Springfield Cardinals Steal Home Plate Twice in Historic Feat

Rare back-to-back steals of home plate highlight a tough loss for the Springfield minor league team.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:53pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting the motion and energy of two baseball players stealing home plate, with the field and players broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color.The Springfield Cardinals' historic double steal of home plate showcased their daring baserunning in a losing effort.Springfield Today

The Springfield Cardinals suffered a 12-9 loss to the Tulsa Drillers on Thursday night, but the game will be remembered for a historic feat by the Cardinals. In the fifth inning, Springfield players Dakota Harris and Trey Paige each stole home plate on consecutive pitches, the first time this has happened for the Cardinals franchise and one of only 21 times it has occurred in Minor League Baseball since 2005.

Why it matters

Stealing home plate is one of the rarest and most exciting plays in baseball, requiring perfect timing, speed, and nerve from the baserunner. Back-to-back steals of home are an even more remarkable accomplishment, showcasing the athleticism and baseball IQ of the Springfield players and adding a memorable moment to the team's history.

The details

In the fifth inning, with the game tied 6-6, Dakota Harris caught the Tulsa pitcher off guard and stole home plate. On the very next pitch, Trey Paige repeated the feat, also stealing home successfully. The umpires initially ruled that the first steal was a balk, but after conferring, they determined it was a clean steal of home by Harris.

  • The back-to-back steals of home plate occurred in the fifth inning of Thursday night's game between the Springfield Cardinals and Tulsa Drillers.

The players

Dakota Harris

A Springfield Cardinals player who stole home plate in the fifth inning.

Trey Paige

A Springfield Cardinals player who stole home plate immediately after his teammate Dakota Harris in the fifth inning.

Maddux Bruns

The Tulsa Drillers pitcher who was on the mound when the two Springfield players stole home plate.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“That's the first time that we could find in Springfield Cardinal history that not only did a player steal home; but two Cardinals did it back to back.”

— Dan Lucy, Ozarks First reporter

What’s next

The Springfield Cardinals will look to bounce back from the tough loss when they continue their series against the Tulsa Drillers on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

The takeaway

The back-to-back steals of home plate by the Springfield Cardinals players were a rare and historic feat, showcasing the team's athleticism and baseball skills. While the Cardinals ultimately fell to the Tulsa Drillers, this moment will be remembered as one of the most exciting plays of the season.