National Baseball Hall of Fame to recognize Jose Altuve's historic feat
Became just third player with four consecutive multi-steal games
HOUSTON, TX - The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has requested the cleats worn by Jose Altuve on Sunday, June 29, when he registered his fourth consecutive multi-stolen base game.
With this feat, Altuve became the first player in 97 years with four straight mult-steal games and just the third player in baseball's modern era (since 1900) to accomplish this. The first two were Bill Dahlen in 1904 and Ray Chapman in 1917.
Altuve's cleats will be added to the Hall of Fame's "This Year in Baseball" case of the "Today's Game" exhibit located on the Museum's second floor. Following the 2014 season, the cleats will be moved into the Houston Astros locker (also at the Hall of Fame).
"Jose's feat of four straight multi-stolen base games spans nearly a century of baseball since its last accomplishment by Ray Chapman in 1917," said Brad Horn, Vice President of Communications and Education at the Hall of Fame. "We are honored that Jose has donated his spikes from the final game of that streak to represent this historic feat, as well as his magnificent year on the base paths."
Altuve, who currently leads the American League with 37 stolen bases in 40 attempts, has been one of the top players in the Majors in 2014 and is a solid candidate for AL Player of the Month honors for June. For the month, he led the Majors in batting average (.411), hits (39) and stolen bases (17), while ranking 6th in on-base pct. (.447).
For the season, Altuve leads the AL in batting (.344), hits (116) and stolen bases. If he maintains those leads through the All-Star Break, he will become just the second player since 1957 to lead his league in those three categories at the Break, joining Ichiro Suzuki, who turned the trick in 2003.