Projo Sox Blog

BOSTON -- Run, Jacoby, run.

The Sox' Jacoby Ellsbury is quickly stealing his way into the record books. With 74 games remaining in the regular season, the speedster needs only 14 stolen bases to tie the club's single-season mark of 54 held by Ellsbury's mentor, Tommy Harper.

"The biggest thing is staying healthy," said Ellsbury, who stole his 40th base in the fourth inning of Sunday's game. "I just need to continue to do what I've done and it's definitely in sight. We'll see when I get there. I don't want to jinx it."

Harper believes his record is about to fall, and he's happy about it. He's said many times in the past that if it were to be broken, he hoped it was by Ellsbury.

During the 1973 season, when Harper set his single-season record with 54 swipes, he only had 17 after 88 games. Once the Red Sox were out of contention that season, he started running wild.

Ellsbury flirted with the mark last season, but finished with 50. He's the first Red Sox player since Tris Speaker (1912 to 1914) to achieve consecutive seasons with 40 steals.

 Tags  Jacoby Ellsbury Tommy Harper

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