Rickey Henderson, baseball’s greatest leadoff hitter and the all-time stolen base king, died Friday in Oakland at the age of 65 after battling pneumonia, multiple sources confirmed on Saturday.
Henderson’s career was a testament to speed, power and charisma. Over 24 seasons, he racked up a record-breaking 1,406 stolen bases, 2,295 runs scored, and 81 leadoff home runs. A 10-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, and 1990 American League MVP, Henderson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2009.
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“My favorite hero was Muhammad Ali,” Henderson said during his induction speech in Cooperstown, New York. “He said one time, quote, I am the greatest, end of quote. That was something I always wanted to be, and now that the [Baseball Writers’ Association of America] has voted me into the Baseball Hall of Fame, my journey as a player is complete. I am now in the class of the greatest players of all time, and at this moment, I am very, very humbled.”
The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in California also inducted Henderson in 2020.
Born Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson on Christmas Day in 1958, he often joked that his fast arrival in the back seat of an Oldsmobile in Chicago foreshadowed his legendary speed. Raised in the Bay Area, he starred as a multi-sport athlete at Oakland Technical High School before opting for baseball at the urging of his mother. Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the fourth round in 1976, Henderson debuted in 1979 and quickly became a fan favorite.
Henderson’s career was defined by his fearless baserunning, including his record-breaking 130 stolen bases in 1982, a single-season mark that still stands. On 1 May 1991, he surpassed Lou Brock’s career stolen base record with his 939th steal, cementing his place as MLB’s all-time theft leader.
Henderson’s career accolades include 10 MLB All-Star game appearances, three Silver Slugger awards, one Gold Glove award and the 1990 American League MVP.
“Rickey was the greatest leadoff hitter of all time. There’s no debate,” said Billy Beane, former A’s general manager. “He transformed the game and made every team he played for better.”
Henderson played for nine teams, including notable stints with the Yankees and Mets, but…