That was very fun to watch.
Thanks for sharing cutworm!
Billy could be up there near the top for stealing bases except his career BA is only .242 and he hasn't always been in the line up every day because of this in recent years and the last several years, he stopped stealing bases as much as he had previously.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamilbi02.shtml
In 2015, he had just 93 hits but an amazing 57 stolen bases and 7 of those hits were triples or homers, so out of 86 singles/doubles, he had 57 stolen bases.
That has got to be a record if they have one for that stat.
He had 8 doubles that year, so just 78 singles and 57 SB's.
I know he used some of those doubles to swipe 3rd base though which is really something because the distance to the plate is 37 feet CLOSER to 1st and 3rd base than it is 2nd base(and the pitcher doesn't have to get out of the way).
http://m.mlb.com/glossary/rules/field-dimensions
This compilation of him being thrown out must have required more time to compile.............it's quite an accomplishment with incredible throws from the catchers.
Billy Hamilton's career best season high for stolen bases was in 2017, when he stole 59 bases.
Where did that rank on the all time list for most steals in a season.
Tied for 241st place!
https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SB_season.shtml
Here is a list of the top 20 and the year that it occurred.
Wait a second, we can see the name Billy Hamilton on this list 4 times...................from 130 years ago!
| Rank | Player (age that year) | Stolen Bases | Year | Bats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Hugh Nicol (29) | 138 | 1887 | R |
| 2. | Rickey Henderson+ (23) | 130 | 1982 | R |
| 3. | Arlie Latham (27) | 129 | 1887 | R |
| 4. | Lou Brock+ (35) | 118 | 1974 | L |
| 5. | Charlie Comiskey+ (27) | 117 | 1887 | R |
| 6. | Billy Hamilton+ (23) | 111 | 1889 | L |
| Billy Hamilton+ (25) | 111 | 1891 | L | |
| John Ward+ (27) | 111 | 1887 | L | |
| 9. | Vince Coleman (23) | 110 | 1985 | B |
| 10. | Vince Coleman (25) | 109 | 1987 | B |
| Arlie Latham (28) | 109 | 1888 | R | |
| 12. | Rickey Henderson+ (24) | 108 | 1983 | R |
| 13. | Vince Coleman (24) | 107 | 1986 | B |
| 14. | Tom Brown (30) | 106 | 1891 | L |
| 15. | Maury Wills (29) | 104 | 1962 | B |
| 16. | Pete Browning (26) | 103 | 1887 | R |
| Hugh Nicol (30) | 103 | 1888 | R | |
| 18. | Jim Fogarty (23) | 102 | 1887 | R |
| Billy Hamilton+ (24) | 102 | 1890 | L | |
| 20. | Billy Hamilton+ (28) | 100 | 1894 | L |
And we know that it this wasn't Billy's great great grandfather.
http://fromdeeprightfield.com/sliding-billy-hamilton-first-great-run-producer/
"When talking about Hamilton’s base running skills, Jack Carsey stated, “I never saw any runner get a lead-off like Billy.” Hamilton turned base stealing into the formidable offensive weapon we now see. It’s just that there aren’t many Hamiltons around to generate that kind of excitement.
At the end of his playing days, Hamilton–always a good financial steward–did well in real estate, and lived a very comfortable life. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1961.
“Sliding Billy” Hamilton–The First Great Run Producer!"
Funny that he would say in 2012: "It’s just that there aren’t many Hamiltons around to generate that kind of excitement" The year before this Billy Hamilton made his debut in the MLB!
loved watching him play for the reds. not just stealing bases, but he also could chase down a fly ball better than most others.
Billy ALWAYS gave it his very best.