The Return of the Speedy Sox

As MLB.com highlighted the other day, Jacoby Ellsbury is currently on pace to steal 58 bases this season, which would set a Boston Red Sox record by passing Tommy Harper's 1974 mark of 54 bags.  The 2008 Sox have already stolen a total of 42 bases.  Compare this with 2005 and 2006, where the Sox stole 45 and 51 bags over the course of the entire season.

This speediness is out of the ordinary for the Red Sox.   Aside from Harper, the only recent Red Sox to tear up the base paths was Otis Nixon, who stole 42 bases during the strike shortened 1994 season.  

Most of the remaining single season stolen base records were set in the dead ball era by the "Million Dollar Outfield".  The Sox speedster during this period was the famous Tris Speaker.  The "Grey Eagle" holds the 2nd through 4th spots on the all time Sox list having stole 52 bags in his 1912 MVP season, 46 in 1913, and 42 in 1914.  Speaker's teammate Harry Hooper holds the all time Red Sox record for total stolen bases with 300 stolen bases.

Its important to remember, of course, that stolen bases are not as valuable today as they were in the dead ball era and that teams that are effective at stealing bases are not necessarily effective at generating runs, but it is still entertaining to watch a team with some collective speed on the base paths.