Cardinals left fielder Vince Coleman, on June 24, 1989, swipes a pair of bases against the Pirates, his 39th and 40th in a row without being caught.
The total broke the major league record previously set by Dodgers infielder Davy Lopes.
Coleman would steal 10 more bases in a row before being caught on July 28th by Montreal's Nelson Santovenia during his try for 51 in a row.
While it's an impressive record, the stolen base streak was an irritant to former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog. Coleman's 1989 stolen base total -- 65 -- was the lowest of his six years in St. Louis. Herzog said at the time that he thought the speedy outfielder had become fixated on setting the consecutive stolen base record and subsequently he became conservative about taking chances on the basepaths.
Coleman, who stole 100 bases or more each of his first three seasons with the Cardinals, slipped to 81 in 1988 when the record streak started late in the season. He stole 77 in 1990 and then left as a free agent to sign with the then division rival Mets in 1991. Vincent Van Go was a bust in New York where he never came close to his offensive totals as a member of the Redbirds. He never stole more than 38 bases for New York.
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