Interesting Stats : Most All-Time steals by position

[mrreality68]

First it is interesting that most of the top base stealers were left fielders

But I am confused by the list

Wasn’t Ty Cobb centerfield and he had 897 stolen bases
Eddie Collins played 2nd base and had 741 stolen bases
Honus Wagner short stop 723 stolen bases

Unless I am missing something

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

First it is interesting that most of the top base stealers were left fielders

But I am confused by the list

Wasn’t Ty Cobb centerfield and he had 897 stolen bases
Eddie Collins played 2nd base and had 741 stolen bases
Honus Wagner short stop 723 stolen bases

Unless I am missing something

Same here, at first I thought because Cobb played 700 games in CF but Rickey played 400 games in CF but has his total career number listed. It is confusing.

[D. Bergin]

According to the article this originated from, it's a Post-1920 list (live ball era).

https://www.mlb.com/news/stolen-base...-each-position

[D. Bergin]

Most surprising I guess is Howard Johnson. I completely forgot about him. He didn't have much of a prime, but did have a very nice 5 year run for the Mets and got the bulk of his stolen bases in a 6 year stretch.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

According to the article this originated from, it's a Post-1920 list (live ball era).

https://www.mlb.com/news/stolen-base...-each-position

I can see breaking off a question about home runs between the dead and live ball eras, but not so clear as to how a live or dead ball would impact someone's ability to steal bases. Unless they think that once the home run became such a big deal in the live ball era that managers quit having their players steal so much to try and get into scoring position. With the emphasis on home runs today, once a player is on first base, they're often already considered to be in scoring position, based on who's coming up to the plate next. Wonder if that was the reason for the 1920 cut-off?

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by BobC

I can see breaking off a question about home runs between the dead and live ball eras, but not so clear as to how a live or dead ball would impact someone's ability to steal bases. Unless they think that once the home run became such a big deal in the live ball era that managers quit having their players steal so much to try and get into scoring position. With the emphasis on home runs today, once a player is on first base, they're often already considered to be in scoring position, based on who's coming up to the plate next. Wonder if that was the reason for the 1920 cut-off?

Did not realize it was post 1920. It said all time so that is why I was confused. Since most of Wagner and Cobb steals were pre-1920.

But I agree I would not have made that the cutoff since all records are seem to be based all time from the pre 1900 to present like hits, home runs, career stolen bases etc so odd that they separated stolen bases to do by position Post 1920

Me personally I think the article is highly flawed as a result

[D. Bergin]

I don't know. The article says exactly what it's intention is and why.

The biggest flaw is that it doesn't break down the numbers into actual stolen bases in games played in that position.

Rickey Henderson actually had 1132 stolen bases as a Left Fielder.

Don't really have time right now to look up all the rest.

[cgjackson222]

HoJo!!!