Jackie Robinson Steals Home

Jackie Robinson makes a cap-flying slide and catches a corner of the plate with his right foot before the Cubs’ catcher, John Pramesa, can tag him. It happened in the fourth inning at Ebbets Field in May 1952. The umpire is Augie Guglielmo and the man with the bat is Preacher Roe, Dodger pitcher. Roe stepped back up to the plate and made his first hit of the year.

Robinson stole home 19 times in his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers, making him the major league career leader among players who made their debut after 1920. The record may be very safe because the play has become a lost art. Only two other players – Rod Carew and Paul Molitor – have reached double digits in the post-World War II era.

A legendary figure, Robinson (1919-1972) broke the color barrier in major league baseball in 1947. He was a clutch hitter and daring base runner while playing first base, second base, third base and left field at various stages of his 10 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year of eligibility for the Cooperstown, N.Y., shrine.