Chicago Cubs: The best base stealers in Cubs history

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Chicago Cubs (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

The art of stealing a base can change the outcome of a baseball game. It happens to be that the Chicago Cubs have had numerous great base stealers.

A great deal of Chicago Cubs games since the beginning of the organization has been decided by a single run, meaning that the difference between a win or a loss can be any one of many small details. One important factor in a team’s success can be its ability to advance runners on the basepaths.

Speed on the bases is a great skill to have, and while speed itself is valuable, it takes a certain internal ability for players to truly be an expert at swiping bases when needed.

We all know that the stolen base is still a phenomenal weapon in baseball. At times, it can change the aspect of a game, and aggressive thefts of bases can weaken the entire defense and swing the momentum to the offensive side.

Through the years, the Cubs have had some of the most daring and successful base stealers in baseball. Here’s my attempt to pick the top ten in franchise history.

Chicago Cubs: Some legendary names kick off the list

#10 – Cap Anson (1876-96)

Cap Anson was not only a great Cubs player but he later went on to become one of the best managers in Cubs history. In his 22 years with this organization, he managed to rack up 247 stolen bases, without being caught stealing in his career. Along with his tremendous speed, Anson had 3,012 hits and drove in 1,880. Anson played in 2,277 games in his career with this franchise, in those games he had a .396 OBP and was a major factor in scoring runs for this club in the early years.

#9 – Fred Pfeffer (1883-89, 1891, 1896-97)

This middle infielder from Louisville, Kentucky was a major factor on the base path. The decade long career with the Cubs, Fred Pfeffer successfully stole 263 bases in 1093 games. During the 1888 season, Pfeffer led the White Stockings as they were called back then in stolen bases with 64. The next highest total in a season was 57 stolen bases in the previous year (1887).

#8 – Bill Dahlen (1891-98)

This 5’9, 180lb speed demon once had a career-high 51 stolen bases in a single season back in 1896. The New York native, Bill Dahlen joined the team in 1891, in his first season alone Dahlen stole 21 bases in 135 games. In his eight-year career, Dahlen has 286 stolen bases in his 987 career games with Chicago.

#7 – Johnny Evers (1902-13)

Another New York native joins the list as second baseman Johnny Evers played in 1,409 games over his first 12 years playing professional baseball in Chicago. In those 12 years, Evers has stolen 291 bases, including a career-high mark of 61 in his second-to-last year with the Cubs.

Ryne Sandberg / Chicago Cubs (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: More Hall of Fame talents keep us rolling

#6 – Walt Wilmot (1890-95)

By far the shortest career in Chicago we have seen so far. The switch-hitting left fielder Walt Wilmot once stole 76 bases in his first year with the club (1890) and in his fourth year (1894). In his short six-year career Wilmot has played in 689 games and in those games he swiped bases 292 different times. While he was a member of the Chicago franchise he averaged 48.6 per season he played.

#5 – Joe Tinker (1902-12,1916)

This righty was also a speed demon back in the day. Joe Tinker played 12 years in Chicago, in those 12 years, Tinker has played in 1539 games. Throughout his long career with the Cubs, Tinker stole 304 bases. Just an average slightly above 25 (25.3) stolen bases per season, Tinker did have a career-high back in 1904 when he stole 41 bases in 141 games.

#4 – Ryne Sandberg (1982-94, 1996-95)

Nine-time Gold Glove winner Ryne Sandberg is probably considered one of the favorites among Cub fans. Throughout his 15-year career with Cubs, he played with some of the Cubs’ most talented players. Among those players included Fergie Jenkins, Andre Dawson and Mark Grace just to name a few.

In his 2,151 games as a Cub, Sandberg stole 344 career bases putting him fourth all-time in Cubs history. The 10-time All-Star had a career year in 1985 where he finished 14th in the MVP race and won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger. In that same year, Sandberg led the team with 54 stolen bases.

Chicago Cubs: The most prodigious base stealers in team history

#3 – Jimmy Ryan (1885-1900)

With an average of 30.8 steals a season, Jimmy Ryan played in Chicago 15 out of his 18 years as a professional ballplayer. While with Chicago Ryan played in 1662 games. While batting for a Chicago average of .308 he stole 370 bases. Ryan’s most impressive season was back in 1888 where he had a stat line of .332/.377/.515 and stole career-high 60 bases.

#2 – Bill Lange (1893-99)

The seven-year career of Bill Lange was very impressive. In only 813 games in Chicago Lange managed to steal almost half the amount of games played. His 400 steals in only two behind the all-time Cubs leader. Lange had an outstanding year back in 1896 where he not only hit .326/.414/.465 but he stole a team single-season record of 84 bases that still stands today.

#1 – Frank Chance (1898-1912)

Like Anson above Frank Chance was a player and a manager during his time as a professional baseball player. Chance is considered to be the winningest manager in the post-1900s in Cubs franchise history. As a player Chance played in 1,275 games during his 15 years in Chicago. This all-time leading speed demon stole 402 bases in his luxurious career. Chance’s most famous season came back in 1906 when he led the team in runs (103) and in stolen bases (57).

Next. Ranking all Cubs postseason series since 1984. dark

As you can see we had some tremendous speed demons that played a huge part in the success of this franchise. From MVPs to World Series winners there is no doubt a stolen base has played a huge part in games for the Chicago Cubs. Maybe one day we will see a modern-day player like Javier Baez be on this list.

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