Stolen bases were not officially noted in a baseball game's summary until 1886, and it was not until 1888 that it officially earned a place in the box score.[ 1] The modern rule for stolen bases was adopted in 1898.[ 1] While some sources do not include stolen base records before 1898 because they are difficult to compare to the era after 1898, as the sourcing on this list indicates, Major League Baseball continues to recognize them.[ 2]
Players denoted in italics are still actively contributing to the record noted.
(r) denotes a player's rookie season.
600 career stolen bases [ edit ]
"Sliding Billy" Hamilton held the career record at the time the stolen-base rule was modernized. In the modern era, Ty Cobb established a career mark which Lou Brock broke before going on to surpass Hamilton's career record. Rickey Henderson currently holds the career stolen base record.
}
Top 10 career stolen bases by league [ edit ]
Player
SB[ 3]
Teams and seasons
Rickey Henderson
1,406
1979–84, 89–93, 94–95, 98 (Oakland Athletics ), 1985–89 (New York Yankees ), 1993 (Toronto Blue Jays ), 1996–97, 2001 (San Diego Padres ), 1997 (Anaheim Angels ), 1999–2000 (New York Mets ), 2000 (Seattle Mariners ), 2002 (Boston Red Sox ), 2003 (Los Angeles Dodgers )
Lou Brock
938
1961–64 (Chicago Cubs ), 1964–79 (St. Louis Cardinals )
Billy Hamilton
912
1888–89 (Kansas City Blues (AA) ), 1890–95 (Philadelphia Phillies ), 1896–1901 (Boston Beaneaters )
Ty Cobb
892
1905–26 (Detroit Tigers ), 1927–28 (Philadelphia Athletics )
Tim Raines
808
1979–90, 2001 (Montréal Expos ), 1991–95 (Chicago White Sox ), 1996–98 (New York Yankees ), 1999 (Oakland Athletics), 2001 (Baltimore Orioles ), 2002 (Florida Marlins )
Vince Coleman
752
1985–90 (St. Louis Cardinals), 1991–93, (New York Mets ), 1994–95 (Kansas City Royals ), 1995 (Seattle Mariners ), 1996 (Cincinnati Reds ), 1997 (Detroit Tigers)
Eddie Collins
745
1906–14, 27–30 (Philadelphia Athletics), 1915–26 (Chicago White Sox)
Arlie Latham
739
1880 (Buffalo Bisons ), 1883–89, 96 (St. Louis Browns ), 1890 (Chicago Pirates ), 1890–1895 (Cincinnati Reds ), 1899 (Washington Senators ), 1909 (New York Giants )
Max Carey
738
1910–26 (Pittsburgh Pirates ), 26–29 (Brooklyn Robins )
Honus Wagner
722
1897–99 (Louisville Colonels ), 1900–17 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Joe Morgan
689
1963–71, 80 (Houston Colt 45's/Astros ), 1972–79 (Cincinnati Reds), 1981–82 (San Francisco Giants ), 1983 (Philadelphia Phillies), 1984 (Oakland Athletics)
Willie Wilson
668
1976–90 (Kansas City Royals), 1991–92 (Oakland Athletics), 1993–94 (Chicago Cubs)
Tom Brown
657
1882 (Baltimore Orioles (AA) ), 1883–84 (Columbus Colts (AA) ), 1885–87 (Pittsburgh Pirates), 1887 (Indianapolis Hoosiers ), 1888–89 (Boston Beaneaters ), 1890–91 (Boston Reds (PL-AA) ), 1892–94 (Louisville Colonels), 1895 (St. Louis Cardinals), 1895–98 (Washington Senators )
Bert Campaneris
649
1964–76 (KC-Oak Athletics ), 1977–79 (Texas Rangers ), 1979–81 (California Angels ), 1983 (New York Yankees)
Kenny Lofton
622
1991 (Houston Astros ), 1992–96, 98–2001, 07 (Cleveland Indians ), 1997 (Atlanta Braves ), 2002 (Chicago White Sox), 2002 (San Francisco Giants), 2003 (Chicago Cubs), 2003 (Pittsburgh Pirates), 2004 (New York Yankees), 2005 (Philadelphia Phillies), 2007 (Texas Rangers)
Otis Nixon
620
1983 (New York Yankees), 1984–87 (Cleveland Indians), 1988–90 (Montréal Expos), 1991–93, 99 (Atlanta Braves), 1994 (Boston Red Sox), 1995 (Texas Rangers), 1996–97 (Toronto Blue Jays), 1997 (Los Angeles Dodgers), 1998 (Minnesota Twins )
George Davis
616
1890–92 (Cleveland Spiders ), 1893–1901, 03 (New York Giants ), 1902, 1904–09 (Chicago White Sox)
