Stealing bases has always been one of the most thrilling moments in baseball, showcasing speed and clever timing. A stolen base occurs when a runner quietly moves to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball and successfully reaches it before being tagged out. Rickey Henderson holds the record for the most stolen bases in MLB history with 1,406 steals.
Photo Credit: Gary Soup, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Top 5 MLB Players with the Most Stolen Bases
Here are the top 5 players with the most stolen bases in MLB history proving how agility can change the game.
| Rank | Player | Stolen Bases |
| 1 | Rickey Henderson | 1,406 |
| 2 | Lou Brock | 938 |
| 3 | Billy Hamilton | 914 |
| 4 | Ty Cobb | 897 |
| 5 | Tim Raines | 808 |
Rickey Henderson (1,406 Stolen Bases)
Career: 1979-2003
Teams: Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers
Rickey Henderson holds the record for the most stolen bases in MLB history with a total of 1,406 steals. This achievement is often viewed as one of the toughest records to break in sports. Henderson was not only reliable but also incredibly dynamic and he set a single-season record of 130 steals in 1982. His daring slides transformed the way teams approached their offensive strategies.
Lou Brock (938 Stolen Bases)
Career: 1961-1979
Teams: Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals
Lou Brock ended his career with 938 stolen bases. In 1974, he established a modern National League record by stealing 118 bases. He began his career with the Cubs and became a superstar with the Cardinals where he contributed to their two World Series championships. He recorded 12 seasons with over 50 steals and solidified his status as a legend in Cardinals history.
Billy Hamilton (914 Stolen Bases)
Career: 1888-1901
Teams: Kansas City Cowboys, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Beaneaters
Billy Hamilton stole a total of 914 bases. He held the all-time record for 81 years until Lou Brock surpassed him. He showed amazing consistency by achieving over 100 steals in four different seasons and his highest total was 115 in 1891. Billy Hamilton earned the nickname “Sliding Billy” for his fearless base‑running and signature head‑first slides.
Ty Cobb (897 Stolen Bases)
Career: 1905-1928
Teams: Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Athletics
Ty Cobb swiped 897 bases throughout his career. Renowned for his remarkable hitting he also excelled on the basepaths and topped the American League in steals six times. His standout season was in 1915 when he achieved 96 steals. Cobb’s bold baserunning and fearsome style established him as one of the most well-rounded offensive players of the early 20th century.
Tim Raines (808 Stolen Bases)
Career: 1979-2002
Teams: Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins
Tim Raines ended his career with 808 stolen bases. He spent most of his career with the Montreal Expos where he achieved six consecutive seasons with over 70 steals and reached a high of 90 in 1983. During the 1980s, he was second only to Rickey Henderson but what set him apart was his remarkable efficiency.
