FanPost

Steal Them All

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

On March 31st 2018 Blue Jays fans were treated to (and Yankee fan were subjected to) seeing a rare accomplishment. In the bottom of the eighth inning Kevin Pillar managed to steal second, third and home. Something that only 41 other players had ever done in the MLB. The last time it happened in the American League was over 20 years ago, in 1996, when Chris Stynes playing for the Royals did it in the first inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners.

It's actually happened 4 times since then in the National League with Eric Young doing it a month later, Jayson Werth getting it done in 2009, Dee Gordon in 2011, and last season Wil Myers managed it as well.

As rare as it is to steal every base in one inning 4 players have actually done it more than once in their careers. Max Carey did it twice; once in 1923 and again in 1925. Jackie Tavener did it in back to back years, 1927 and 1928, both times against the Yankees. Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner hold the American League and National League records respectively each accomplishing the feat a remarkable 4 times.

Kevin Pillar is the only man to do it while wearing a Blue Jays uniform but he isn't the only man to wear a Blue Jays uniform whose done it. As I mentioned earlier Jayson Werth did it in 2009 after he had left the Blue Jays and while he was playing for the Philadelphia Phillies. He actually stole 4 bases that game. The man behind the plate that day was none other then Russell Martin (I have to imagine he enjoyed seeing Kevin do it more then he did Jayson.)

It doesn't stop there however, before coming to the Blue Jays and helping them to win some World Series 2 other Blue Jays did it as well. Not so surprisingly on September 9th 1989 Devon White managed to make it look easy.

And somewhat surprisingly, to me, Paul Molitor aided by some misplays managed to do it in 1987.

It was definitely fun to see Pillar join these ranks and perhaps he can even join the truly special group of players that have done it more than once. Maybe he can even surpass them he only needs to do it 4 more times to break the record.

Editor's Note: This is a FanPost written by a reader and member of Bluebird Banter. It was not commissioned by the editors and is not necessarily reflective of the opinions of Bluebird Banter or SB Nation.