Caught Stealing

[twinsfan1996]

Who has been caught stealing the most in MLB history?

[rbrittain56]

Who has been caught stealing the most in MLB history?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/CS_career.shtml

[Buczilla]

Rickey Henderson - 335 times

[Brooklyn]

I'd actually guess that it was probably either Ty Cobb or Billy Hamilton.

There is only caught stealing data in 12 of Cobb's seasons (according to baseball-reference.com (http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cobbty01.shtml)). In those seasons, he stole 326 bases and was caught 178 times, for a 64.7% success rate.

If he kept that rate for his career, he'd have 892 stolen bases and 487 caught stealings.

It is likely that his success rate would have been higher in the seasons where the data isn't available, since he was younger.

But for him not to be the leader, the missing seasons would have had to have 566 stolen bases and less then 157 caught stealings, or a rate better than 78.3%. While possible, it seems unlikely given the rest of his career


We also have no caught stealing data on Billy Hamilton, so it is quite possible he'd have the most. It is also possible that other 19th century and early 20th century guys lhave more caught stealings then Rickey Henderson. Guy like Eddie Collings (62.1% success rate for seasons available, projects to 455 caught stealings if that rate continued for his career), Arlie Lathan (no CS available), Honus Wagner (only one season available), Tom Brown (no CS data available), George Davis, Dummy Hoy, George Van Haltren, etc. very well may have had more then 335

[Hawk]

Did anyone calculate how many percent of the times that he was on base that someone like Rickey Henderson tried to steal a base? Looking at SB + CS from his record year, that must have been awfully high, It would be interesting to see such a number,

[NJMetfan4life]

Most caught stealing, TOP 3

1. Rickey Henderson-335
2. Lou Brock-307
3. Brett Butler-257

[Railsplitter]

Did anyone calculate how many percent of the times that he was on base that someone like Rickey Henderson tried to steal a base? Looking at SB + CS from his record year, that must have been awfully high, It would be interesting to see such a number,

I don't have the exact data on number of times on base where he could steal, but I just estimate by adding singles, walks, and HBP's. Obviously this isn't completely accurate as

(1) players (especially rickey) don't just steal 2B
(2) 2B isn't always open after a single, BB, or HBP, and
(3) doesn't include reaching base on an error, fielder's choise, etc

In 1982 when Rickey stole 130 bases, his single + BB + HBP was 223. He attempted 172 steals that year which gives us 77%

For the rest of his career he was in the 30%'s and 40%'s and then in the 20%'s. Only going over 50% one other time in 1986