Schaefer's Strange Stunt

Schaefer's Strange Stunt

In the early 1900s, few players were as colorful or controversial as Herman "Germany" Schaefer. Known for his quick wit and outrageous stunts, Schaefer's most infamous moment came in a game on August 4, 1911, while playing for the Washington Senators against the Cleveland Naps (then Indians now Guardians).

With a runner on third, Schaefer stole second base, hoping to draw a throw from the catcher that would allow the runner on third to score. When this didn't work, Schaefer did something unprecedented: on the next pitch, he stole first base in reverse, running back to first from second.

The umpires, players, and fans were all bewildered. There was no rule explicitly prohibiting running the bases backwards, so Schaefer's move was technically legal. He then attempted to steal second again, hoping his antics would distract the opposition enough for his teammate to score.

This incident led to the creation of a new rule stating that a player cannot run the bases in reverse order to confuse the defense or make a mockery of the game. Schaefer's stunt remains one of the most bizarre and entertaining moments in baseball history.