# In baseball, can you return to ("steal") a base you crossed on a prior play? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2007, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baseball-can-you-return-to-steal-a-base-you-crossed-on-a-prior-play/398407 "2007-04-02T11:06:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baseball-can-you-return-to-steal-a-base-you-crossed-on-a-prior-play/398407/1 "2007-04-02T11:06:23Z")
I just read a review of the new book titled _Crazy '08_, which discusses the year 1908 in professional baseball. The reviewer, George Will, lists some of the oddball highlights of the year that, in the book author’s opinion, qualify it as “the greatest year in baseball history.” I don’t want to get into _that_ debate, but I do want to ask about one of those curious highlights. Apparently someone “stole” first base. Quoting Mr. Will: “A runner on first stole second, hoping the runner on third would score on the throw to second. But the catcher did not throw. So on the next pitch the runner on second ran back to first. Then he stole second again.” Would such a move be legal under today’s rules? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Hildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Johnny\_Hildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Hildo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baseball-can-you-return-to-steal-a-base-you-crossed-on-a-prior-play/398407/2 "2007-04-02T11:29:04Z")
From the Wiki [article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_base) > [@](#): > > The last recorded attempt of a player stealing first base during a conventional pitch occurred on August 4, 1911, by Washington’s Germany Schaefer in a game against Chicago. Schaefer was on second base and his teammate Clyde Milan was on third, and in an attempt to draw a throw that would permit Milan to safely steal home Schaefer bolted for first base. After much to-do, Milan was thrown out at home plate, prompting arguments from both sides on the proceedings. Modern rules forbid going backwards on the basepaths once a base has been legally reached, so there is currently no legal way to steal first base. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baseball-can-you-return-to-steal-a-base-you-crossed-on-a-prior-play/398407/3 "2007-04-02T12:42:37Z")
Or better yet, from MLB official rules… > [@](#): > > Rule 7.08 (i) > After he has acquired legal possession of a base, he runs the bases in reverse order for the purpose of confusing the defense or making a travesty of the game. The umpire shall immediately call “Time” and declare the runner out; > Rule 7.08(i) Comment: If a runner touches an unoccupied base and then thinks the ball was caught or is decoyed into returning to the base he last touched, he may be put out running back to that base, but if he reaches the previously occupied base safely he cannot be put out while in contact with that base. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baseball-can-you-return-to-steal-a-base-you-crossed-on-a-prior-play/398407/4 "2007-04-02T13:02:18Z")
[QUOTE=Enright3] Or better yet, from MLB official rules… [/QUOTE] Baseball, very cleverly, uses the concept of “making a travesty of the game”. That way, if someone does something that is really bizarre, the umpire can rule that they were making a travesty of the game and can call them out. It helps the umpires make a legal ruling on anything that might happen that the rule makers never thought of or isn’t specifically covered in the official rules. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baseball-can-you-return-to-steal-a-base-you-crossed-on-a-prior-play/398407/5 "2007-04-02T13:40:21Z")
And I believe Rule 7.08 (i) was put in place in response to Schaefer’s (legal) steal of first. Notice that the rule addresses “legal possession” – a baserunner who has failed to touch a base (and therefore “legally possess” it) may make an effort to correct that error, and of course the defense may capitalize on the fact and put him out by tagging him or the base, this being an appeal play. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baseball-can-you-return-to-steal-a-base-you-crossed-on-a-prior-play/398407/6 "2007-04-02T13:44:16Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] Baseball, very cleverly, uses the concept of “making a travesty of the game”. That way, if someone does something that is really bizarre, the umpire can rule that they were making a travesty of the game and can call them out. It helps the umpires make a legal ruling on anything that might happen that the rule makers never thought of or isn’t specifically covered in the official rules. [/QUOTE] The rule for this in MLB is?? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baseball-can-you-return-to-steal-a-base-you-crossed-on-a-prior-play/398407/7 "2007-04-02T13:45:09Z")
I take it that reaching first base on a dropped/passed-ball third strike is not counted as a stolen base for the batter? ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baseball-can-you-return-to-steal-a-base-you-crossed-on-a-prior-play/398407/8 "2007-04-02T14:04:45Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] I take it that reaching first base on a dropped/passed-ball third strike is not counted as a stolen base for the batter? [/QUOTE] That’s correct; it’s either a wild pitch, a passed ball, or an error depending on circumstances. I’ve always felt Rule 7.08(i) was a cop-out, with the weasel words “for the purpose of confusing the defense or making a travesty of the game”. Schaefer arguably had neither purpose; he was attempting to draw a throw, and risking being put out in order to allow another runner to advance. If baseball wants to ban running the bases in reverse order, it should just ban it, without trying to read the offender’s mind.