Mets Speed King Vs. Others

The Mets' franchise record for stolen bases in season is now 67 and counting. Ten of the current major league franchises have never had a player steal that many in a season, including three franchises that have been around more than 100 years -- the Red Sox, Giants and Orioles/Browns. In addition, two other current franchises have franchise record holders with 67 or more SBs, but since 1962, when the Mets became a franchise, have not had anyone steal more than 67. So of the 29 other franchises besides the Mets, 17 have had at least one player steal more than 67 in a season since 1962, while 12 have not. The teams whose record holders fall short of 67, along with their record holders:
NL:
Giants: George Burns 62 SBs in 1914 (since 1962 the most for the Giants has been Billy North, 58 SBs in 1979)
Astros: Gerald Young 65 SBs in 1988
Rockies: Eric Young 53 SBs in 1996
Marlins: Juan Pierre 65 SBs in 2003
Also: the Cubs record is held by Frank Chance (of Tinkers to Evers to Chance fame), who had 67 steals way back in 1903, but the Cubs SB high since 1962 is only 58 (Juan Pierre last year).

In the AL, the franchises with a record SB total lower than 67 are:
Red Sox: Tommy Harper 54 steals in 1973
Orioles (formerly the Browns): Luis Aparicio 57 steals in 1964
Rangers (formerly the Senators): Bump Wills 52 steals in 1978
Blue Jays: Dave Collins 60 steals in 1984
Mariners: Harold Reynolds 62 SBs in 1987
Devil Rays: Carl Crawford 59 SBs in 2004
Also: the Twins (formerly Senators) franchise record is held by Clyde ("Deerfoot") Milan who had 88 SBs for the old Senators in 1912, but the Twins' SB high since 1962 is only 62 (Chuck Knoblauch in 1997).

Barring injury or other unanticipated development, Jose Reyes will presumably continue to pile up stolen bases the rest of this season, though if the Mets clinch a playoff spot at some point, he may become more cautious. If Reyes does add significantly more SBs the rest of the year, the Mets franchise record may move past the records of a whole bunch of other franchises that are within Jose's reach. Seven franchises have an SB record between 70 and 73 and two more between 75 and 80. When all is said and done this year, the Mets' SB in a season record may well be one of the higher ones among baseball's franchises. And if Reyes ever gets to 88 SBs in a season he can take "Deerfoot" as his nickname.

Thanks as usual, to the database at baseball-reference.com and b-r's Play Index tool: http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/