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.”
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.
“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 he is forever linked to his hometown A’s, where he spent 14 seasons over four stints. The playing field at the Oakland Coliseum was renamed Rickey Henderson Field in 2017, a tribute he called “a special, great moment”.
A colorful personality both on and off the field, Henderson often referred to himself in the third person and delivered memorable quips. “If my uniform doesn’t get dirty, I haven’t done anything in the baseball game,” he once said.
Former teammates and opponents alike shared tributes. “Rickey Henderson was a dream to hit behind and a nightmare for catchers,” Mets teammate Mike Piazza said. “He will be sorely missed.”
Henderson’s passing marks a poignant moment for Oakland fans as the A’s prepare to leave the city after 57 years. His death follows those of other franchise legends, making the loss especially bittersweet for a loyal fan base. He is survived by his wife, Pamela, and three children.
