Base stealing has always been a cat-and-mouse game, but the pitch clock era has tilted the scales in favor of the thieves. With limited pickoff attempts and pitchers racing against time, there’s never been a better moment in baseball history to swipe a bag, and these guys would’ve had a field day.
We’re talking about the burners, the disruptors, the guys who could turn a walk into a triple. If they had today’s rules, the stolen base record books might look wildly different. Let’s count down the 20 base stealers who were practically made for the pitch clock era.
20. Brett Butler
He was an on-base machine with wheels, always looking for an edge. Under today’s rules, pitchers wouldn’t have had enough time or pickoff attempts to stop him.
19. Marquis Grissom
Grissom could fly and wasn’t afraid to show it. With modern rules helping base runners, he’d be terrorizing catchers all over again.
18. Davey Lopes
He had great instincts and even better timing. In a pitch clock world, he’d be halfway to second before the pitcher even got set.
17. Eric Davis
When healthy, he was a five-tool freak with elite speed. He would’ve had a green light 24/7 in today’s game.
16. Juan Pierre
Pierre made a living off singles and steals. Add in pitch clock pressure, and he might’ve doubled his stolen base totals.
15. Willie Wilson
Wilson was a blur on the basepaths, swiping 668 bases with effortless stride and elite first-step quickness. Give him today’s pickoff rules, and pitchers would barely have time to glance before he was standing on second.
14. Coco Crisp
Yes, his name was unforgettable, but so was his speed. With fewer pickoff chances, Coco would be gone before pitchers finished checking the runner.
13. Kenny Lofton
He didn’t quite live up to his dad’s legacy, but the tools were there. Give him the rules of today, and he might’ve carved out a different narrative.
12. Amos Otis
Lofton combined leadoff savvy with world-class speed, racking up 622 steals and disrupting pitchers every time he reached base. In the pitch clock era, he’d weaponize that chaos and turn routine walks into instant scoring threats.
11. Delino DeShields
He had quickness in his DNA and loved to run. This modern era would’ve made him a nightly base-stealing highlight reel.
10. Michael Bourn
Bourn didn’t just run, he exploded out of the box. The pitch clock would’ve turned him into a stolen base artist with flair.
9. Otis Nixon
Even in his later years, Nixon could run like the wind. Put him in the pitch clock era, and he might’ve broken records in his 40s.
8. Maury Wills
He revolutionized the stolen base game in the ’60s. With today’s timing rules, he’d be straight-up ungovernable.
7. Tom Goodwin
Goodwin was always a threat to take the extra base. Imagine him with a pitch clock countdown ticking, pure nightmare fuel for pitchers.
6. Carl Crawford
Crawford’s prime was electric, and his first step was lethal. In a world where pitchers can’t reset endlessly, he’d be off to the races constantly.
5. Bert Campaneris
Campy had the green light before it was trendy. Modern rules would only make him bolder and even more annoying to deal with.
4. Ron LeFlore
A true speedster who went from prison to the pros and outran everyone along the way. With today’s pitch limits, he’d be long gone before anyone noticed.
3. Vince Coleman
He stole 100+ bases like it was no big deal. Now imagine him when pitchers can’t throw over a dozen times, good luck.
2. Tim Raines
Raines had power, patience, and elite base-stealing precision. In the pitch clock era, he might’ve been the perfect offensive weapon.
Read More: 10 Pitchers Who Would’ve Dominated with Modern Pitch Clocks
1. Rickey Henderson
The GOAT of base stealing didn’t need any help, but if he had today’s rules? Just go ahead and give him a second, third, and probably home while you’re at it.
Read More: 15 Base Stealers Who Would Have Crushed in the Pitch Clock Era
