The pitch clock era has completely changed how base stealing is approached in baseball. With pitchers having less time to hold runners and more pressure on their timing, it’s a golden age for speedsters looking to swipe a few bags.
If the speed demons of the past had the same advantage, their stolen base totals would have been even more eye-popping. Here are base stealers who would have thrived under the modern pitch clock rules.
14. Tim Raines
Raines’s smooth, effortless stride made him one of the most efficient base stealers ever. He stole 808 bases in his career, and the pitch clock would have only made him more dangerous.
13. Vince Coleman
Known for his blazing speed, Coleman swiped 100+ bases in three straight seasons. With today’s faster pace, he might have broken his records.
12. Lou Brock
Brock set the single-season stolen base record in 1974 with 118 before Rickey Henderson shattered it. The pitch clock would have given him a few extra seconds to add to that total.
11. Maury Wills
Wills brought the stolen base back into fashion in the 1960s, swiping 104 bags in 1962. He would have loved today’s pitchers’ shorter wind-ups and predictable timing.
10. Willie Wilson
Wilson combined track star speed with baseball smarts, making him a constant threat on the base paths. He stole 83 bases in 1979 and would have terrorized modern pitchers.
9. Kenny Lofton
Lofton’s lightning speed and quick jumps made him a nightmare for pitchers. His 622 career steals would have come even easier in the pitch clock era.
8. Jose Reyes
Reyes combined swagger and speed, leading the league in steals three times. With the pitch clock, he would have been even more of a problem.
7. Ichiro Suzuki
Known for his incredible contact skills and speed, Ichiro stole 509 bases despite coming to MLB at 27. The pitch clock could have helped him challenge the 700 mark.
6. Davey Lopes
Lopes was one of the smartest base stealers of his era, getting incredible jumps on pitchers. He swiped 557 bags, and his efficiency would have made him lethal today.
5. Bert Campaneris
Campaneris was one of the original base-stealing pests, swiping 649 bags in his career. The pitch clock would have only made his head-starts more terrifying for pitchers.
4. Otis Nixon
Nixon might not have had the power, but he sure had the wheels, stealing 620 bases in his career. With today’s rules, he would have been even more relentless.
3. Juan Pierre
Pierre’s speed and savvy on the bases made him a constant threat, with 614 career steals. The pitch clock would have let him run wild even more often.
Read More: 15 Pitchers Who Were Never as Good as Advertised
2. Carl Crawford
Crawford was one of the fastest players of his era, stealing 480 bases in just 13 seasons. He would have been a nightmare for modern pitchers trying to beat the clock.
Read More: 10 Pitchers Who Would’ve Dominated with Modern Pitch Clocks
1. Rickey Henderson
Henderson was the greatest base stealer in baseball history, with 1,406 steals. He was a master at reading pitchers. Imagine how much more havoc he could have caused with a 20-second pitch clock.
Read More: 10 Most Ruthless Base Stealers in MLB History
