Rickey Henderson, the legendary Baseball Hall of Famer known for being the all-time MLB stolen base king and the greatest leadoff hitter in history, has passed away at the age of 65.
The Oakland Athletics announced the news on Saturday afternoon, triggering an outpouring of tributes from across the MLB community. The cause of death has not been disclosed at this time.
Over his illustrious 25-year career in Major League Baseball, Henderson played for nine different teams, with four separate stints with the Oakland Athletics. He achieved two World Series victories and was honored with the AL MVP title in 1990. Henderson, a 10-time All-Star, led the AL in stolen bases an unmatched 12 times and exceeded 100 steals in a single season three times, a feat only shared with Vince Coleman.
In May 1991, Henderson made history by breaking Lou Brock’s record with his 939th career stolen base. He concluded his career with 1,406 stolen bases in 2003, earning him the nickname “Man of Steal.”
Aside from his exceptional base-stealing abilities, Henderson also showcased his talent with the bat, hitting 297 home runs, driving in 1,115 runs, and maintaining a .279 batting average across 3,081 games. Of his 297 home runs, 81 were hit as the leadoff batter, setting an MLB record.
He also holds MLB records for runs scored (2,295) and unintentional walks (2,129).
“If my uniform doesn’t get dirty, I haven’t done anything in the baseball game,” Henderson famously said.
An impactful player all over the field
Rickey Henderson was born on Christmas Day in 1958, famously stating, “I was already fast. I couldn’t wait,” referring to his birth in a rush to the hospital in Chicago.
Having grown up in Oakland, Henderson excelled in multiple sports including baseball, basketball, track, and football. Despite turning down football scholarships, he signed with the Athletics in 1976 after being selected in the fourth round of the draft.
Three years later, Henderson made his MLB debut and quickly made a name for himself by breaking Ty Cobb’s AL stolen base record with 100 steals in his first full season. He continued to shatter records, including Brock’s previous record of 118 steals, which Henderson surpassed with 130 steals.
After spending his initial six MLB seasons in Oakland, Henderson was traded to the New York Yankees. He later returned to Oakland in a trade in June 1989, playing a pivotal role in the team’s successful run to a World Series championship that year.
Throughout his career, Henderson showcased his talent in various teams such as the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and the Los Angeles Dodgers before retiring in 2003.
Following his MLB career, Henderson continued to play independent baseball before being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
In his acceptance speech, Henderson expressed humility and gratitude, acknowledging his journey to become one of the greatest players of all time.