It's not inconceivable, but it's also not likely. Today 50 stolen bases might lead the league, but back in the early 80s that same number might not even crack the top ten. If things come around full circle and the stolen base finds it's way back into a more important part of the game it could happen. It would probably also take someone with Henderson's ego that just wants the record. A lot of Rickey's stolen bases came in games where the stolen base wasn't part of strategy so much as it was just giving him another stolen base.

Absolutely not!! Will never happen again

While on the surface, this looks hard to beat, thats largely because the recent emphasis of the game has moved from speed to power.

Back when this was set, Henderson and Vince Coleman were routinely stealing 100 bases a year. Just because no player has stolen more than 100 since 1987, does not mean that pendulum might not swing back.

And as a sidebar, technically this isn't the record. The record is 138 by Hugh Nicol set back in 1887. The scorekeeping of that era is a little suspect however, particularly as regards steals, so Henderson is usually credited with the record.

Out of interest, here are the top 26 single season leaders if nineteenth century seasons are figured in.


Hugh Nicol 138 1887 Cincinnati Red Stockings AA
Rickey Henderson 130 1982 Oakland Athletics AL
Arlie Latham 129 1887 St. Louis Browns AA
Lou Brock 118 1974 St. Louis Cardinals NL
Charlie Comiskey 117 1887 St. Louis Browns AA
Billy Hamilton 111 1889 Kansas City Blues AA
Billy Hamilton 111 1891 Philadelphia Phillies NL
John Ward 111 1887 New York Giants NL
Vince Coleman 110 1985 St. Louis Cardinals NL
Vince Coleman 109 1987 St. Louis Cardinals NL
Arlie Latham 109 1888 St. Louis Browns AA
Rickey Henderson 108 1983 Oakland Athletics AL
Vince Coleman 107 1986 St. Louis Cardinals NL
Tom Brown 106 1891 Boston Red Stockings AA
Maury Wills 104 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers NL
Pete Browning 103 1887 Louisville Colonels AA
Hugh Nicol 103 1888 Cincinnati Red Stockings AA
Jim Fogarty 102 1887 Philadelphia Phillies NL
Billy Hamilton 102 1890 Philadelphia Phillies NL
Rickey Henderson 100 1980 Oakland Athletics AL
Jim Fogarty 99 1889 Philadelphia Phillies NL
Billy Hamilton 98 1894 Philadelphia Phillies NL
Billy Hamilton 97 1895 Philadelphia Phillies NL
Ron LeFlore 97 1980 Montreal Expos NL
Harry Stovey 97 1890 Boston Red Stockings PL
Ty Cobb 96 1915 Detroit Tigers AL