Who was the fastest MLB player ever around the bases?

[Kinnick.At.Night]

They said James “Cool Papa” Bell could turn off the light switch and be in bed before the room got dark.

This article says he was clocked at 12 seconds

Playing it Cool | Baseball Hall of Fame

baseballhall.org

Bell knew Jesse Owens and used to challenge him to race. Owens never once accepted.

 

[bagdropper]

For my money I'm going with

This was my initial thought. From that era, Willie Wilson, Bo Jackson, Vince Coleman, and Rickie Henderson all come to mind too.

Mind you, pure speed as far as rounding the bases was indeed important - but so was knowing how to cut your path to where you didn't really slow down, plus being able to not stumble a fraction of a second every time you stepped on a base.

I can't remember the exact game, but there was a Cardinals game in the 80's where the bases were loaded with 2 out. I want to say it was Coleman on 3rd, Tommy Herr on 2nd, and McGee on first. Given there were 2 outs, all runners would take off on the ball in play. The batter (can't remember whom) hit a gapper and obviously all runners took off. The defensive relay threw home. Herr slid, thinking the throw was to get him out, only McGee ended up right behind him and scored standing up while having to dodge Herr still on the ground around the plate.

Anyway, they replayed runners on base where you could see McGee gaining on Herr that was hilarious. Herr, while no speed demon, wasn't exactly slow. But when McGee rounded second it was like afterburners kicked in. Herr was running flat out - and McGee still caught him.

McGee was a fascinating player in that you'd watch him walk and it'd look like he was in pain - a very odd looking gait. But when he was running the bases there was no hitch in his giddy'up. Maybe I'm prejudice because I'm a Cardinals fan, but circling the bases he's the fastest I've ever seen.

 

[billanole]

This was my initial thought. From that era, Willie Wilson, Bo Jackson, Vince Coleman, and Rickie Henderson all come to mind too.

Mind you, pure speed as far as rounding the bases was indeed important - but so was knowing how to cut your path to where you didn't really slow down, plus being able to not stumble a fraction of a second every time you stepped on a base.

I can't remember the exact game, but there was a Cardinals game in the 80's where the bases were loaded with 2 out. I want to say it was Coleman on 3rd, Tommy Herr on 2nd, and McGee on first. Given there were 2 outs, all runners would take off on the ball in play. The batter (can't remember whom) hit a gapper and obviously all runners took off. The defensive relay threw home. Herr slid, thinking the throw was to get him out, only McGee ended up right behind him and scored standing up while having to dodge Herr still on the ground around the plate.

Anyway, they replayed runners on base where you could see McGee gaining on Herr that was hilarious. Herr, while no speed demon, wasn't exactly slow. But when McGee rounded second it was like afterburners kicked in. Herr was running flat out - and McGee still caught him.

McGee was a fascinating player in that you'd watch him walk and it'd look like he was in pain - a very odd looking gait. But when he was running the bases there was no hitch in his giddy'up. Maybe I'm prejudice because I'm a Cardinals fan, but circling the bases he's the fastest I've ever seen.

He had that kinda funky pigeon toed walk, but it was flat out burn when he ran.

 

[SSG T]

I don't know how often he went 3 bases, or if he ever hit an inside the park HR, but Bo Jackson has to be up there. Dude was one of the fastest NFL players ever and had a 40 time quicker than Deion.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

A fun story for folks familiar with Cedar Rapids minor league baseball. In 1988, Ramon Sambo played for the Cedar Rapids Reds and stole 98 bases in 139 games. I think that's still a minor league record? He was an incredible runner. Every time he got on base, he was stealing. He never got past AAA. That always surprised me, because as a 1 or 2 hitter, he was tough!

 

[im4hawks50595]

I was going to post Willie Wilson. I was very young but as a kid who lived by the radio listening to Royals games I know if the ball took a crazy bounce off the astroturf there was always a chance.

