League Leaders Who Led?

MLB Single-Season Stolen Bases Record Progression

Every season that raised the bar, and the leader in every season between.

All-time career leaders →

The MLB single-season stolen bases record is 138, set by Hugh Nicol in 1887. It has stood for 138 years. The mark has been raised 3 times since 1871.

AVGHRRBIHRSBOPSOBPSLG2B3BXBHTBBBSOPAABG

Record Holders

4 marks since 1871
Year Player SB Stood for
1887 Hugh Nicol Hugh Nicol 138 still standing
1886 Harry Stovey Harry Stovey 68 1 year
1873 Ross Barnes Ross Barnes 43 13 years
1871 Mike McGeary 20 2 years

The earliest marks here are records only in the sense that nobody had done better yet. Season length, schedule and the rules themselves have all changed, so a figure from the 1870s is not comparable with a modern one and is not offered as though it were.

Every Season

153 seasons
Year Leader SB
2025 José Caballero 49
2024 Elly De La Cruz 67
2023 Ronald Acuña 73
2022 Jon Berti 41
2021 Starling Marte 47
2020 Adalberto Mondesi 24
2019 Mallex Smith 46
2018 Whit Merrifield 45
2017 Dee Strange-Gordon 60
2016 Jonathan Villar 62
2015 Dee Strange-Gordon 58
2014 Dee Strange-Gordon 64
2013 Jacoby Ellsbury 52
2012 Mike Trout 49
2011 Michael Bourn 61
2010 Juan Pierre 68
2009 Jacoby Ellsbury 70
2008 Willy Taveras 68
2007 Jose Reyes 78
2006 Jose Reyes 64
2005 Chone Figgins 62
2004 Scott Podsednik 70
2003 Juan Pierre 65
2002 Luis Castillo 48
2001 Ichiro Suzuki 56
2000 Luis Castillo 62
1999 Tony Womack 72
1998 Rickey Henderson 66
1997 Brian Hunter 74
1996 Kenny Lofton 75
1995 Quilvio Veras 56
1994 Kenny Lofton 60
1993 Kenny Lofton 70
1992 Marquis Grissom 78
1991 Marquis Grissom 76
1990 Vince Coleman 77
1989 Rickey Henderson 77
1988 Rickey Henderson 93
1987 Vince Coleman 109
1986 Vince Coleman 107
1985 Vince Coleman 110
1984 Tim Raines 75
1983 Rickey Henderson 108
1982 Rickey Henderson 130
1981 Tim Raines 71
1980 Rickey Henderson 100
1979 Willie Wilson 83
1978 Omar Moreno 71
1977 Frank Taveras 70
1976 Bill North 75
1975 Davey Lopes 77
1974 Lou Brock 118
1973 Lou Brock 70
1972 Lou Brock 63
1971 Lou Brock 64
1970 Bobby Tolan 57
1969 Tommy Harper 73
1968 Lou Brock 62
1968 Bert Campaneris 62
1967 Bert Campaneris 55
1966 Lou Brock 74
1965 Maury Wills 94
1964 Luis Aparicio 57
1963 Maury Wills 40
1963 Luis Aparicio 40
1962 Maury Wills 104
1961 Luis Aparicio 53
1960 Luis Aparicio 51
1959 Luis Aparicio 56
1958 Willie Mays 31
1957 Willie Mays 38
1956 Willie Mays 40
1955 Jim Rivera 25
1955 Bill Bruton 25
1954 Bill Bruton 34
1953 Bill Bruton 26
1952 Pee Wee Reese 30
1951 Sam Jethroe 35
1950 Sam Jethroe 35
1949 Jackie Robinson 37
1948 Richie Ashburn 32
1947 Bob Dillinger 34
1946 Pete Reiser 34
1945 Snuffy Stirnweiss 33
1944 Snuffy Stirnweiss 55
1943 George Case 61
1942 George Case 44
1941 George Case 33
1940 George Case 35
1939 George Case 51
1938 Frankie Crosetti 27
1937 Billy Werber 35
1937 Ben Chapman 35
1936 Lyn Lary 37
1935 Billy Werber 29
1934 Billy Werber 40
1933 Ben Chapman 27
1932 Ben Chapman 38
1931 Ben Chapman 61
1930 Kiki Cuyler 37
1929 Cool Papa Bell 48
1928 Kiki Cuyler 37
1927 Frankie Frisch 48
1926 Cool Papa Bell 36
1925 Max Carey 46
1924 Max Carey 49
1923 Max Carey 51
1922 Max Carey 51
1922 George Sisler 51
1921 Frankie Frisch 49
1920 Sam Rice 63
1919 George Burns 40
1918 Max Carey 58
1917 Ty Cobb 55
1916 Ty Cobb 68
1915 Ty Cobb 96
1914 Benny Kauff 75
1913 Clyde Milan 75
1912 Clyde Milan 88
1911 Ty Cobb 83
1910 Eddie Collins 81
1909 Ty Cobb 76
1908 Honus Wagner 53
1907 Honus Wagner 61
1906 Frank Chance 57
1905 Billy Maloney 59
1905 Art Devlin 59
1904 Honus Wagner 53
1903 Jimmy Sheckard 67
1903 Frank Chance 67
1902 Topsy Hartsel 47
1901 Frank Isbell 52
1900 Patsy Donovan 45
1900 George Van Haltren 45
1899 Jimmy Sheckard 77
1898 Ed Delahanty 58
1897 Bill Lange 73
1896 Joe Kelley 87
1895 Billy Hamilton 97
1894 Billy Hamilton 100
1893 Tom Brown 66
1892 John Ward 88
1891 Billy Hamilton 111
1890 Billy Hamilton 102
1889 Billy Hamilton 111
1888 Arlie Latham 109
1887 Hugh Nicol 138 new record
1886 Harry Stovey 68 new record
1875 Tim Murnane 30
1874 Tom Barlow 17
1873 Ross Barnes 43 new record
1872 Dave Eggler 18
1871 Mike McGeary 20 new record