Davey Lopes' Steal of Home in the 1981 NLCS
Dodgers second baseman and base-stealing legend.
Davey Lopes was an American second baseman, coach and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for four teams from 1972 to 1987, best known for his ten seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Player
- Davey Lopes
- Team
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Opponent
- Houston Astros
- Series
- 1981 National League Championship Series
- Inning
- Bottom of the 4th
- Outcome
- Run scored, Game-winning momentum
- Status
- Legendary franchise moment
Lore & Background
In the 1981 playoffs, Lopes set a then-single-season MLB postseason record of 10 stolen bases (in 10 attempts).
In Their Own Story
The Astrodome hummed with a nervous energy, the artificial turf feeling slick under the bright lights. Davey Lopes stood on second base, eyes locked on the pitcher's mound, sensing a split-second opportunity amidst the chaos of the fourth inning. As the Astros' catcher squatted low and the pitcher wound up, Lopes didn't hesitate; he exploded off the bag in a blur of Dodger blue. In that heartbeat of suspended time, the crowd gasped as he slid head-first into home plate, beating the tag by inches and sending a shockwave of hope through the Dodger faithful.
Reader's Guide
It states that in the 1981 playoffs he set a postseason record of 10 stolen bases, but no further details about a steal of home are given.
Did You Know?
- Lopes led the NL in stolen bases in 1975 and 1976.
- He won the Gold Glove Award in 1978.
- His 418 career steals with the Dodgers are second most in franchise history behind Maury Wills.
- Lopes stole 38 consecutive bases without getting caught in 1975, breaking a 53-year-old record.
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