Remembering Mets History (1978) John Stearns Sets NL Stolen Base Record For Catchers

September 1978: The 1978 Mets (66-96) finished last place under Manager Joe Torre. One of the few highlights that year was catcher John Stearns. Stearns a three time All Star with the Mets during those dark years, set a record for N.L. catchers by stealing 25 bases.

On Opening Day 1978 in a 3-1 Mets win at Shea over the Montreal Expos Shea. Four days later he would swipe his second base of the year, as Craig Swan shut out the Chicago Cubs 6-0 at Shea Stadium, giving the Mets a 4-1 start to the season in front of just 3,751 fans.

On April 26th, John stole his second base of the year, coming in a 1-0 ten inning loss to Bert Blyleven & the Pirates.

Multi- Steal Game: On May 10th, Stearns had a big day going 2-3 hitting his first HR of the season, collecting a single & drawing two walks. In that game he also stole two bases off the Expos Gary Carter, in the 7-2 win in Montreal.

On May 20th in a loss at Philadelphia, he swiped his seventh base, then two days later Stearns drove in two runs with two hits & two more stolen bases in a 7-3 win at Pittsburgh. In May he swiped five bases in seven attempts the month to total eight steals for the year. 

In June Stearns stole two bases on the West Coast road trip, with one in San Diego & San Francisco. On June 24th at Shea he swiped his 11th base in a loss to the Pirates.

On July 13th, in a 4-2 win over the Reds at Shea, Stearns swiped a base in the 2nd inning off Tom Seaver & Johnny Bench. On July 22nd & 23rd in Hosuton, Stearns stole bases n back-to-back games over Astro catchers were Luis Pujols & Bruce Bochy. In the latter game, Stearns would collect two hits & two RBIs. 

Multi- Stolen Base Game: On August 1st, Stearns led the Mets to a 5-1 victory over that year's NL Eastern Champion Philadelphia Phillies, with a three run HR. The next night, he had his s second multi-stolen base game of the season, swiping a pair off the Phillies star catcher, Bob Boone.  

On August 9th, he stole another base off Gary Carter for his 19th of the season. In the 10-3 win at Montreal earns hit his 13th HR of the year as well.

On August 22nd & 23rd at Shea Stadium, he had back-to-back stolen base games for the second time that season, with both steals coming off the Giants John Tamargo. 

Trivia: Stearns entered September with 21 stolen bases on the year, just three shy of the N.L. record by catchers. In 1902 Chicago's Johnny Kling had stolen 24 bases as a catcher. In 1906 the New York Giants catching legend Roger Bresnahan had stolen 25 bases, but he had played 40 of his games as an outfielder.

The Mets began the month with a series in Los Angeles, against that year's NL Champion Dodgers. On September 1st, Stearns doubled in a run in the 4th inning, he then swiped third base, off veteran catcher Joe Ferguson. 

The game went into extra innings, in the 11th inning Stearns singled off Terry Forster, he tried to steal second, but this time was thrown out by catcher Steve Yeager who had come into the game in the 10th inning.

On September 3rd, in an 8-5 win, Stearns singled off the Dodgers, Tommy John to start off a Mets big six run 2nd inning. He quickly went to work swiping his 23rd base of the year also on veteran catcher, Joe Ferguson.  Later in the inning he was the tenth man up, collecting an RBI single.

Monday September 7th: The Mets were finishing up a long 14 game road trip where they went 6-8. On this night they were in Montreal playing the Expos at Olympic Stadium in front of 10,161 fans.

In the 1st inning, Lee Mazzilli walked & stole second. Elliott Maddox drew a walk as well. Willie Montanez singled to right field scoring Mazzilli with the first run. John Stearns hit into a fielder's choice that brought home Elliott Maddox with the Mets second run.

As Expo pitcher Bob James pitched to Bruce Boisclair, John Stearns took off from first base on the future Hall of Famer, Gary Carter.  Stearns slid safely into second base & tied the new National League season record with 24 stolen bases by a catcher.

Trivia: On September 19th, Stearns stole his 25th base, coming off Terry Kennedy & the St. Louis Cardinals. He would finish the 1978 season with 25 stolen bases, most stolen bases by an NL catcher in a single season. In 1999, 21 years later, Jason Kendall of the Pittsburgh Pirates stole 26 bases passing Stearns.