Pfattkatt's memory always serves him correctly. September 19, 1968 -- Willie Davis stole home in the bottom of the 16th to beat the Phillies 4-3, tying Hal Trosky (the human error machine currently destroying one of my OL teams with his atrocious defense) for latest steal of home to win a ballgame. I guess you could call these walk off steals. Davis, BTW, was a Buddhist convert who played with his prayer beads and chanted before every at bat. I took the below from somewhere or other... hope it's right.
Here are the most audacious home invasions since 1900:
JACK CHESBRO, HIGHLANDERS
July 16, 1904
The New York right-hander, famous for winning 41 games in 1904, became the first pitcher in major league history to execute a "walk off" theft of home when he swiped the dish in the bottom of the 10th to win his own game, 9-8 over the Tigers.
TY COBB, TIGERS
July 12, 1911
In the first inning against the Athletics, Cobb drew a walk off lefty Harry Krause. Then, on consecutive pitches, Cobb swiped second, third and home. Cobb "stole for the cycle" a record four times during his career.
HAL TROSKY, WHITE SOX
May 11,1944
Making a comeback with the White Sox after spending two years in retirement, Trosky swiped home in the top of the 16th inning to break a 2-2 tie and give Chicago a win over the Athletics. Trosky became the first player to execute a straight steal of home in the 16th inning of a game.
DON NEWCOMBE, DODGERS
May 26, 1955
In the ninth inning against Pittsburgh, Newcombe came to bat with two runners aboard and mashed a long fly ball off Elroy Face that fell in for a triple. As Face prepared to deliver his next pitch, Newcomb bolted for home. Face threw wildly to the plate, nearly hitting Newcombe, who beat the tag. Newcombe remains the last pitcher to pull off a straight steal of home.
JACKIE ROBINSON, DODGERS
SEPT. 28, 1955
In the eighth inning of Game 1 of the World Series, the Brooklyn star pulled off what most baseball historians regard as the most famous steal of home. Robinson barely beat the tag by the Yankees' Yogi Berra, who went into an anguished rant over the "safe" call.
VIC POWER, INDIANS
Aug. 14, 1958
Power stole only three bags in 1958, but two were straight steals of home in a 10-inning Cleveland win over the Tigers, enabling Power to become the first to steal home twice in one game in 31 years. Power's first theft, in the eighth inning off pitcher Bill Fischer, tied the score at 9-9. His second swipe, with two out in the bottom of the 10th and Rocky Colavito batting with the bases loaded, was a walk off game-winner.
CHICO RUIZ, REDS
Sept. 21, 1964
After Pete Rose grounded out in the sixth, Ruiz singled and went to third on a Vada Pinson single, who was thrown out trying to take second. That brought Frank Robinson, one of the game's premier hitters, to the plate. The situation hardly called for a steal of home, but Ruiz, who later claimed he'd been green-lighted, took off anyway. He barely beat pitcher Don Mahaffey's throw to catcher Clay Dalrymple. The run stood up, giving Cincinnati a 1-0 win. The Phillies promptly went on a 10-game losing streak and missed winning the pennant by one game.
WILLIE DAVIS, DODGERS
Sept. 19, 1968
With two out in the bottom of the 16th inning, Davis singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With rookie reliever Morrie Steevens of the Phillies making his first appearance, Davis welcomed him to the big leagues by swiping home to give the Dodgers a 4-3 victory.
CESAR TOVAR, ROD CAREW, TWINS
May 18, 1969
Tovar, also famous for spoiling five no-hit bids during his major league career, led off the third inning with a single off Detroit starter Mickey Lolich. After Lolich balked him to second, Tovar stole third. Lolich then walked Carew. Two pitches later, Tovar and Carew teamed up on a double steal, Tovar swiping home and Carew pilfering second. Then, with Harmon Killebrew batting, Carew caught Lolich napping and executed a straight steal of home.
LEON DURHAM, ET AL, CUBS
June 10, 1984
In the ninth inning against the Cardinals, Durham led off with a double to center. After Mel Hall and Ron Cey made outs, the Cardinals walked Davis and Larry Bowa intentionally in order to get to pitcher Chris Rainey. But the Cardinals never got to Rainey as Durham stole home, Davis stole third and Bowa stole second, sealing a 2-1 win.
MOST CAREER |
Hall of Famer Ty Cobb swiped home plate 54 times during his major league career. Twenty-five of Cobb's 54 home-plate thefts were straight steals. |
Player |
Career |
Total |
Ty Cobb |
1905-28 |
54 |
Max Carey |
1910-29 |
33 |
George Burns |
1911-25 |
28 |
Honus Wagner |
1897-17 |
27 |
Sherry Magee |
1904-19 |
23 |
Frank Schulte |
1904-18 |
23 |
Johnny Evers |
1902-29 |
21 |
George Sisler |
1915-30 |
20 |
Frankie Frisch |
1919-37 |
19 |
Jackie Robinson |
1947-56 |
19 |
Jimmy Sheckard |
1897-13 |
18 |
Tris Speaker |
1907-28 |
18 |
Joe Tinker |
1902-16 |
18 |
Eddie Collins |
1906-30 |
17 |
Larry Doyle |
1907-20 |
17 |
Rod Carew |
1967-85 |
17 |
MOST IN A SEASON |
Year |
Player / team |
Total |
1912 |
Ty Cobb, Tigers |
8 |
1946 |
Pete Reiser, Dodgers |
7 |
1969 |
Rod Carew, Twins |
7 |
MOST IN A GAME |
Date |
Player / team |
Total |
June 20, 1901 |
Honus Wagner, Pirates |
2 |
Sept. 30, 1907 |
Ed Konetchy, Cardinals |
2 |
June 28, 1910 |
Joe Tinker, Cubs |
2 |
Sept. 18, 1911 |
Larry Doyle, Giants |
2 |
July 20, 1912 |
Sherry Magee, Phillies |
2 |
Aug. 11, 1912 |
Joe Jackson, Indians |
2 |
Aug. 15, 1912 |
Guy Zinn, Yankees |
2 |
Sept. 16, 1913 |
Eddie Collins, A's |
2 |
May 1, 1924 |
Bill Barrett, White Sox |
2 |
Sept. 3, 1927 |
Doc Gautreau, Braves |
2 |
Aug. 14, 1958 |
Vic Power, Indians |
2 |
MOST BY A TEAM, SEASON |
Year |
Team |
Total |
1912 |
New York Yankees |
18 |
1911 |
Chicago Cubs |
17 |
1912 |
New York Giants |
17 |