Most Caught Stealing in MLB History

In baseball, A runner gets caught stealing when a fielder tags him out while he tries to advance to the next base without the ball being hit. It’s the opposite side of the stolen base and shows how risky base running can be. Rickey Henderson holds the all-time record for the most stolen bases in MLB history with 335 caught stealing.

Top 5 Most Caught Stealing in MLB History

Here are the top 5 players with the most caught stealing in MLB history, a reminder of how risky base running can be.

Rickey Henderson (335 Caught Stealing)

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 as the greatest base stealer but he also led all players with 335 failed steal attempts. In 1982 he played for the Oakland Athletics and stole 130 bases while setting a modern-era record with 42 failed attempts. He believed in a straightforward approach, running often and forcing pitchers to react even if it meant failing sometimes.

Lou Brock (307 Caught Stealing)

Career: 1961-1979
Teams: Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals

Lou Brock is ranked second in history for caught stealing with a total of 307 times. In 1974, Brock established the modern record for most stolen bases in a single season although he also led the league in caught stealing seven times. His bold playing style often led to being caught stealing yet it showed the immense pressure he placed on pitchers and defenses.

Brett Butler (257 Caught Stealing)

Career: 1981-1997
Teams: Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets

Brett Butler ranks third all-time in caught stealing with 257 times. He earned a reputation as one of the most reliable leadoff hitters of his era. He succeeded at a rate of around 68% and although defenses often threw him out, his aggressive style kept constant pressure on them. Butler’s high caught stealing total reflects how important his speed was to his teams, making him a key table-setter throughout his career.

Maury Wills (208 Caught Stealing)

Career: 1959-1972
Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos

Maury Wills reintroduced the stolen base as a key tactic in baseball. He often tested the limits and got caught stealing 208 times but those attempts showed how aggressively he challenged defenses. In 1962, he stole 104 bases and set a modern single-season record even though pitchers threw him out 13 times. With a success rate of about 74%, Wills demonstrated that bold base running could really impact games.

Juan Pierre (203 Caught Stealing)

Career: 2000-2013
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

Juan Pierre was among the quickest players of his time. He is ranked fifth in history for caught stealing with a total of 203 times. He succeeded at a rate of around 75%. Even though he sometimes got caught, his speed always posed a significant danger. During a time when power hitting was the main focus, Pierre distinguished himself depending on his contact skills and speed to energize his teams.