August 24, 1982 in Texas,just three days before Rickey Henderson would break the single season record for stolen bases, John Wathan swiped 3rd base in the top of the 7th for his 31st steal of the season, breaking the single season record for steals by a catcher.
The record had been set 66 years earlier in 1916 by Hall of Fame catcher Ray Shalk. The closest any catcher had gotten during that time was John Stearns of the Mets, with 25 swipes in 1978.
John’s achievement is even more amazing to me, after I found out that he fractured his ankle on July 5th of the season and spent 5 weeks on the DL. Yet still managed to break the record with more than a month to go and finish the season with 36.
He almost led the team in stolen bases too, but leadoff man Willie Wilson managed to steal his 37th base in the final week of 1982.
The following year, John did an encore by stealing another 28. Through 2009, those 28 steals are still the most any catcher has stolen since he broke the record himself.
John Wathan’s final appearance in the major leagues, was as a pinch runner in the bottom of the 9th of game 6 of the 1985 World Series. The Royals won the game, and the World Series. Nice way to finish a career.
In one of the coolest coincidences ever, Topps added a Larry Gura trivia note to the back of John’s ’82 card. Larry Gura ended up being the winning pitcher of the game in which John broke the steals record.
Random John Wathan facts and stats—
- Drafted by Royals, and played entire career with the team
- Total of 79 steals as a catcher
- Stolen base percentage was 76% as a catcher
- .363 OBP against the White Sox
- Slugged 40 points higher against lefties than he did against righties
- Slugged best when he was batting 4th in the lineup
- Stole 40 bases when was in the #2 slot
- Managed the Royals ’87-’91, to a 287-270 record (.515)
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