Baseball Glossary › Stolen Base
Stolen Base (SB)
A stolen base (SB) is credited when a baserunner advances to a base he is not entitled to, usually while the pitcher is delivering a pitch. The official scorer must judge that he was trying to steal. Advancing on a wild pitch, an error or defensive indifference is not a stolen base.
Athletics example: Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson finished his career with 1,406 stolen bases in 3,081 games, the defining number of the most famous base stealer in A's history. See the full career line on the Rickey Henderson player page.
Steals per game = 1,406 / 3,081 = 0.46
Career MLB totals from our player database (MLB Stats API).
What to Know
A steal is only half the story. Every caught stealing gives away an out, so analysts look at success rate: stolen bases divided by attempts. MLB's glossary gives a rule of thumb that a runner succeeding about 75 percent of the time or better is helping his team, while a 50 percent runner is hurting it.
Stealing second is the classic way to move into scoring position, where a single can usually bring the runner home. A stolen base does not add to a hitter's total bases, which only come from hits.
Speed matters, but MLB's glossary also stresses reading the pitcher's move, getting a good jump and picking the right pitch to run on. For the most famous base stealer in franchise history, see Rickey Henderson.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a stolen base in baseball?
A stolen base is credited when a runner advances to the next base on his own, usually during a pitch, without the help of a hit, walk, error or other play. The official scorer must judge that he was attempting a steal.
What does SB mean in baseball stats?
SB stands for stolen bases. It is a counting stat showing how many times a runner has successfully stolen a base. It is often shown next to CS, caught stealing, to show attempts.
Does advancing on a wild pitch count as a stolen base?
Not by itself. If a runner takes a base on a wild pitch or passed ball, it is not a steal. MLB's glossary notes that if he was already running when the wild pitch happened, he is generally credited with a steal.
What is defensive indifference?
When the defense does not try to stop a runner, usually late in a game with a lead of more than one run, the scorer rules defensive indifference instead of a stolen base. The runner advances but gets no SB.
What is a good stolen base success rate?
MLB's glossary gives a rule of thumb that a success rate of about 75 percent or higher means a runner is helping his team. A runner who is safe only half the time costs his team outs.
Does a stolen base count toward total bases?
No. Total bases come only from hits: one for a single, two for a double, three for a triple and four for a home run. Steals do not change total bases or slugging percentage.
Related Terms
Sources
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