The most successful base stealer in MLB history is the 87th inductee into the Baseball Hall of Immortals.
Tim Raines played his first full-season in the major leagues during the strike-shortened year of 1981. Despite playing in just 88 games, Raines stole a league leading 71 bases, hitting .304 and scoring 61 runs. He finished 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting (to Fernando Valenzuela) and was selected to the first of his nine All-Star appearances.
Raines would dominate the National League during the decade of the 80s, with more hits, times reaching base, stolen bases, and runs scores than anyone else in the league. His 583 stolen bases was more than 100 ahead of Vince Coleman. From 1981-86 he stole 70 or more bases each year, the only player in history to put together such a streak.
While his speed would diminish as Raines played into the 90s, he would still post double-digits in stolen bases through 1996, amassing a streak of 16 consecutive years with 10 or more.
Raines retired following the 2002 season, becoming one of only a handful of players to play in 4 decades. His 808 stolen bases is 4th in the modern era, behind only Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock, and Ty Cobb. Among those with 400 or more steals, he has the highest success rate at 84.7% (in comparison Henderson’s is 80.8%).
One of the most feared players on the basepaths, Tim Raines is an Immortal.
For some background on what this is, check out the introduction post here.
