Who Was the Last Player to Steal 50 Bases?
Rajai Davis was the last player to successfully steal 50 bases in a single Major League Baseball (MLB) season. The feat was achieved in 2016 when Davis, playing for the Cleveland Indians, stole a total of 43 bases in the regular season and seven more in the postseason.
Background on Rajai Davis
Rajai Davis is a professional baseball outfielder. He was born on October 19, 1980, in Norwich, Connecticut. He attended the University of Connecticut and was selected in the 38th round of the 2001 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Davis made his MLB debut in 2006, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went on to play for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and Cleveland Indians. As of 2021, he is a free agent.
Stealing 50 Bases in One Season
In 2016, Davis set a career high in stolen bases with 43, which he accomplished during the regular season. During the postseason, he added seven more stolen bases, bringing his total to 50.
At the time of his 50-steal season, Davis was the oldest player in MLB history to accomplish the feat. He was 35 years old, beating out the previous record holder, Otis Nixon, who stole 50 bases when he was 34.
MLB’s All-Time Stolen Base Leaders
Rajai Davis is not the all-time leader in stolen bases in MLB history. That honor belongs to Rickey Henderson, who stole a record 1,406 bases over his 25-year career. Henderson is followed closely by Lou Brock, who stole 938 bases during his 19-year career.
- Rickey Henderson: 1,406
- Lou Brock: 938
- Billy Hamilton: 914
- Vince Coleman: 752
- Tim Raines: 808
The History of MLB Stolen Bases
Stolen bases have been a part of MLB since the early days of the sport. The first player to steal 50 bases in a single season was George Gore, who achieved the feat in the 1887 season while playing for the Chicago White Stockings.
Since then, there have been a total of 19 players who have stolen 50 bases in a single season. The most recent player to do so was Rajai Davis in 2016.
The Benefits of Stolen Bases
Stealing bases is an important part of the game of baseball, as it can provide teams with a significant advantage. Stolen bases allow runners to get into scoring position without the need for a hit. This can put pressure on the defense and potentially create additional scoring opportunities.
The Challenges of Stealing Bases
Stealing bases is not an easy task. It requires quick reflexes and the ability to read the pitcher’s motion. If a runner is too slow, he or she can be thrown out by the catcher. As a result, successful base stealers must have excellent speed and timing.
Base Stealing in the Modern Game
Base stealing has become less common in recent years. In 2016, the last year a player stole 50 bases, MLB teams combined for a total of 1,554 stolen bases. That was the lowest total since 1973, when teams combined for 1,540 stolen bases.
Notable Recent Base Stealing Seasons
In addition to Rajai Davis’ 50-steal season in 2016, there have been several notable base stealing seasons in recent years. In 2015, Billy Hamilton of the Cincinnati Reds set the single-season record for stolen bases by a rookie with 57. In 2017, Dee Gordon of the Miami Marlins stole 60 bases, the most by any player since 2009.
Conclusion
Rajai Davis was the last player to successfully steal 50 bases in a single MLB season. The feat was accomplished in 2016, when Davis, playing for the Cleveland Indians, stole a total of 43 bases in the regular season and seven more in the postseason.
Base stealing has become less common in recent years, but there have been several notable base stealing seasons in recent years. In addition to Davis’ 50-steal season, Billy Hamilton set the single-season rookie record with 57 stolen bases in 2015, and Dee Gordon stole 60 bases in 2017, the most by any player since 2009.