Jackie Robinson led the National League with 37 stolen bases in 1949.
The 1949 season was one of Robinson's finest. Playing second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he hit .342, drove in 124 runs, scored 122, and topped the National League in stolen bases with 37. His speed was central to his offensive impact, but he was also an unusually complete hitter and fielder.
Robinson's performance earned him the National League Most Valuable Player Award, making him the first Black player to win that honor. He also became the starting second baseman in the 1949 All-Star Game, the first All-Star Game to feature Black players.
The number is sometimes confused with Robinson's 1947 total, when he stole 29 bases, or with other stolen-base totals from the era. His 37 steals were not an isolated achievement: Robinson led the National League in stolen bases twice, in 1947 and again in 1949. The Dodgers won the National League pennant that year but lost the World Series to the New York Yankees.