X-Nico

3 unusual facts about Stolen base


Stolen base

On August 22, 1982, Glenn Brummer stole home in the bottom of the 12th inning of a tie game, thus accomplishing a walk-off straight steal of home, one of the very few in major league history.

However, some of the more successful American League teams of recent memory, including the 2002 Anaheim Angels, the 2001 Seattle Mariners and the 2005 Chicago White Sox have experienced their success in part as a result of playing "small ball," advancing runners through means such as the stolen base and the related hit and run play.

In baseball's earlier decades, a runner on second base could "steal" first base, perhaps with the intention of drawing a throw that might allow a runner on third to score (a tactic famously employed by Germany Schaefer).


Al Gionfriddo

Gionfriddo was also involved in the even more famous Game 4 of the 1947 Series when Cookie Lavagetto's pinch hit double not only broke up Bill Bevens' no hitter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but won the game as well when Gionfriddo (who had entered the game as a pinch runner for Carl Furillo and stole second) and Eddie Miksis scored on the play.

Jack Cassini

Born in Dearborn, Michigan, he was a six-time stolen base champion during his minor league playing career (1940–41; 1946–55) and stole 378 bases lifetime.

Jane Stoll

The only regular to have a significant year for them was Evelyn Wawryshyn, who tied for sixth place in the league with a .266 batting average, while ranking among the top ten hitters in stolen bases, hits and 126 total bases.

Jason Kipnis

As a senior, Kipnis batted .521 with a .690 on-base percentage and 32 stolen bases in 32 attempts; he was named first-team all-state and the Central Suburban League Most Valuable Player.

Jim Gilliam

His 17 triples led the NL, and remain the most by a Dodger since 1920; he was second in the league (behind Stan Musial) with 100 walks, and third in the NL with 21 stolen bases.

Juan Encarnación

Encarnación finished the 2006 season, his first with the Cardinals, batting .278 with 19 home runs and 79 RBI for the Cards, with 6 steals.

León Kellman

Kellman retired with a career average of .297 in the Panamanian league and batted .205 (9-for-44) in five Caribbean Series, while tying with teammate Sam Bankhead and Cuba's Chuck Connors for the most stolen bases with four during the inaugural tournament.


see also

Sam Rice

As the ultimate contact man with the picture-perfect swing, Rice was never a home run threat, but his speed often turned singles into doubles, and his 1920 stolen base total of 63 earned him the timely nickname "Man o' War".