Juan Pierre
611
2000–2002 (Colorado Rockies ), 2003–2005, 2013 (Florida/Miami Marlins ), 2006 (Chicago Cubs ), 2007–2009 (Los Angeles Dodgers ), 2010–2011 (Chicago White Sox ), 2012 (Philadelphia Phillies )
American League Player
SB
National League Player
SB
Rickey Henderson
1270[ 4]
Lou Brock
938[ 5]
Ty Cobb
892[ 6]
Billy Hamilton
782[ 7]
Eddie Collins
745[ 8]
Max Carey
738[ 9]
Willie Wilson
660[ 10]
Honus Wagner
722[ 11]
Bert Campaneris
649[ 12]
Joe Morgan
681[ 13]
Luis Aparicio
506[ 14]
Vince Coleman
660[ 15]
Paul Molitor
504[ 16]
Tim Raines
635[ 17]
Kenny Lofton
502[ 18]
Dummy Hoy
567[ 19]
Clyde Milan
495[ 20]
Maury Wills
586[ 21]
Tris Speaker
432[ 22]
Ozzie Smith
580[ 23]
100 stolen bases, one season [ edit ]
The pre-modern single-season mark for stolen bases is 138 by Hugh Nicol in 1887. In the modern era, Ty Cobb set a single-season mark of 96 stolen bases in 1915[ 24] that lasted until it was broken by Maury Wills with 104 in 1962. A new modern mark was set by Lou Brock with 118 in 1974, and again by Rickey Henderson with 130 in 1982. Henderson and Vince Coleman are the only players to record three 100-steal seasons in the modern era. Coleman is the only player to do it three seasons in a row, much less in the first three season of his career, as well as the only player to record 100 steals as a rookie.
5 stolen bases, one game [ edit ]
Under the pre-modern rule, George Gore stole 7 bases in a game in 1881, a mark that was tied by "Sliding Billy" Hamilton in 1894. In the modern era, Eddie Collins stole 6 bases in a game on two occasions, both in September 1912, a mark that stood alone for nearly eight decades before being tied by Otis Nixon (1991), Eric Young (1996), and Carl Crawford (2009).
35 consecutive stolen bases [ edit ]
Max Carey established a mark in 1922 of 31 consecutive stolen bases without being caught,[ 27] which stood until it was broken by Davey Lopes ' streak of 38 in 1975. Lopes' mark was in turn surpassed by Vince Coleman with 50 consecutive stolen bases in 1988.
Three or more seasons with 70 stolen bases [ edit ]
Under pre-modern rules, "Sliding Billy" Hamilton amassed six separate seasons of 70-plus stolen bases over his career. In the modern era, Ty Cobb established a mark of three such seasons that stood (though tied by Lou Brock and Omar Moreno ) until it was broken by Tim Raines in 1984. In 1986, Raines reached six seasons of 70-plus steals, all consecutive (a record), but Rickey Henderson notched his seventh such season in 1989.
Player
Seasons
Seasons and teams
Rickey Henderson [ 4]
7
1980, 82–83 (Oakland Athletics ), 1985–86, 88 (New York Yankees ), 1989 (NY Yankees-Oak Athletics)
Billy Hamilton [ 7]
6
1889 (Kansas City Blues (AA) ), 1890–91, 94–95 (Philadelphia Phillies ), 1896 (Boston Beaneaters )
Tim Raines [ 17]
6
1981–86 (Montréal Expos )
Vince Coleman [ 15]
5
1985–88, 90 (St. Louis Cardinals )
Tom Brown [ 31]
3
1890–91 (Boston Reds (PL-AA) ), 1892 (Louisville Colonels )
Harry Stovey [ 32]
3
1887–88 (Philadelphia Athletics (AA) ), 1890 (Boston Reds (PL))
Ty Cobb [ 6]
3
1909, 11, 15 (Detroit Tigers )
Lou Brock [ 5]
3
1966, 73–74 (St. Louis Cardinals)
Omar Moreno [ 33]
3
1978–80 (Pittsburgh Pirates )
Ten or more seasons with 40 stolen bases [ edit ]
In 1924, Eddie Collins tied Billy Hamilton 's pre-modern mark of ten seasons with 40-plus stolen bases. A year later, Max Carey also tied the record. The record was broken by Lou Brock in 1974. Brock eventually recorded a thirteenth 40-steal season, but was in turn surpassed by Rickey Henderson in 1993. Henderson eventually stole 40 bases in sixteen separate seasons.
