How to Steal Third and Home Base in Baseball

Often considered the most exciting play in baseball, stealing home is not attempted or completed more than a few times a year at even the highest levels of baseball. While they are more common in high school or Little League, the steal of home and the steal of third should be completed with the correct strategy and using the right methods to put you in position to succeed.

Stealing Third

• 1

  Keep an eye on the pitcher's move. Learn it after a couple pitches and determine when he will be delivering to the plate and trying to pick you off. Figure out how long the pitcher's windup is and what pitches he will be throwing at certain times.

• 2

  Notice the second baseman or shortstop. See who is holding you on and how much of a lead you can get based on how close they are. The farther away they are, the more of a lead you can take.

• 3

  Pick a pitch that is expected to be a changeup or offspeed pitch to leave the base. Sometimes you will be able to tell by the count or by reading the catcher's signals.

• 4

  Steal at the beginning of the pitcher's windup and try to do so when there is a right-handed batter at the plate. This will make it more difficult for the catcher to step around.

• 5

  Slide into the back part of the base (close to the outfield) to make it more difficult for a third baseman to tag you out.

Stealing Home

• 1

  Folllow the same instructions as stealing third for reading the pitcher's pitches, his windup and his pick-off moves.

• 2

  Take a large lead based on the third baseman holding you on and take a large secondary lead on the first few pitches to make the pitcher think that this is normal for you.

• 3

  Try to steal on a left-handed pitcher, because it is harder for them to hold you on third base.

• 4

  Steal when a right-handed batter is at the plate and make sure that he is not swinging.

• 5

  Leave as soon as the pitcher starts his windup and slide into the front part of the plate. This is farther away from the catcher and is less likely to be blocked.