I watched Willie Wilson when he played for the Waterloo Royals class A ball and man he could fly

 

[gojojo]

This was my initial thought. From that era, Willie Wilson, Bo Jackson, Vince Coleman, and Rickie Henderson all come to mind too.

Mind you, pure speed as far as rounding the bases was indeed important - but so was knowing how to cut your path to where you didn't really slow down, plus being able to not stumble a fraction of a second every time you stepped on a base.

I can't remember the exact game, but there was a Cardinals game in the 80's where the bases were loaded with 2 out. I want to say it was Coleman on 3rd, Tommy Herr on 2nd, and McGee on first. Given there were 2 outs, all runners would take off on the ball in play. The batter (can't remember whom) hit a gapper and obviously all runners took off. The defensive relay threw home. Herr slid, thinking the throw was to get him out, only McGee ended up right behind him and scored standing up while having to dodge Herr still on the ground around the plate.

Anyway, they replayed runners on base where you could see McGee gaining on Herr that was hilarious. Herr, while no speed demon, wasn't exactly slow. But when McGee rounded second it was like afterburners kicked in. Herr was running flat out - and McGee still caught him.

McGee was a fascinating player in that you'd watch him walk and it'd look like he was in pain - a very odd looking gait. But when he was running the bases there was no hitch in his giddy'up. Maybe I'm prejudice because I'm a Cardinals fan, but circling the bases he's the fastest I've ever seen.

STL was a problem in the 80's with all of their speed. They'd hit high choppers off that turf and get to first before the ball landed.

 

[fivecardstud14]

What a tragic story his career is, despite all that he achieved. He tore the ACL in his right knee during the 1951 World Series. His rookie year! And he played the rest of his career on it. And he could still fly! I remember Billy Martin talking about how Mickey could dislocate his knee with his hands. It was that damaged.

Blame Joltin’ Joe & the grate for that ‘51 injury.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

Blame Joltin’ Joe & the grate for that ‘51 injury.

DiMaggio was jealous of Mantle.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

He had that kinda funky pigeon toed walk, but it was flat out burn when he ran.

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

In his day, Maury Wills was top 2 or 3 for fastest on the base paths.

Willie Davis was faster. Wills was a better base stealer, though.

 

[TJ8869]

The fastest slow guy is Sid Bream.

“Boy howdy”

— Barry Bonds

 

[Aardvark86]

Rickey Henderson for me.

Ricky was unstoppable one at a time. But the guy from the cardinals McGee?

 

[VodkaSam]

STL was a problem in the 80's with all of their speed. They'd hit high choppers off that turf and get to first before the ball landed.

Absolutely! Incredible speed. They were playing “Whitey Ball”. Herzog passed away in April of this year at the age of 92.

 

[TDJ7]

Scott Podsednik could fly.

 

[Hans81]

I listened to the Cubs win over the Marlins last night, and Pete Crow-Armstrong his an inside the park home run, circling the bases in 14+ seconds. Pat Hughes asked his producer who had done it the fastest, and was a little shocked they only had records going back to 2015, and Byron Buxton has the two fastest times in. circling the bases since then.
It got me wondering, why can't they review video footage and get a solid time down for some older players, and who would you just guess was the fastest? Ron Coomer on the broadcast crew went with Willie Wilson. What about Deion Sanders? I'd also throw out Omar Moreno. Ichiro? It isn't just about the raw speed, it's about efficiency in rounding the bases, too.
Throw out some names, HBOT.

Boog Powell.

 

[bagdropper]

“Boy howdy”

 

[beanerhawk]

When I was a kid Tim Raines could flat out fly. I'm guessing he'd be in the conversation.

 

[13thman]

When I was a kid Tim Raines could flat out fly. I'm guessing he'd be in the conversation.

I'm sure he was flying. <wink wink nudge nudge>

 

[GOHOX69]

Otis Nixon and Deon Sanders