Player
Seasons
Seasons and teams
Rickey Henderson [ 4]
16
1980–84, 90–92, 98 (Oakland Athletics ), 1985–88 (New York Yankees ), 1989 (NY Yankees-Oak Athletics), 1993 (Oak Athletics-Tor Blue Jays ), 1997 (SD Padres -Ana Angels )
Lou Brock [ 5]
13
1964 (Chi Cubs -StL Cardinals ), 1965–76 (St. Louis Cardinals)
Tim Raines [ 17]
11
1981–87, 89–90 (Montréal Expos ), 1991–92 (Chicago White Sox )
Billy Hamilton [ 7]
10
1889 (Kansas City Blues (AA) ), 1890–95 (Philadelphia Phillies ), 1896–98 (Boston Beaneaters )
Eddie Collins [ 8]
10
1909–10, 12–14 (Philadelphia Athletics ), 1915–17, 23–24 (Chicago White Sox)
Max Carey [ 9]
10
1912–13, 16–18, 20, 22–25 (Pittsburgh Pirates )
Eight or more consecutive seasons with 40 stolen bases [ edit ]
Player
Seasons
Seasons and teams
Rickey Henderson [ 4]
14
1980–84, 90–92 (Oakland Athletics ), 1985–88 (New York Yankees ), 1989 (NY Yankees-Oak Athletics), 1993 (Oak Athletics-Tor Blue Jays )
Lou Brock [ 5]
13
1964 (Chi Cubs -StL Cardinals ), 1965–76 (St. Louis Cardinals)
Billy Hamilton [ 7]
10
1889 (Kansas City Blues (AA) ), 1890–95 (Philadelphia Phillies ), 1896–98 (Boston Beaneaters )
Joe Morgan [ 13]
9
1969–71 (Houston Astros ), 1972–77 (Cincinnati Reds )
Honus Wagner [ 11]
8
1901–08 (Pittsburgh Pirates )
Otis Nixon [ 34]
8
1990 (Montréal Expos ), 1991–93 (Atlanta Braves ), 1994 (Boston Red Sox ), 1995 (Texas Rangers ), 1996 (Toronto Blue Jays), 1997 (Tor Blue Jays-LA Dodgers )
Juan Pierre [ 35]
8
2001-02 (Colorado Rockies ), 2003–05 (Florida Marlins ), 2006 (Chicago Cubs ), 2007–08 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Fifteen or more seasons with 20 stolen bases [ edit ]
Player
Titles[ 36]
Years and teams
Rickey Henderson [ 4]
20
1979–84, 89–93, 94–95, 98 (Oakland Athletics ), 1985–88 (New York Yankees ), 1989 (NY Yankees-Oak Athletics), 1993 (Toronto Blue Jays ), 1996–97, 2001 (San Diego Padres ), 1997 (SD Padres-Anaheim Angels ), 1999 (New York Mets ), 2000 (NY Mets-Sea Mariners )
Honus Wagner [ 11]
18
1898–99 (Louisville Colonels ), 1900–15 (Pittsburgh Pirates )
George Davis [ 37]
17
1890–92 (Cleveland Spiders ), 1893–1901 (New York Giants ), 1902, 1904–06, 08 (Chicago White Sox )
Ty Cobb [ 6]
17
1906–19, 21, 24 (Detroit Tigers ), 1927 (Philadelphia Athletics )
Lou Brock [ 5]
16
1963 (Chicago Cubs ), 1964 (Chi Cubs-Stl Cardinals ), 1965–77, 79 (St. Louis Cardinals)
Ozzie Smith [ 23]
16
1978–81 (San Diego Padres ), 1982–93 (St. Louis Cardinals)
Eddie Collins [ 8]
15
1909–14 (Philadelphia Athletics), 1915–20, 22–24 (Chicago White Sox)
Max Carey [ 9]
15
1911–18, 20–25 (Pittsburgh Pirates), 1927 (Brooklyn Robins )
Willie Wilson [ 10]
15
1978–90 (Kansas City Royals ), 1991–92 (Oakland Athletics)
League leader in stolen bases, 5 or more seasons [ edit ]
Player
Titles[ 38]
Years and teams
Rickey Henderson
12
1980–84, 90–91, 98 (Oakland Athletics ), 1985–86, 88 (New York Yankees ), 1989 (NY Yankees-Oak Athletics)
Max Carey
10
1913, 15–18, 20, 22–25 (Pittsburgh Pirates )
Luis Aparicio
9
1956–62 (Chicago White Sox ), 1963–64 (Baltimore Orioles )
Lou Brock
8
1966–69, 71–74 (St. Louis Cardinals )
Ty Cobb
6
1907, 09, 11, 15–17 (Detroit Tigers )
George Case
6
1939–43, 46 (Washington Senators )
Maury Wills
6
1960–65 (Los Angeles Dodgers )
Bert Campaneris
6
1965–68, 70, 72 (Oakland Athletics)
Vince Coleman
6
1985–90 (St. Louis Cardinals)
Billy Hamilton
5
1889 (Kansas City Blues (AA) ), 1890–91, 94–95 (Philadelphia Phillies )
Honus Wagner
5
1901–02, 04, 07–08 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Kenny Lofton
5
1992–96 (Cleveland Indians )
League leader in stolen bases, 4 or more consecutive seasons [ edit ]
League leader in stolen bases, two leagues [ edit ]
League leader in stolen bases, three different teams [ edit ]
Eighty percent stolen base percentage, career [ edit ]
Those marked in bold have at least 600 career stolen base attempts. Of those, Joe Morgan was the first to retire with a career stolen base percentage of at least 80%. His mark was successively surpassed by Davey Lopes , Willie Wilson , and Tim Raines .
