I want to say that 1887-91 were inflated by the final few years of the American Association, and the sheer number of teams at all levels at this point. In 91 when the league collapsed, most of these “total X” stats dropped due to the contraction, but this era was the prime of stolen bases, it’s no wonder numbers 3, 7, 13, 17, and 19 in the top 20 SB all time each played during this era, with 3, 17, and 19 all being rookies during this frame

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