All 8 KC Royals with 45 stolen bases in a season.

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You can thank KC Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. for this refresher. The young star is flirting with history this season, as he is on pace for 45 stolen bases. It got me thinking about which players have done this before.

Several past Royals have eclipsed that mark, but not many this century. The total stolen bases per MLB season was in steady decline starting in 2011 with 3,279. The MLB only saw 2,213 stolen bases in 2021, the fewest since the strike-shortened 1981 season. Base stealing is trending in the right direction once again though, with 2.597 stolen bags already this season.

The game is more fun when players are stealing bases. It also reminds Royals fans of better teams, ones that used speed and base stealing to efficiently score runs. The 2023 Royals are already one of the best base-stealing teams in the MLB, having the second-most stolen bases in the American League this year.

Fans don't need more speculation about what this team can do in a best-case scenario. Let's look at what has happened in the eight Royals who had at least 45 stolen bases in a single season.

Whit Merrifield - 2018

In his first full season with the major-league club, Whit Merrifield left a great first impression. The late-blooming infielder led the MLB with 192 hits and 45 stolen bases. He led the MLB in stolen bases in 2017 as well, but Merrifield clearly improved in baserunning between seasons. He was caught stealing 10 times as well, but that is not the point, right?

Johnny Damon - 2000

Johnny Damon became a well-traveled MLB veteran, but his first stop came in Kansas City. The Fort Riley native swiped 156 bags in his Royals career, but the most came in his final season with the team. He stole 46 bases in the 2000 season, leading all American League players.

Damon's stock was at an all-time high in Kansas City, as he became the first Royals player since 1971 with at least 15 home runs and 45 stolen bases. But alas, the Royals traded Damon to the Oakland Athletics before the 2001 season.

Jose Offerman - 1998

He may be known better for his post-MLB player incidents, but Jose Offerman was once a very productive batter for the Royals. Offerman came to Kansas City after an All-Star season with the Los Angeles Dodgers with some high expectations. The Royals deployed the Dominican Republic native primarily as a second baseman, with his bat and base-stealing skills improving.

He jumped from nine stolen bases in 1997 to 45 in 1998. He also posted a .315 batting average that season, with a league-leading 13 triples. That ended up being his final season in Kansas City, and Offerman went on to have an All-Star appearance for the Boston Red Sox the following season.

Tom Goodwin - 1995-1996

I remember Tom Goodwin from cheap team packs of baseball cards and not from his playing days, but I imagine Royals fans loved the speedy outfielder. He came from the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he appeared in 103 games across three seasons. The Royals selected Goodwin off waivers in 1994 and he became a starter in 1995. His 66 stolen bases in 1996 and 50 in 1995 led the team, despite being a subpar batter. The Royals traded him away in 1997, but Goodwin set an absurd pace with 34 steals in 97 games before the trade.

Vince Coleman - 1994

Truthfully, I saw this name on the list and had no idea who Vince Coleman was. Holy smokes, I need to watch some of his games because that man must have been electric to watch. Coleman became a Hall of Famer in 2003, and his 752 career stolen bases are the sixth most in MLB history, with most of those coming for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Coleman was 32 when he came to Kansas City, on the downhill side of his career. Still, he posted 50 steals in 104 games during the 1994 strike-shortened season. It was a resurgent season for a player who had 110 stolen bases in his rookie year.

Willie Wilson - 1978-1980, 1983-1984, 1987

Here is the Royals stolen base king right here. Willie Wilson is a Kansas City legend for a reason, and his legs were his greatest tool.

Wilson's claim to fame lies in his ability to steal bases, a skill that set him apart as one of the most electrifying baserunners in the history of the sport. Over his 19-year career, from 1976 to 1994, Wilson accumulated 668 stolen bases, good for the 12th most in MLB history. From 1978–1988, Wilson finished in the top five AL base stealers and led the AL with 83 in 1979. He constantly wreaked havoc on opposing pitchers and catchers and served as a lethal weapon for the 1985 World Series champions.

Throughout his tenure with the Kansas City Royals, Wilson's base-stealing prowess not only solidified his status as a fan favorite but also played a pivotal role in his team's offensive strategy. The two-time All-Star's impact extended beyond the basepaths, as his defensive skills and versatility made him an asset in the outfield as well. He won his lone Gold Glove award in 1980, the same year he led the league with 230 hits.

Wilson spent 15 seasons with the Royals, recording 612 stolen bases in that span. He was never caught stealing more than 12 times in a single season, speaking to his efficiency on the basepaths. His contributions during the height of Kansas City baseball earned him a spot in the Royals Hall of Fame in 2000.

Freddie Patek - 1970, 1976-1977

At only 5 feet 5 inches during his playing days, Freddie Patek was not built like a normal everyday MLB player. However, the shortstop played in 1,245 games for the Royals and served as one of the franchise's first stars.

A three-time All-Star for the Royals, Patek had at least 30 steals every season from 1971-1978. He led the AL in 1977 with 53, while also recording 51 the year prior. He swiped 49 bags in 1971, his debut season with the Royals. Patek was caught stealing plenty of times, but he remained an efficient base stealer. His stolen-base percentage ranked in the AL's top-10 six times while playing for the Royals.

Patek is widely regarded as the best shortstop in the Royals' history. His bat was never electric, but his glove and base stealing made him an entertaining player on the Royals' first good baseball teams.

Amos Otis - 1971

Another Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer, Amos Otis, was not a base-stealing prodigy. But he exploded for 52 stolen bases in 1971 because he had the tools to make it work.

Otis' agility and quick reflexes established him as a great defender, as evident by his three career Gold Gloves. That translated well on the basepaths during the 1971 season, when he led the AL in stolen bases. He totaled 374 stolen bases across his entire career and averaged 30 stolen bases a season while playing for the Royals.

Beyond his stealing ability, Otis became one of the franchise's first stars. His contributions to offense and defense captivated both fans and fellow players, making him a significant figure in the early days of Royals baseball.

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