Somebody tell FP that Germany Schaeffer, of the Washington Nationals, was the last guy to steal first. He stole second, Auigust 4, 1911. He did not draw a throw, so he stole first and then stole second again. Ban Johnson then outlawed the play.
"Germany Schaefer's most famous antic was to steal first base on August 4, 1911. In the bottom of the 9th of a game against the White Sox, he was at first base with teammate Clyde Milan at third and the game tied. He broke for second base, hoping to draw a throw that would allow Milan to complete a double steal. Catcher Fred Payne held on to the ball however, so Schaefer decided to return to first base on the next pitch, again hoping to draw a throw. Sox manager Hugh Duffy came out to argue, and Schaefer broke for second again, this time getting caught in a rundown. Milan broke for home, but was retired before he could score. Schaefer then argued unsuccessfully that the White Sox had had ten men on the field (counting Duffy). Umpire Tom Connolly said after the game that Schaefer "had a perfect right to go from second back to first base". The rules were clarified after this to state explicitly that no baserunner could run the bases backwards."
Clyde "Deerfoot" Milan taught George Case, Nats' CF, in the 1930s, when Case led the AL in stolen bases for five or six straight years.
