of the Yr and place eleventh in MVP voting. As we all know, Coleman stole greater than 100 bases in every of the following two seasons, though he by no means managed to surpass the 110 he amassed as a rookie.

T3. Billy Hamilton, 111 (1889 and 1891)

Throughout each the 1889 and 1891 seasons, Hamilton was credited with stealing 111 bases. Clearly, Hamilton performed a a lot totally different model of baseball than the one we see at present, as stolen bases are considered in a different way and credited a bit in a different way. However the numbers say he was among the finest of all time.

After his profession was over, when {a magazine} tried to discredit a few of his stolen base data, Hamilton defended himself, saying: “I used to be and would be the best base stealer of all time. I stole over 100 bases on a few years and in the event that they ever re-count the report I’ll get my simply reward.”

T3. John Montgomery Ward, 111 (1887)

Simply two years earlier than Hamilton stole 111 bases in a season, John Montgomery Ward was credited with reaching that very same mark. Ward was one of many nice gamers of the nineteenth century. He performed a mess of positions, together with pitcher, and was additionally a player-manager for many of his profession.

He even pitched an ideal sport in 1880, so his stolen base numbers are the least of what he completed throughout his profession, particularly since they weren’t even stored for the primary half of his profession. Fortuitously, Ward was finally put within the Corridor of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1964 in order that he could be remembered for his accomplishments.

2. Lou Brock, 118 (1974)

It’s actually unlucky that Lou Brock can’t maintain this report. He was actually one of many nice folks and gamers of his period, particularly when it got here to working the bases.

Amongst his accomplishments throughout a Corridor of Fame profession was main the Nationwide League in stolen bases eight occasions in a nine-year span. For 12 straight seasons, Brock stole over 50 bases, together with the 1974 season when he set the report with 118 stolen bases whereas being MVP runner-up to Steve Garvey.

1. Rickey Henderson, 130 (1982)

The gold normal for stolen bases belongs to Henderson, and that’s seemingly the best way it’ll keep for a very long time. He swiped 130 bases throughout the 1982 season, breaking the report that Brock set lower than a decade earlier. By the all-star break in 1982, Henderson had already stolen 84 bases.

In at present’s sport, 82 stolen bases in a full season are nearly onerous to think about, but Henderson was there in the course of the season. In different phrases, Henderson’s report of 130 stolen bases in a single season will in all probability by no means be damaged.

The identical could be mentioned of his 1,406 profession stolen bases and even his 2,295 profession runs scored. Keep in mind that Henderson was a first-ballot Corridor of Famer in 2009 and can lengthy be remembered because the best leadoff hitter in MLB history along with being the all-time and single-season stolen base king.