Maury Wills - News

News and Press Releases

"Thou shalt not steal," by John Shea, June 15, 2003

As homers rise, stolen bases fall, but Wills says they're still vital

As baseball evolved, so did Barry Bonds. The sport once put more emphasis on the running game but is now more about power, just like Bonds.

When Bonds closed in on 500 home runs, it was substantial news. Now that he's closing in on 500 stolen bases, it's a footnote.

"I'll let you know when it happens," Bonds said when asked his feelings about reaching the 500-500 milestone. "It will happen eventually."

The home run is so common that the stolen base has gone the way of polyester uniforms and Oscar Gamble Afros. Why risk getting caught stealing when the next guy can crank a two-run homer?

As a result, basepaths haven't been this dust-free since the late '50s. Willie Mays led the National League in steals in 1959, with 27. Then came Maury Wills, who changed the game in 1962 with 104 steals and opened the door for Lou Brock, Rickey Henderson, Vince Coleman, Willie Wilson and Tim Raines, all of whom thought nothing of swiping 50 by the All-Star break.

Compare that to this era. In 2002, not a single major-leaguer had 50 steals.

Where have you gone, Maury Wills?

"I will never look at the stolen base as not being meaningful," said Wills, who's employed by the Dodgers to work on baserunning and bunting, his prized pupil being Dave Roberts, who wears No. 30, Wills' old number. "It's a terrific weapon, but managers don't use it because too many guys can hit the ball out of the park."

And too many guys know home runs are more rewarding financially than stolen bases.

"It's a different game," Wills said. "We have smaller parks, livelier balls and bigger and stronger players. But nothing upsets the mind of a pitcher as much as good baserunning and base-stealing. We can't downplay it.

"It eliminates the double-play situation. It eliminates the force play on a ball in the hole between short and third. They say good pitching beats good hitting -- hitters go into slumps from time to time, but good base-stealers keep stealing bases."

Mays spoke recently in the Giants' clubhouse about how it burned him that Wills so often scored the deciding run in narrow Dodger victories over the Giants.

"Maury got on, stole second, took third on a groundball and scored on a flyball," Mays said. "He did that a lot."

Wills laughed when he heard the story.

"We didn't have a lineup with a Barry Bonds or a shortstop like theirs (Rich Aurilia) who can hit the ball out of the park," Wills said. "Stolen bases were part of our game. I had a guy behind me, Jim Gilliam, whose numbers diminished because he advanced me. I got the applause, and his average went down a notch. It didn't matter because we were playing baseball."

Bonds broke in when base-stealing was still in fashion, and he usually found his name on the league's leaderboard. Now that he's one of the greatest all-time power hitters, it's easy to forget he once was a legitimate base- stealing threat, though that was several years and pounds ago.

In his seven years in Pittsburgh, he had more steals than home runs every season but one, and the one exception was because of a midseason knee injury that required postseason surgery. He broke in as the Pirates' leadoff hitter and once stole 52 bases.

As the son of Bobby Bonds, it was hardly surprising. Bobby stole 461 bases (with 332 homers) in 14 seasons and achieved 30-30 five times. Dusty Baker often said Bobby was the fastest in the family, but don't forget that his sister, Rosie, once set the U.S. women's record in the 80 hurdles (10.8 seconds) and ran in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

Nevertheless, the younger Bonds became a different player in San Francisco, collecting more homers than steals in each of his 10 seasons, though sometimes by a narrow margin, such as 1996, when he had 42 homers and 40 steals. Lately, the difference has been extreme. Last year: 46 homers, nine steals. Two years ago: 73 and 13.

Still, he compiled so many steals early in his career that he's two shy of joining the 500 club, which has 39 members. Among the current membership, the man with the most home runs is Henderson with 295.

"He was good enough to make the adjustment," Wills said of Bonds. "How many guys could do that? I think it's extraordinary that he's going to have 500 steals to go along with the home runs."

The topic turned to Barry's father.

"He revolutionized the game," Wills said. "Before Bobby came along, 30-30 was unheard of. I remember when he came into the league as a prototypical leadoff hitter who could hit the ball out of the park, the first I remember to be able to do that." Wills paused, knowing Bobby's current physical condition.

"Would you include in your article that I'd like to send my heart-felt love to him?"

E-mail John Shea at jshea@sfchronicle.com. ?2003 San Francisco Chronicle

13th National Veterans Golden Age Games Award...

Former Dodger great Wills to throw ceremonial...

A memorable opening day in L.A. Wills, Manilo...

Click here to have Maury sign your items!

Did you know Maury

-was the first person to steal over 100 bases in a season, with 104 in 1962

-was the 1961 & 1962 winner of the Gold Glove Award

-was the 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, & 1965 leader in stolen bases

-was the 1962 National League Most Valuable Player