George Case is remembered as one of the greatest basestealers of all time, although
his career was abbreviated by injuries. The Washington outfielder set a record by
leading the ML in stolen bases five straight seasons (1939-43), and led again in
1945. Case's 61 stolen bases in 1943 was the highest ML single-season total in the
period 1921-61. A three-time .300 hitter, Case scored an AL-leading 102 runs in 1943;
that year, he was the AL's starting right fielder in the first night All-Star Game.
In Bill Veeck's first ML promotion, Case raced Jesse Owens and lost. Case worked
as a coach in the Mariner farm system.
(TJ)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»August 21, 1963:
In the Orioles sweep of the Angels, Orioles SS Luis Aparicio becomes the first ML player since George Case in 1945 to reach 300 career steals. The O's win, 7–4 and 3–2.
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