What's The Most Famous Stolen Base In MLB History?
We look at some of the most iconic steals in Major League history and call out a few recent stolen base achievements.
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Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
. . . Though Rickey Henderson is far and away the all-time MLB leader in stolen bases, Kenny Lofton holds the record for most career steals in the postseason with 34.
. . . Trea Turner joined an exclusive list when he stole 41 consecutive bases without being caught from Sept. 6, 2022, to April 24, 2024, which is the third-longest such streak in MLB history. Vince Coleman holds that record, stealing 50 consecutive bases without being caught from Sept. 18, 1988, to July 26, 1989.
. . . Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is leading the Majors by a wide margin with 45 steals so far this year entering play on Tuesday (Brewers second baseman Brice Turang is second with 29). De La Cruz is on pace for over 70 stolen bases and is the first player with at least 14 homers, five triples and 40 stolen bases before the All-Star break since the first All-Star Game back in 1933. He also set a Reds record for stolen bases before the All-Star break and has a four-hit, four-steal game on his ledger in 2024. Fittingly, De La Cruz earned his first All-Star selection a couple of days ago.
Leading Off
The Most Famous Stolen Base In MLB History
By Mark Kolier
My son Gordon and I recently did a podcast on the evolution of stolen bases. We discussed the most famous stolen base in baseball history. It’s a subjective claim obviously, and maybe it’s easier to describe the worst failed stolen base in MLB history. That must be New York Yankee Babe Ruth’s futile attempt to steal second base in Game 7 of the 1926 World Series, which was won by the St. Louis Cardinals.
At the time it was not seen as an egregious mistake by the Bambino. Ruth was not even charged with a “caught stealing.” Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander blew a fastball by Bob Meusel, and many felt it was a botched hit-and-run play. A perfect throw from Bob O’Farrell to Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby ended the World Series. Three future Hall of Fame players involved in the same play!
Another famous steal was a steal of home by Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1955 World Series vs. the Yankees. The grainy video of Jackie sliding in under Yogi Berra’s tag, (Yogi went to his grave saying Robinson was out), and Yogi throwing a tantrum is one of the more memorable moments in baseball history. Whitey Ford was the Yankee pitcher, so again, three future HOFers involved in one play! The play did not result in a Dodger victory in Game 1, but “Dem Bums” did finally win their elusive first World Series that year. It is one of only five successful straight steals of home in World Series history.
Pause For The Hall Of Famers In The ’55 World Series
Earlier in that same game, Billy Martin tried to steal home but was tagged out by future HOFer Roy Campanella. There were nine future Hall of Famers that played in the 1955 World Series. Five Dodgers – Campanella, Robinson, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, and Duke Snider. Four Yankees – Ford, Mickey Mantle, Phil Rizzuto, and Berra. It could have been 10, as Sandy Koufax pitched for the Dodgers that season but not in the World Series.
Another Famous Steal
Another famous stolen base was a steal of two bases on one play by the Yankees’ Johnny Damon. It was in the 2009 World Series vs. the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies. It came in a tie game in the ninth inning of Game 4 and was critical in helping the Yankees gain a three-games-to one lead in the most recent World Series they’ve won. After the Phillies’ Pedro Feliz tied the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, with two outs Damon singled off closer Brad Lidge. On the next pitch, Damon took off for second noticing nobody was covering third base due to a shift on Mark Teixeira, so he continued to the unoccupied base! Damon later scored on Alex Rodriguez’s double and the Yankees ended up winning the game, 7-4. They’d go on to win the World Series in six games.
Big Regular-Season Steal
You’d think the most famous steals would happen in the playoffs and the World Series. That’s true for the most part, but not always.
In 1991, Rickey Henderson started the season two steals short of Lou Brock’s all-time record of 938. On May 1, Rickey walked to lead off the first inning but was cut down attempting to steal by Yankees catcher Matt Nokes. Man, the Yankees sure show up a lot in this account!
Henderson had tied Brock on April 28, (he started the season a bit injured), and when he got reached on an error in the fourth inning on May 1, he moved to second on a single and then did what he did so many times, stealing third base to set the career record for stolen bases. It’s a record Henderson holds by a large margin today, as he ended his career with 1,406 stolen bases.
Since the Yankees show up so much when it comes to famous stolen base situations, the most famous steal of all time must follow suit. It wasn’t in the World Series, but it made all the difference in getting there and changing the mojo.
2004 ALCS Yankees vs. Red Sox – The Most Famous Steal In MLB History
It looked hopeless. Down three games to none, and three outs away from being swept, the Red Sox “Curse of the Bambino” was set to endure. On the mound for New York was the greatest closer of all time in HOFer Mariano Rivera. A walk to Kevin Millar to lead off the ninth inning led to pinch-runner extraordinaire Dave Roberts (38 steals in 41 attempts on the season) entering the game. Everyone in the ballpark knew Roberts would try to steal second base.
Roberts had come over to Boston from the Dodgers – the team he manages today – earlier in the season. On the second pitch, after three pick-off attempts by Rivera, Roberts took off and slid head-first ahead of the tag from HOFer Derek Jeter. Bill Mueller then singled in Roberts and the Red Sox became unstoppable, winning that game on a walk-off homer by HOFer David Ortiz in the 12th inning. The Red Sox went on to win games 5, 6, and 7 and then continued their incredible run by sweeping the Cardinals in the World Series to win their first title in 86 years. The curse was finally retired, and a pinch-runner stealing second played a major role.
There’s nothing that could top it!
About the Author: Mark Kolier along with his son Gordon co-hosts a baseball podcast called ‘Almost Cooperstown’. He also has written baseball-related articles that can be accessed on Medium.com and Substack.com.