Watch: MLB Star Channels Ty Cobb's Speed, Steals Home Base on a Pickoff Attempt
Stealing home is a lost art in baseball, but don’t tell that to Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Andrus stole home for the fifth time in his career Sunday in the Rangers 8-7 win over the Oakland A’s.
It happened in the bottom of the first. Andrus drilled a triple to right-centerfield to score Delino DeShields and tie the game at 1-1.
Two batters later, Nomar Mozara was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and third.
A’s starter Brett Anderson, a lefty, tried to pick off Mazara but on his throw to first, Andrus took off for home.
.@ElvisandrusSS1 swipes home for the 5th time in his career.
He has the most steals of home among active players. pic.twitter.com/gmrpTJDnE6
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) April 14, 2019
He scored easily, beating the throw from A’s first baseman Kendrys Morales.
Anderson threw over twice to first. Andrus watched him on the first attempt and saw that he was slow tossing over there — so when he did it again, Andrus took off.
“Through my whole career, I’ve always wanted to do it, especially against a lefty that is really slow,” Andrus said. “He did it one time, and I started calling Mazara to try to get more, more, more, because I wanted (Anderson to throw over) again. I talked to (third-base coach Tony) Beasley and said, ‘If he does that again, I’m going to home plate.’ So he just told me, ‘Make sure you’re safe,'” Andrus said, according to MLB.com.
Andrus went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs, including a home run.
Andrus now has the most steals of home among active players, according to the MLB.
Andrus steals home, triples and belts a homer vs. A’s – via @ESPN App https://t.co/q1rcNxFWpi
— David Skelton (@DavidASkelton) April 15, 2019
But he has a long way to go to catch the all-time leader in stealing home, Ty Cobb. The Tigers Hall of Famer stole home 54 times in his career, according to Baseball Almanac.
If you look at the rankings of players with the most steals of home, almost all played before 1970. The only post-1970s players in the list are Rod Carew with 14 and Paul Molitor with 10, according to Baseball Almanac.
This why Ty Cobb has the stealing home record. #dropkick pic.twitter.com/5VWquEtI
— Mike Smith (@OttoVonBiZmarck) June 15, 2012
Andrus, 30, has 275 career stolen bases, which is sixth among active players, according to Baseball Reference.
Rajai Davis (415), Jacoby Ellsbury (343), Dee Gordon (315), Hanley Ramirez (281) and Billy Hamilton (279) are the active players ahead of him.
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