On this date (May 21) 22 years ago (1997), thought I’d save you the math), Jim Thome – he of the 612 home runs – won a game for the Indians, not with his bat, but with his feet.
Photo by Keith Allison 
It came about in the bottom of the fourth inning of a scoreless tie (versus the Royals). Thome (playing 1B and batting third) that day opened the inning with a single off Royals’ starter Kevin Appier. Indians’ third baseman Matt Williams followed with a single, with Thome moving up one base. DH Julio Franco then grounded to second base, with Williams forced at second, Thome going to third and Franco safe on the fielder’s choice.
On the fourth pitch to RF Brian Giles, Franco broke for second arriving safely ahead of Royals’ catcher Time Spehr’s throw. During the play Thome scampered (Would lumbered be a better word?) home – stealing home and scoring what turned out to be the only run in a 1-0 Indians’ victory. The two hits in the fourth inning were, in fact, the only hits the Indians would get off Appier, who pitched a complete game (with eight walks and seven strikeouts), while four Indians’ pitchers shut out the Royals.
How unexpected was the 6’4”, 250 pound Thome’ swipe of home? Consider:
1) It was his only stolen base of the 1997 season – he only attempted two;
2) He only stole 19 bases in his 22-season career – and was thrown out 20 times;
3) It was his only career steal of home; and
4) After that steal of home, he only stole four more bases (over the next 15 seasons.)
Thome’s steal of home is not the most momentous – and, perhaps, not the most surprising – in Cleveland Indians’ lore. On this August 14, 1958, Indians’ 3B Vic Power became just the eleventh player in MLB history to steal home twice in one game – a feat that has not been accomplished since. What makes this momentous is that (like Thome’s steal) Power’s second steal of home was a game winner. It came in the bottom of the tenth and gave the Tribe a 10-9 “run-off” victory. What made it surprising is that Power stole only one other base all season.
Here’s how it went down. The Tigers were leading the Indians 7-4 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Cleveland RF Rocky Colavito started the inning with his second home run of the game (his 26th of the season). Then pinch-hitter Gary Geiger (hitting for SS Woodie Held) walked. Next up was another pinch hitter – Vic Wertz – for pitcher Morrie Martin. Wertz tied the contest with a two-run long ball.
After a Detroit pitching change – Bill Fischer in for Tom Morgan – Indians’ 2B Bobby Avila reached on an error by Tigers’ 1B Gail Harris. Cleveland 1B Mickey Vernon sacrificed Avila to second and Power singled him home – moving to second on an error by Detroit catcher Charlie Lau. And, the pesky Power was just warming up. He went to third on a wild pitch by Fischer and then stole home (after a short fly out to center by catcher Russ Nixon) to run the lead to 9-7. LF Minnie Minoso was up next and was hit by a pitch and stole second before CF Larry Doby flied out to end the inning.
The Cleveland bullpen, however, could not hold the two-run lead – and the Tigers tied it in the top of the ninth. That opened the door for Power’s historic second steal of home – which came in the bottom of the tenth, with the bases loaded, two outs and one of the AL’s most dependable RBI men (Rocky Colavito, with 74 driven in on the season) at the plate.
Here’s how that tenth went. Vernon grounded out. Then, Power singled to right (his third hit of the day, raising his average to .319). Nixon followed with another single, Power moving to second. Minoso grounded to short, with Power moving on to third, Nixon forced at second and Minoso reaching first on the fielder’s choice. Larry Doby was intentionally walked, loading the bases and bringing Colavito to the dish. On the fourth pitch to the Indians’ slugger, Power – who had been scampering up and down the third base line – broke for the plate and ended the game on steal of home.
Hmmm? That seems a bit odd.
Both Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth notched double-digit steals of home in their MLB careers (15 and 10, respectively). Among those who did not reach ten steals of home plate? Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock and Maury Wills.
Going into that August 14 tilt, Power had exactly one stolen base on the season – and he did not steal a single a bag (after the two steals of home) that campaign. The fact is, he was much more likely to beat you with his glove (seven Gold Gloves) or his bat (.284 career average) than his legs. In twelve MLB seasons, Power stole just 45 bases (and was caught 35 times).
Hmmm? This seems to make sense.
Ty Cobb stole home an MLB-record 54 times – 21 more times than runner up Max Carey. Cobb also holds the MLB and AL record with eight steals of home in a season (Tigers, 1912). Pete Reiser holds the NL record at seven (Dodgers, 1946).
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