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MLB: The Top 15 Major League Baseball Base Stealers of All-Time

By Nicholas Ian Allen

June 8, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Yankees Ricky Henderson before the old timers game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
June 8, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Yankees Ricky Henderson before the old timers game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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player. 96. . Outfielder. A's, Yankees, Blue Jays, Padres, Etc, 1979-2003. Rickey Henderson (Tie). 1

To almost no one’s surprise, Rickey Henderson is the greatest base stealer in Major League history. However, it was very, very close. In fact, Henderson tied Vince Coleman, which we will explain in the following slide.

Of course, the numbers don’t lie and the all-time stolen base leader sits atop our list as well, and rightfully so – he did it better and for a longer period of time than anyone else.

1,406 Career SB

56.24 SB Per Season

80.76% Success Rate

74 SB Per 162 Games

13 Points

Across 25 Major League seasons, Henderson stole 1,406 bases, which is 468 more than second place Lou Brock. In 1998 at the age of 39, Henderson stole 66 bases to become the oldest player in Major League history to lead the big leagues in steals.

Henderson averaged 56.25 steals per season, second only to Coleman on our list and he was successful 80.76% of the time, which is the eighth best rate among those in our data. His 74 steals per 162 games are also second to Coleman and 22 ahead of third place Time Raines.

Among players since 1900, Henderson holds the single-season stolen base record with 130, which a 23-year old Henderson set in 1982. That record-setting season surpassed Brock’s 118 swipes he collected with the Cardinals in 1974 (at the age of 35). Henderson also stole 108 bases in 1984 and 100 in 1908, which makes him one of only two men since 1900 to record 100 steals in three separate seasons.

The other? The co-best base stealer in Major League history: Vince Coleman.

Next: Vince Coleman

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