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.
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 Caught Stealing
Here are the top 5 players with the most caught stealing in MLB history, a reminder of how risky base running can be.
| Rank | Player | Caught Stealing |
| 1 | Rickey Henderson | 335 |
| 2 | Lou Brock | 307 |
| 3 | Brett Butler | 257 |
| 4 | Ty Cobb | 215 |
| 5 | Maury Wills | 208 |
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 caught stealing 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. 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.
Ty Cobb (215 Caught Stealing)
Career: 1905-1928
Teams: Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Athletics
Ty Cobb was caught stealing 215 times during his career. His aggressive approach to base stealing reached its peak in 1915 when he stole 96 bases but was also thrown out 38 times. Since Cobb played during the Deadball Era, he was always testing the limits of opposing defenses and forcing them to find ways to stop him.
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.
