The Art of Base-Stealing

By George Sullivan

Describes the techniques and the careers of outstanding base stealers in professional baseball. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0396080405
• ISBN13: 9780396080404
• Release Date: April 1982
• Publisher: Putnam Pub Group Library (1982)
• Weight: 1.58 lbs.
• Age Range: 12 to 16 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 11

Customer Reviews

More the history of the art of base-stealing for young fans

Do not be fooled by the title of "The Art of Base-Stealing," because there are some scientific aspects to that part of playing baseball. I am sure a physicist can work out a formula that explains all the variables regarding the speed of the run, how early he gets his jump, the time it takes the pitcher to release the ball, how fast the catcher can throw, that would explain how it works. Billy Martin did essentially that when he taught Rod Carew how to steal home and in this book we learn early on that if you cannot race 90 feet from first base to second in 3.5 second, so not even try. But George Sullivan wants to present it as an art form and there is nothing wrong with that. "The Art of Base-Stealing" provides not only a detailed explanation of how to steal a base, but tips from various major league players along with humorous anecdotes about stealing bases and a whole bunch of records and statistics. The impetus for the volume was the reemergence of base-stealing in the 1980s, a decade during which daring and exciting running was defining the sport and virtually every team sported two or three "bandits" who could steal a base almost at will. In 1980 the 26 major league teams had 3,294 stolen bases, the biggest total since 1911. Consequently, Sullivan takes pains to explain the changes in the game during that period that made frequent base-stealing a key part of how baseball was being played. Sullivan begins with the idea that "Speed Kills," looking at how a run can be scored with getting a hit (walk, stolen base, error on the throw, Tim Raines scores) and the revolution that had taken place in the game. The chapters that follow are devoted to "The Golden Days" of base-stealing before Babe Ruth, when Ty Cobb and Max Carey were the best in the game and Cool Papa Bell of the Negro Leagues was reputed to be the fastest man ever to play baseball. "Putting the Lid On" looks at the shift to the power game with Ruth while "Crime Makes a Comeback" relates how Maury Wills broke Cobb's single-season record by stealing 104 bases in 1962. "King of the Base Paths" tells about Lou Brock, who broke Cobb's lifetime record while "The Best Today" talks about Bill North, Ron LeFlore, Tim Raines, Rickey Henderson, and Willie Wilson, as well as managers like Billy Martin and Chuck Tanner who like to have their players steal bases. "How to Steal a Base" goes through the steps with helpful hints that can give young wannabe baseball stealers the edge that they might need. Then, for fun, there are "Stealing's Zaniest Moments," where Fred Clarke stole home without intending to, Germany Schaefer stole first base, Babe Ruth making the final out of the World Series trying to steal second, and many more. The back of the book includes a list of the All-Time Stolen Base Leaders and One-Season Leaders, All-Time Records (e.g., Rod Carew tied the record by stealing home seven times in 1969), and Stolen Base Leaders for both leagues from 1900 to 1981. Actually, it is rat