Cincinnati Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton matched a franchise rookie record Sunday, recording his 54th stolen base of the season in a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, per MLB Stat of the Day.
According to MLB.com, the record was previously set in 1909 by outfielder Bob Bescher, who led the National League in stolen bases each year from 1909 to 1912.
Bescher‘s 81 steals in 1911 still stand as the Reds’ single-season franchise record, though Hamilton may one day have something to say about that.
The 23-year-old speedster famously stole 155 bases across two minor league levels in 2012, and he then added 88 more in 2013 between Triple-A Louisville (75) and the majors (13).
Hamilton’s minor league steals ledger is so impressive that his 54 this season can perhaps be considered a disappointment, even as he continues to break records.
Per Complete Baseball Encyclopedia’s Lee Sinins, Hamilton has already become just the second player in NL Central history with 50-plus stolen bases as a rookie, joining Tony Womack, who swiped 60 bags for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1997.
While he needs just one more steal for the Reds rookie record and seven more for the division rookie record, Hamilton will need to wait until next season to take aim at Bescher‘s single-season franchise record of 81.
Looking to even loftier goals, Hamilton could perhaps become the first player since Vince Coleman in 1987 to record 100 stolen bases in a season.
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