Ty Cobb stole home an amazing 54 times

[Diamond_Dog]

But he was tagged out 45 times.

The next closest player to do so was Max Carey, who did it 33 times.

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. Catcher was probably afraid of his sharpened cleats.

[Zambero]

2. Most successful as a double-steal

With runners on first and third.

[Doc Sportello]

3. Cobb was portrayed unfairly in many ways

For instance the tale about sharpening his cleats is now believed to be a myth. Cobb certainly was fierce and not well liked by many, but he also had friends among baseball's elite at the time. Most of the stories originated from a discredited author who wrote his bio after Cobb's death.

From Wiki:
A noted case is the book written by sportswriter Al Stump in the months after Cobb died in 1961. Stump was later discredited when it became known that he had stolen items belonging to Cobb and also betrayed the access Cobb gave him in his final months. As a result of the movie Cobb, which starred Tommy Lee Jones, there are many myths surrounding Cobb's life, including one that he sharpened his spikes to inflict wounds on opposing players.

Also, Cobb's views on race were more complicated than have been portrayed:
"Cobb's father was a noted advocate for racial equality.

Cobb told the Sporting News in 1952 that "the Negro should be accepted and not grudgingly but wholeheartedly."[150] In 1953, black newspapers cited his praise for Brooklyn Dodgers' catcher Roy Campanella, who Cobb said was "among the all-time best catchers" in baseball. ... In the obituaries that ran in the black press following Cobb's death, he was praised for "[speaking] in favor of racial freedom in baseball."

Regarding the myths:
https://www.vintagedetroit.com/five-myths-about-ty-cobb/

[Tarzanrock]

4. Ruth did it 10 times.

George Herman Ruth, Jr. stole home 10 times in his career. Lou Gehrig did it 15 times.

[Captain Zero]

5. How many times is home stolen In a season now?

My guess not much.

[Brother Buzz]

6. Jackie Robinson stole only a third as many, but indisputably, he stole most famous one

Yogi Berra spent the rest of his life disputing the call, and even sent this photograph to Barack Obama 65 years later



Jackie Robinson had a higher success rate stealing home (61%) than Ty Cobb (55%)

[kairos12]

7. Here's something crazy

Babe Ruth stole home more times than Ricky Henderson.

[Diamond_Dog]

8. Wow! Did not know that.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Why All The Pre-War Numbers?

Last edited Mon Feb 13, 2023, 08:00 PM - Edit history (2)

The theory that I most agree with is that almost no pitchers delivered from the stretch. Full wind-up takes much longer!
I've also heard that in the eras where more players sprayed the ball, teams were reluctant to move the 3rd baseman closer to the line, so lead-off lengths were longer. Too big a hole between short & 3rd.
Finally, the average pitcher was throwing 84, not 90. That could be the difference between being safe & out by 3 inches.