Vince Coleman's Record Stolen Base Streak Ends at 50

On July 28, 1989, Vince Coleman of the St. Louis Cardinals was thrown out trying to steal second base by Montreal Expos catcher Nelson Santovenia, ending his major league record streak of 50 consecutive successful stolen bases. The Cardinals won the game 2-0 at Olympic Stadium, but Coleman's streak, which had stretched across three months, was over.

Coleman had not been caught stealing since April 18. Over 50 straight attempts, he had tormented pitchers and catchers with his raw speed, taking bases almost at will. His streak shattered the previous record of 38 consecutive steals set by Davey Lopes of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1975. The 50-steal run remains the longest in major league history.

Speed defined Coleman's game. He had burst onto the scene in 1985, stealing 110 bases as a rookie to set a record for first-year players. He followed that with 107 steals in 1986 and 109 in 1987, becoming the first player in history to steal 100 or more bases in each of his first three seasons. His speed was so disruptive that it changed the way opposing teams prepared for games against the Cardinals.

Coleman was not a complete player. He hit for little power, walked infrequently, and was a below-average outfielder. His batting average hovered around .260 for most of his career. But when he reached base, he transformed the game. His presence on first base forced pitchers to throw over repeatedly, disrupted their rhythm, and created scoring opportunities that the Cardinals exploited throughout the late 1980s.

The 50-steal streak was the peak of Coleman's baserunning career. He finished the 1989 season with 65 steals and was caught 10 times. He left St. Louis as a free agent after the 1990 season, signing with the New York Mets, where injuries and off-field problems diminished his production.

Coleman stole 752 bases in his 13-year career, ranking him among the top 10 in baseball history. His combination of pure speed and baserunning aggression made him one of the most electric players of his era, and the 50-steal streak stands as the single most impressive demonstration of that talent.