Well, I wanted to play twenty years in the major leagues. I never made it twenty though. I played nineteen.

He improved consistently on defense; his six double plays in an extra-inning game on September 13 of that year set an AL record and in 1972 he led AL shortstops with 795 total chances while also breaking Collins' franchise record of 376 steals. After a pitch hit him in the ankle Campaneris threw his bat at LaGrow. His 649 stolen bases placed him 7th in major league history and behind only Ty Cobb and Eddie Collins in the AL.

He led the AL in stolen bases six times from 1965 to 1972 and retired with the seventh most steals in history (649). He led the league in putouts three times and ended his career among the major league leaders in games (5th 2097) and double plays (7th 1186) at his position.