Ninety-five percent stolen base percentage, season, 30+ stolen bases [ edit ]
see notes2 3
350 stolen bases by a team in one season [ edit ]
290 stolen bases by a team in one season, 1901 or later [ edit ]
See also [ edit ]
Game 2 of a doubleheader.
Minimum 20 stolen base attempts.
The Major League Baseball (MLB) reference for this statistic lists Carlos Beltrán as having a 100% stolen base percentage in 2004. However, examination of the statistics shows that Beltrán was 28/28 in stolen bases with the Houston Astros, but went 14/17 after being traded from the Kansas City Royals mid-season.[ 42] While 28/28 is the National League leader for that season, the combined 42/45 (93.3%) does not make Beltrán eligible for this list. Similarly, Dave Roberts is listed by MLB as having a 97.1% stolen base percentage in 2004. Roberts was 33/34 in stolen bases with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being traded mid-season to the Boston Red Sox where he was 5/7 in stolen bases.[ 43] Roberts' combined 38/41 (92.7%) does not make him eligible for this list.
References [ edit ]
^ a b Thorn, John (ed); Palmer, Pete (ed); et al. (1997), Total Baseball (Fifth ed.), New York, New York (USA): Viking, p. 2415, ISBN 0-670-87511-2
^ Nemec, David (1993), Great Baseball Feats, Facts & Firsts , New York, New York (USA): Signet, p. 354, ISBN 0-451-16124-6
^ "Hitting Leaders, Career, All-Time" . historic statistical ranking . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2010 .
^ a b c d e "Rickey Henderson" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b c d e "Lou Brock" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b c "Ty Cobb" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b c d "Billy Hamilton" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b c "Eddie Collins" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b c "Max Carey" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b "Willie Wilson" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b c "Honus Wagner" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ "Bert Campaneris" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b "Joe Morgan" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ "Luis Aparicio" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b "Vince Coleman" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ "Paul Molitor" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b c "Time Raines" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ "Kenny Lofton" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ "Dummy Hoy" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ "Clyde Milan" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ "Maury Wills" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ "Tris Speaker" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ a b "Ozzie Smith" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SB_season.shtml
^ "League Leaders: Hitting Leaders, Career Single Season" . statistical list . Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ "Stolen Base Records" . statistical list . Baseball Almanac.com. October 16, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2010 .
^ a b Steve Brener, Dave Lopes, New Champion of Major League Base Stealers , Baseball Digest , March 1976, p.58, accessed November 23, 2010.
^ Joseph, Brian (July 12, 2008). "How Rollins’ Rare Feat Stacks Up Historically" . SemHeads.com. Retrieved October 17, 2010 .
^ The Fans Speak Out , Baseball Digest , December 1989, p.12, accessed November 23, 2010.
^ John R. Finger, Phillies Hope to Get Running Game Going , CSNPhilly.com , May 13, 2009, accessed November 23, 2010.
^ "Tom Brown" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 12, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010 .
^ "Harry Stovey" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 12, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010 .
^ "Omar Moreno" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 12, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010 .
^ "Otis Nixon" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 12, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010 .
^ "Juan Pierre" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 12, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010 .
^ "Yearly League Leaders & Records for Runs Batted In" . statistical list . Baseball-Reference.com. October 10, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010 .
^ "George Davis" . statistical listing . Major League Baseball. October 13, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2010 .
^ a b c d "Yearly League Leaders & Records for Stolen Bases" . statistical list . Baseball-Reference.com. October 12, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010 .
^ "Yearly League Leaders & Records for Stolen Bases" . statistical list . Baseball-Reference.com. October 15, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2010 .
^ "League Leaders: Hitting Leaders, Career Single Season" . statistical list . Major League Baseball. October 15, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2010 .
^ a b "Sortable Team Stats – Major League Baseball Hitting Stats, Career Year-by-Year" . statistical list . Major League Baseball. October 14, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2010 .
^ "Carlos Beltran" . statistical list . Major League Baseball. October 15, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2010 .
^ "Dave Roberts" . statistical list . Major League Baseball. October 15, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2010 .
General
Batting leaders
Career
Annual
Season
Game
Misc
Baserunning leaders
Pitching leaders
Managing records
Multiple stat records