We've seen a substantial increase in steal attempts and successful stolen base rates across baseball over the past couple of years, adding even more excitement to the game. While many baseball enthusiasts know that Rickey Henderson owns the all-time steals record for a career (1,406) and a season (130), the list of players with the most consecutive steals without being caught isn't as obvious.
Phillies shortstop Trea Turner sped into the top five of that list with a streak that spanned over parts of three seasons and contained 41 consecutive steals before it came to an end against the Reds on April 24, 2024. Courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau, here's a look at the top five dating back to 1951, when caught-stealing records began being kept by both leagues, as well as the players with a streak of 35 or more since 2000.
Top five all-time
1. Vince Coleman, Cardinals -- 50 from Sept. 18, 1988, to July 26, 1989
Coleman was the Henderson of the National League in the 1980s, leading the senior circuit in steals each year from his rookie campaign in 1985 through his final season with the Cardinals in '90. He stole more than 100 bases each year from 1985-87 and swiped 549 of his career 752 bags while with St. Louis. From Sept. 1988 to July of '89, you just couldn't catch him. His 50-for-50 in steal attempts over that span is unmatched in AL/NL history.
2. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners -- 45 from April 29, 2006, to May 16, 2007
On his way to becoming the second player in MLB history to win his league's Rookie of the Year and MVP Awards in the same year, Ichiro led baseball with 56 steals in 2001. He proceeded to swipe at least 31 bases in each of the next seven seasons, and in 10 of 11 overall. From 2007-08, he was unstoppable, taking 45 in a row without being thrown out. He finished his illustrious Major League career with 509 steals to go along with 3,089 hits and 10 Gold Glove Awards in right field.
3. Trea Turner, Dodgers/Phillies -- 41 from Sept. 6, 2022, to April 24, 2024
Turner is more than just style on the basepaths -- he's one of the fastest players in the game today, and he's stolen 30 or more bases six times in his career. One of the most dangerous power-speed threats in baseball, Turner has been exhibiting the speed element to his game prominently over the past couple of seasons. His successful steals streak began while he was with the Dodgers late in the 2022 campaign with a swipe of second base against the Giants. He remained uncaught until he was tagged out in a rundown between third base and home plate during the Phillies' 25th game of the '24 campaign.
4. Tim Raines, White Sox -- 40 from July 23, 1993 to Aug. 4, 1995
What makes Raines' consecutive steals streak even more remarkable is that he produced it in his age-33 through age-35 seasons. Already regarded as one of the greatest basestealers of all time, the Hall of Famer wasn't caught stealing for more than two years in the early-to-mid 1990s with the White Sox. After leading either the NL or MLB in steals each year from 1981-84 while with the Expos, he showed a decade later that the wheels were still robust, nabbing 40 straight before finally being thrown out. His 808 career steals rank fifth in AL/NL history.
5. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies -- 39 from Sept. 1, 2007, to July 19, 2008
Rollins grew up in Oakland watching his baseball hero Henderson running wild on the bases for the A's. Rollins took that skill and made it his own, stealing 470 bases during his 17-year MLB career. The four-time Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop was named NL MVP in 2007, and he was instrumental in helping the Phillies reach back-to-back World Series in '08 and '09. From late in the '07 campaign to midway through the '08 season, Rollins went 39-for-39 in steal attempts.
At least 35 straight since 2000
Other than Ichiro, Turner and Rollins above, there have been four other instances of a player stealing at least 35 straight bases without being caught since 2000.
Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers -- 38 from July 23, 2024, to April 4, 2025
Ohtani achieved an MLB first in 2024 with his 50-50 season. But such an accomplishment was on no one's mind back on July 23 of that year. At that point, Ohtani had stolen only 23 bases in the Dodgers' first 101 games. But then he turned on the jets, logging 36 consecutive successful steals across the team's final 61 games. He picked up two more stolen bases in March 2025 before his streak was snapped in a loss to the Phillies.
Brice Turang, Brewers -- 36 from July 15, 2023, to May 27, 2024
In 2024, Turang won the Platinum Glove, which is awarded annually to the best defensive player in each league. The second baseman was obviously outstanding when fielding on the dirt, but he was exceptional when running on it, too. Thanks in part to this streak, Turang went on to nab 50 bases in '24, which was the fifth-most in Brewers franchise history.
Coco Crisp, A's -- 36 from July 16, 2011, to June 19, 2012
Beyond having one of the greatest names in baseball history, Crisp had some great wheels of his own during a 15-year MLB career. He stole 309 bases, 49 of which came in 2011, when he led the AL. It was that year that he began a streak of 36 consecutive stolen bases without being thrown out. He also utilized his speed to make some incredible plays in the outfield.
Jimmy Rollins, Phillies -- 35 from May 9, 2001, to Aug. 25, 2001
To steal at least 35 consecutive bases without being thrown out is quite a feat to achieve once. Rollins did it twice. The first time came within the same season -- his rookie campaign in 2001. He led the NL with 46 steals overall, being caught only eight times. He also led the league with 12 triples and earned the first of three All-Star selections.