Overview
A stolen base is recorded when a runner advances after the pitcher begins the delivery and arrives before the catcher's throw. NPB's career record is Yutaka Fukumoto's 1,065, which was a world record at the time. Success requires not just speed but the ability to read pitcher tendencies and make split-second decisions. The break-even point (70%+ success rate for positive run expectancy) is now widely understood, leading to fewer reckless steal attempts.