Stolen Bases

David Watts · 05-07-2020, 08:06 AM

I have a question for y'all in regards to stolen bases during the deadball days. So, during this time baseball didn't track the number of times a player was caught stealing. Using OOTP I've played out 1908 and I lack around 10 games to finish 1909. What has me perplexed is how awful the success rate is in regards to stolen bases. Ty Cobb finished the 1908 season with roughly 60 stolen bases. He was caught 57 times. So far in 1909 he's swiped 62 bases. He's been caught stealing 58 times. Looking at the steals leaderboard, most of the players follow right in line with Cobb. I'm at work so this isn't exact, but in 1908 the league totals have successful steals at roughly 2700 and unsuccessful at 2400. The success rate is right on target as in real life there were 2722 stolen bases in 1908. I'm curious as to whether players were really caught so often back then?

Garlon · 05-07-2020, 08:59 AM

We have the SB and CS statistics since 1890 and some seasons before then too.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/l...fielding.shtml

David Watts · 05-07-2020, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garlon

We have the SB and CS statistics since 1890 and some seasons before then too.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/l...fielding.shtml

Thanks. Based on that, success rates did suck.

Reed · 05-07-2020, 12:51 PM

I don't believe the catchers were that could at throwing out dinner so I can only assume they were pretty slow back in those days
Cobb had a very high success rate in my league. About 75%..

05-07-2020, 08:06 AM	#1
David Watts Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Looking for a place called Leehofooks Posts: 8,880	Stolen Bases I have a question for y'all in regards to stolen bases during the deadball days. So, during this time baseball didn't track the number of times a player was caught stealing. Using OOTP I've played out 1908 and I lack around 10 games to finish 1909. What has me perplexed is how awful the success rate is in regards to stolen bases. Ty Cobb finished the 1908 season with roughly 60 stolen bases. He was caught 57 times. So far in 1909 he's swiped 62 bases. He's been caught stealing 58 times. Looking at the steals leaderboard, most of the players follow right in line with Cobb. I'm at work so this isn't exact, but in 1908 the league totals have successful steals at roughly 2700 and unsuccessful at 2400. The success rate is right on target as in real life there were 2722 stolen bases in 1908. I'm curious as to whether players were really caught so often back then? Last edited by David Watts; 05-07-2020 at 08:15 AM.

05-07-2020, 12:51 PM	#4
Reed All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 1,947	I don't believe the catchers were that could at throwing out dinner so I can only assume they were pretty slow back in those days Cobb had a very high success rate in my league. About 75%.. Last edited by Reed; 05-08-2020 at 06:57 AM.

05-07-2020, 08:59 AM	#2
Garlon Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,756	We have the SB and CS statistics since 1890 and some seasons before then too. https://www.baseball-reference.com/l...fielding.shtml