The baseball world suffered a great loss on Saturday with the passing of Rickey Henderson, the all-time leader in stolen bases in MLB history. Henderson’s legacy includes an impressive 1,406 stolen bases, a record that may never be broken. The closest active player to this record is Starling Marte with 354 steals.
But Henderson was more than just a base-stealing machine. He also showcased power with 297 career home runs, had exceptional plate discipline with 2,190 walks (second only to Barry Bonds), won multiple Gold Glove awards, and earned two World Series rings. Known for his larger-than-life personality and generosity, Henderson left a lasting impact on and off the field.
The Oakland Athletics, where Henderson played for 14 seasons, honored his legacy, praising him as one of the greatest players in baseball history. His former teammates, opponents, and coaches also paid tribute to him, highlighting his skill, humor, and mentorship.
Players like Dave Winfield, Wade Boggs, Frank Thomas, Bobby Valentine, Jim Palmer, Yonder Alonso, Ozzie Guillen, Josh Reddick, AJ Hinch, Josh Donaldson, Jerry Blevins, and Jerry Hairston Jr. expressed their sorrow at Henderson’s passing, remembering him as a legend and a mentor who will be dearly missed in the baseball community.