Feet, Don't Fail Me Now! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rickey Henderson

Rickey was in his second season of baseball and with the Oakland Athletics in 1980. He stole 100 bags while getting caught 26 times. He topped the 100-plateau twice more with 130 in 1982 which set a Major League modern-day record, then in 1983 with 108. Over 25 seasons he stole 1406, the first player in history to top 1000.

He was caught 335 times for a .808 rating. Rickey was inducted into the Hall in 2009.

Answer: Billy Hamilton

Hamilton first hit the century mark with the Kansas City Cowboys of the American Association in 1889 with his 111. The following season in the National League with Philadelphia he stole another 102. He matched his career-high of 111 in 1891. He hit the century mark again in 1894 with 100. Billy led the league five times in his career.

When he retired his feet had stolen 914 bases over 14 seasons. Hamilton was inducted into the Hall in 1961.

Answer: George Case

Case played for 11 seasons from 1937-1947. All but one season was with the Washington Senators. Case led the American League five times with the most thefts in a season and also led the league by being caught the most times in four seasons. In the decade of the 1940s, Case stole 256 of his career 349 bases.

Answer: Vince Coleman

Vince played in 13 seasons from 1985-1997 with a majority of his career was with the Cardinals. He topped the 100-mark in 1985, 1986, and 1987 with 110, 107, and 109, respectively. Coleman stole 752 bases while being caught only 177 times for a .809 rating. The Cardinals hit gold with him as a 1982 Florida A&M 10th round draft pick.

Answer: Washington Senators

The Senators set a pathetic record in the 1957 season, mainly because managers Cookie Lavagetto and Chuck Dressen didn't believe in running the base paths. Their win-loss record wasn't much better at 55-99. Julio Becquer led the Senators with three thefts in the season.

Answer: Philadelphia Athletics

The Athletics were in the American Association in 1890 with not much to celebrate in the season. They went 54-78 to finish eighth of nine teams and were led my manager Bill Sharsig. On April 22, 1890, the Athletics were being hosted by the Syracuse Stars when the Athletics stole 19 bases. Syracuse had two stolen bases in the game.

The team was led in the season by Curt Welch who stole 64 bases. During the season even overweight catcher Wilbert Robinson stole 20 of his own.

Answer: Washington Senators

The Senators were being hosted by the Cleveland Indians on July 19, 1915 at League Park. In the top of the first inning Washington put the rockets on their cleats and stole eight bases in the inning. Danny Moeller stole 3, Clyde Milan and Eddie Ainsmith both stole 2, and George McBride stole one. Before the great Walter Johnson even got to the mound, the Senators had a 6-0 lead. Washington won the game 11-4.

Answer: Lou Brock

Brock was a Chicago Cub and St. Louis Cardinal. Lou broke Dodger Maury Wills' season record of 104 with his 118 thefts in 1974. He retired with 938 career stolen bases. Ironically when Brock retired in 1979, Rickey Henderson was a rookie with the Oakland Athletics. Brock broke the former stolen base leader in Billy Hamilton who stole 912. Hamilton was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961, Brock in 1985, and Henderson in 2009.

Answer: Eddie Collins

September 1912 was a highlight of the Philadelphia Athletics future Hall of Famer. On September 11 against the Tigers he stole six in a game. Just 11 days later against the St. Louis Browns he stole another six. Eddie stole 741 bases over 25 seasons. He retired in 1930 with his entire career being with the Athletics and White Sox. He was a 1939 Hall inductee.

Answer: New York Giants

The National League New York Giants stole an amazing 415 bases in the 1887 season which was 123 games long for the team. They still finished in fourth place of eight teams in the season. The Giants were led by the shortstop and speedster John Ward and his 111 thefts. Jim O'Rourke stole 46 while Roger Connor stole 43. Ward also led the team with his .338 average.

In 1879 Ward also won a pitching title for going 47-19 with the Providence Grays. John was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.