3 Stolen Bases in the Same Inning

In a Grapefruit League game today, the Toronto Blue Jays’ Anthony Gose stole 2nd, 3rd and home in top of the 8th inning, scoring the eventual winning run as Toronto beat Boston to continue its torrid spring training winning spree.

This, of course, is a pretty unusual feat. I’ve found references to these previous times that this has been done.

What is special about Gose today was that he was the only baserunner of the inning. The two games above both involved a double steal in one of the 3 stolen bases.

Does anyone know of other games where this has happened?

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Hank G.
Hank G.
12 years ago
Reply to  Doug

You missed one. Cobb did it four times also. Of course, he could have done it many more times had he wanted to.

Is there any way to see if someone stole second and third, and then was out trying to steal home?

Raphy
Raphy
12 years ago
Reply to  Minor Leaguer

So I guess the next question would be – Has anybody done it before the next batter finished his turn at the plate?

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago
Reply to  Raphy

The Charlton Chronology states that on 7/12/11 Cobb walked, then stole 2nd, 3rd and home on consecutive pitches. They don’t state if it occurred starting with the first pitch to the next batter.

John Autin
Editor
12 years ago
Reply to  Raphy

Can’t think of an efficient way to find such events, but I can say that Maury Wills never did it.

John Autin
Editor
12 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Well done, Doug!

Nobody expects (a) the Spanish Inquisition, or (b) two steals of home with Harmon Killebrew batting in 1969!

John Autin
Editor
12 years ago
Reply to  Doug

So, Killebrew saw at least 1 pitch with:
– men on 1st & 3rd;
– man on 2nd;
– man on 3rd; and
– bases empty.

He finally struck out. I guess that counts as an AB with nobody on base?

Mike L
Mike L
12 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

so, what does that make his WPA for that at bat?

Minor Leaguer
12 years ago

Also interesting is Gose’s line for the day: 0 for 3, 2 runs, walk, 4 SB

John Autin
Editor
12 years ago

I don’t know much about Gose, but he seems to be getting the hang of base-stealing. In 2010, he had 45 steals but 32 CS at class A. Last year, he swiped 70 and was caught just 15 times.

And in case it hasn’t been said yet: There he Gose!

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
12 years ago

Dusty Baker, at age 35.

137 steals for his career, but only at 65%.
(Though he led the league in SB% at age 24)

What is amazing is that it was June 27th, and they were his first three steals of the year. And he would bag only one more bag.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198406270.shtml

Hartvig
Hartvig
12 years ago

Not surprising that since 1928- by which time a lot of dead ball era stars and managers were at or near the end of the line- that this became far less common although in the past 30 years or so it’s happened more often than I would have thought. I haven’t checked game logs but I would have to guess that the pitchers delivery/pick off move & catchers arm are probably the 2 biggest factors although experience (or lack thereof) & wildness may have been contributing factors as well. Can anyone thing of any other factors that might contribute to… Read more »

Evil Squirrel
12 years ago

Can’t Lloyd Moseby get an honorable mention for stealing three bases in one inning? (Advance to the 0:54 mark)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wd0oS9FWQY

Ed
Ed
12 years ago
Reply to  Evil Squirrel

Was it just a coincidence that at the 1:23 mark of the video they show a squirrel running on the field??? 🙂

Evil Squirrel
12 years ago
Reply to  Ed

Ha! I didn’t watch it past Moseby!

John Autin
Editor
12 years ago
Reply to  Evil Squirrel

Classic video! But why did Moseby go back to first base — did he think the CF had caught a fly ball?

Ed
Ed
12 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

According to his B-R bio page, Ozzie Guillen tricked him into thinking the ball had been popped up.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Lloyd_Moseby

However, the video doesn’t seem to support that explanation. From the video, Moseby looks toward the catcher when he gets up from his slide and immediately starts running back towards 1st. Guillen is standing right next to him (#13 in the video) and I don’t see any attempt by him at simulating catching a pop fly. Nor does it appear that Moseby looks at Guillen before starting back to 1st. He may have been tricked but not by Guillen.

Doug
Doug
12 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

I think the centerfielder caught the throw on a fly. The throw was bad enough that Moseby didn’t think it was just a throw instead of a flyball.

topper009
topper009
12 years ago
Reply to  Evil Squirrel

That would make Germany Schaefer proud. Also, Rance Mulliniks? What a name.

topper009
topper009
12 years ago
Reply to  Evil Squirrel

Also this is a great reason to take a peak at the pitch when you are stealing. I never understood how guys could just blinding run towards 2nd.

bluejaysstatsgeek
bluejaysstatsgeek
12 years ago

If Gose can get on base, he’s going to be something amazing to watch.

RichardKC
RichardKC
12 years ago

I think I remember that Carlos Beltran did something similar to this several years ago. If my memory is correct, he stole 2nd and 3rd on consecutive pitches, then went home on the next pitch, which was a wild pitch or passed ball. I haven’t been able to find the box score, so it may not have happened.

deal
12 years ago

The double steal in Werth’s 3 SB inning really didn’t detract from his accomplishment. He was the lead runner on all 3 steals and the 2x steal didn’t occur on the steal of home. Russell Martin lollipopped the a return throw to the mound which allowed Werth to steal home.