Mention the name Maury Wills around any longtime Dodger fan and the very first thing that comes to their mind are the 104 bases that he stole during the 1962 season to set a then MLB record. Wills’ record would stand for 12 years until broken in 1974 by St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame outfielder Lou Brock with his 118 stolen bases.

It would be another eight years before Brock’s record would also be broken by Oakland A’s outfielder and fellow Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who swiped 130 bags in 1982 – a record which still stands today and probably will forever.

But even before Wills’ historic 1962 season, the Dodgers were well-known for their base stealing prowess. Who can forget what even to this day is still considered by many to be the greatest stolen base of all time when Jackie Robinson stole home during Game-1 of the 1955 World Series?

Although Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra maintained until his death in 2015 that Jackie Robinson was out, Robinson’s steal of home during Game-1 of the 1955 World Series is still considered by many to be the greatest stolen base of all time. (Photo credit – John Rooney)

But somewhere between Henderson’s historic 1982 record season and today, something changed. The running game – at least the base stealing game – has become pretty much extinct.

Oh sure, every now and then a guy like Cincinnati Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton comes along and steals the show – pun intended. But even during his best season (2017) the 27-year-old Taylorsville, Mississippi native and Reds 2009 second round draft pick only stole 59 bases and has stolen only 24 bags thus far this season.

Simply put, stolen bases are no longer a major element of today’s game, this either because pitchers today are faster to the plate with the deliveries than they once were, or teams would just rather rely on the age-old adage of ‘Get ’em on, get ’em over, get ’em in’ via the man at the plate.

There is also the risk of injury to the would-be base stealer with today’s preferred headfirst slides, such as the case with Houston Astros center fielder and 2017 World Series MVP George Springer, who had to exit Sunday’s game against the Dodgers after experiencing “discomfort” in his left thumb after being caught stealing at second base by Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal.

Even though X-rays were negative, Astros center fielder George Springer will more than likely land on the disabled list after injuring his left thumb while attempting (unsuccessfully) to steal second base on Sunday afternoon. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

During the 2017 regular season, the Dodgers had only three players steal double-digit bases – utility infielder / outfielder Chris Taylor (17), right fielder Yasiel Puig (15), and 2017 National League Rookie of the Year first baseman / outfielder Cody Bellinger (10).

Through their 113 games thus far this season, the Dodgers have zero double-digit base stealers … zip, zilch, nada. In fact, as of this writing, Bellinger and Puig have only seven and Taylor only five. No other Dodger player has more than two stolen bases thus far this season.

…sort of.

When the Dodgers acquired All-Star / Gold Glove shortstop Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles and All-Star / Gold Glove second baseman Brian Dozier from the Minnesota Twins at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, they immediately inherited a couple of pretty good base stealers.

Although nothing even remotely close to Billy Hamilton’s 24 steals thus far this season, Machado came to the Dodgers with eight stolen bases under his belt with only one caught stealing (CS), and Dozier with eight stolen bases with three CS.

Since joining the Dodgers, Machado has added two more stolen bases with no CS in the 17 games in which he has played with his new team, with Dozier yet to attempt a stolen base in the five games in which he has played with the Dodgers. During the 2017 season Machado and Dozier stole nine and 16 bases respectively.

Machado picked up his second stolen base as a Dodger last Thursday night against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Note the old school Jackie Robinson-esque feet-first slide. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Obviously, this is still a far cry from the Maury Wills-era Dodgers and even from the 2017 Dodgers. But you definitely have to like the fact that with the addition of Machado and Dozier, there is a good chance that we could see as many (or perhaps even more) total stolen bases this year than the combined 77 Dodgers stolen bases during the 2017 season. That being said, keep in mind that the combined 16 stolen bases that Machado and Dozier arrived with do not count towards the Dodgers current tally of 36 steals this season.

It’s time to hit the ground running, boys … just like the good ol’ days.

Play Ball!