All,

I throw this out to the list knowing that some of you will be
interested and may have additional information or insight.

While working on a 1912 game for Retrosheet yesterday, I came across
what I believe is an NL record for baserunners caught stealing by a
catcher in a single inning. On June 28, during the second game of a
doubleheader between the New York Giants and the Boston Braves, Johnny
Kling evidently threw out three baserunners in the 5th inning. I have
at least four sources for this which all agree. Here are the details
from the play-by-play source, the New York Mail:

With no outs, three runs already in, and Beals Becker on 1B after
singling, Becker was thrown out stealing 2B, Kling to (Bill) Sweeney.
Herzog singled and stole 2B. Meyers doubled to left, scoring Herzog.
Dave Robertson ran for Meyers and was thrown out stealing 3B, Kling to
(Ed) McDonald. Art Fletcher then singled to right and was thrown out
stealing 2B, Kling to (Frank) O'Rourke.

The New York Press says, "In the fifth inning of the second game, when
the Champs butchered Hess for seven hits, three men were nailed stealing."

New York Times: "Boston couldn't get anybody out (in the 5th), so New
York began to run wild on the bases, and three Giants were thrown out
stealing. If they hadn't died that way, they would be batting yet."

Boston Globe: "Becker's single scored Murray. Becker was out stealing.
Herzog hit safely, stole second and scored on Meyers' two-bagger.
Robertson ran for Meyers and was out stealing third. Fletcher singled
and was out stealing second."

Amazingly, in the sixth inning, the Giants had three more runners
thrown out, making six consecutive outs on the bases. They even
managed to run into a caught stealing double play when, on a double
steal, Larry Doyle was nailed at 2B, Kling to Sweeney, and Fred
Snodgrass at home, Sweeney to Kling. Red Murray then was picked off 1B
and run down, 143, Steve White to Sweeney to Ben Houser.

FWIW, the Giants also stole eight bases in this game to go with six in
the first game off Bill Rariden.

I don't have a record book handy, but I do have the April '05 BRC
newsletter which talks about Les Nunamaker having three assists in one
inning in 1914. It differentiates between three assists and three
baserunners caught stealing, mentioning the possibility that one of
Nunamaker's assists might not have been a caught stealing. Based on
what I've been able to find, it appears that Kling's three assists
were three legitimate runners caught stealing. Anybody know any different?

Mike Grahek