Catchers stealing a W -- a truly rare event

I'm sure the unassisted triple play turned by Phillies infielder Eric Bruntlett to end the game against the Mets the other day initiated a lot of conversations among die-hard baseball watchers about the rarity of certain feats like: a perfect game, the unassisted triple play and even hitting for the cycle. However, since all three of these events have happened in just the past 2 months, one has to argue that they come around more often than one would expect. After all,even the relatively low number of perfect games (Buehrle's was the 18th in M.L. history) has included several in the past 20 years.

No, for a truly rare phenomenon in the history of Major League baseball, I submit to you the following: a catcher executing a "straight steal" of home in the late innings to immediately win the game for his team. It is so infrequent that it's only happened three times since 1900.

But before I reveal the details of those rarities, I must lay out a set of extenuating circumstances. And thus, this scenario comes with some caveats: it's the bottom of the inning so the catcher's successful steal of home immediately ends the game, winning it for the home team. Say a visiting catcher pulled off the same feat in the top of a given inning, it might give his team the lead, but not an immediate win since the home team would still get to bat in the bottom of that inning, and thus the game could continue for at least another half-inning. Secondly, the steal of home by the catcher must be a "straight steal" of home, not the back-end of a double steal where the catcher throws down to second base in an ill-fated attempt to get the trailing runner for the third out; or a botched suicide squeeze attempt where the catcher heading home might be given credit for a steal when in fact a mis-play by the opposition blowing the ensuing rundown play leads to the run scoring.

Now with those simple restrictions in place, let's review the only three instances in M.L. history since 1900 of a catcher stealing home to immediately win the game for the home team.

June 11, 1917 -- Philadelphia Phillies @ St. Louis Cardinals

In the bottom of the 15th inning, with the score tied 4-4, Cardinal catcher Mike Gonzalez doubled to lead off the inning. He moved to third on a ground out by Cardinals 2B Dots Miller. When the Phillies intentionally walked the next hitter, Rogers Hornsby, "the Rajah" immediately stole second base in a failed attempt to draw a throw. So when the Phillies pitcher, righty Joe Oeschger, began his wind up, Gonzalez decided to take matters into his own hands and dashed towards the plate. He slid under the tag of Phillies catcher, Bill Killefer, and the game was over, as the Cardinals won 5-4 in 15 innings.

July 2, 1933 -- Chicago Cubs @ Brooklyn Dodgers

In the bottom of the ninth inning, with the Cubs leading 3-2, Dodgers catcher(and future HOF'er) Al Lopez singled with one out for the Dodgers' second hit of the inning. Another single by center fielder Ralph Boyle brought home the tying run as Lopez advanced to third base. When the next Dodgers hitter, outfielder Johnny Frederick, flied out to short left, Lopez remained at third with two outs. But Cubs reliever Charlie Root, who had taken over for starter Lon Warneke in the ninth, obviously didn't pay enough attention to Lopez, who promptly broke for the plate and was safe despite the best efforts of Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett. Dodgers fans mobbed Lopez at home plate as Brooklyn took both games of a double header from the Cubs.

August 22, 1982 -- S. F. Giants @ St. Louis Cardinals

In the bottom of the 12th inning, with the game tied 4-4, Cardinals back-up catcher Glenn Brummer singled to left with one out and quickly advanced to 2nd base on Willie McGee's single. When shortstop Ozzie Smith's infield dribbler off Giants reliever Gary Lavelle loaded the bases with two outs, moving Brummer over to third base, the stage was set for a dramatic finish. Brummer surprised everyone in both dugouts at Busch Stadium by sneaking home with the winning run to give the Cardinals a 5-4 victory. After all this is a guy who, in parts of 5 M.L. seasons, stole a total of 4 bases(and was caught stealing 8 times!).

Now while it must be noted that while there are literally hundreds of documented cases of catchers stealing home in the majors, these are the only three that immediately ended the game with a victory for the home team. And while there have been 35 "walk-off" steals of home since 1900(though only 28 were "straight steals"), by players as diverse as Jim Thorpe, Wally Moses, Vic Power and George Brett, only three have been by a catcher. So the next time you and your friends want to talk about true baseball rarities, consider an event that's only happened three times in almost 110 years of M.L. baseball.

NOTE: Research credit for most of the information detailed here goes to my fellow SABR member, Jan Larson of Austin, Texas. Jan worked tirelessly to compile the list of 35 "walk-off" steals of home since 1900 and had his research presented in article form in edition # 36 of "The Baseball Research Journal", published by SABR in 2007.